FDL Reads: Reviews - Fondulac District Library

FDL Reads: They Called Us Enemy

They Called Us Enemy by George Takei, Justin Eisinger, Steven Scott, and Harmony Becker (Illustrator)

Reviewed by: Katie Smith, Reference Specialist

Genre: Graphic Novel, Autobiography, Nonfiction – WWII

Suggested Age: Adults

What is this Book About? George Takei, actor and activist well known for his role as Sulu on Star Trek, describes his childhood imprisonment in Japanese-American internment camps during World War II. When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Takei’s family was living in Los Angeles, California. Only a few short months later, his family was forced out of their home and relocated to an internment camp – the Santa Anita Race Track in Arcadia, California. Their first “assigned room” was a well-used horse stall, and as a family of five (two adults, and three children under the age of four) they had to share the small living space. During their internment, the Takei family was uprooted and relocated twice, but were finally released after the war ended in 1945. As an adult, George Takei looks back on his family’s imprisonment with fresh perspective – one that draws attention to a time that America wishes to forget, while also drawing parallels to what is happening today – in an effort to not repeat past mistakes.

My Review: In the early 2000s, I remember studying WWII and the Holocaust, but the incarceration of Japanese-Americans was never discussed. Much more recently, people have begun to speak out about this unsettling part of American history. The way that George Takei talks frankly about his childhood incarceration – describing events through the eyes of a child, but interpreting them as an adult with full understanding – is heartbreaking. He writes, “Years later, the trauma of those experiences continued to haunt me. Most Japanese Americans from my parents’ generation didn’t like to talk about the internment with their children. As with many traumatic experiences, they were anguished by their memories and haunted by shame for something that wasn’t their fault. Shame is a cruel thing. It should rest on the perpetrators but they don’t carry it the way the victims do.” This is a cautionary tale for Americans, which resonates well with the current political and social climate. VERDICT: I appreciated the graphic novel format – this book will appeal to adults and teens equally, and the story will stick with you long after you are finished reading.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Unsettling, Informative, Uplifting

Give This a Try if You Like: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, Love, Hate and Other Filters by Samira Ahmed, and Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

Find it at the library!

Rating: 5/5

About FDL Reads

FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.

Susie Rivera2019-11-18T15:39:02-06:00November 18th, 2019|

FDL Reads: That Churchill Woman

That Churchill Woman by Stephanie Barron

Reviewed by: Melissa Friedlund, Reference Assistant

Genre: Historical Fiction

Suggested Age: Adults

What is the book about? This book is based on the life of Jennie Churchill, the American mother of Winston Churchill. It starts at the time of her death and follows her life in flashbacks that are not in chronological order. From her childhood in New York as the daughter of a wealthy family to her hob-knobbing with royals and aristocrats in Europe and Great Britain, Jennie Churchill lived a life of privilege and notoriety. Her world was filled with politics, rumors, and extra-marital affairs. This book leans heavily on the theory that one of her lovers, Count Charles Kinsky, was the love of her life. While her sons, Winston and Jack, do get incorporated into the story, they are only rarely major characters in the narrative.

My Review: While I was interested in learning more about Jennie Churchill, I couldn’t help feeling skeptical about some of the scenarios that the author details in this book. I didn’t always feel that the proposed motivations behind the characters’ decisions were believable. For example, Jennie is portrayed as an aloof mother in most early scenes with her sons. However, when her social role dictates that she attend a high-society party while Winston is deathly ill with pneumonia, she supposedly spends the entire party worried sick about him. That seemed like too great a contradiction to me. If read as historical fiction and not biographical fiction, I would say it was more of an account of an aristocrat in the late 19^th century that lacks some much-needed depth.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Non-linear, Ambiguous, Fickle

Give This a Try if You Like…American Duchess: A Novel of Consuelo Vanderbilt, American Princess: A Novel of First Daughter Alice Roosevelt, Dear George, Dear Mary: A Novel of George Washington’s First Love

Rating: 3.5/5

Find it at the library!

Susie Rivera2019-11-09T14:30:42-06:00November 9th, 2019|

FDL Reads: My Life in France

My Life in France by Julia Child with Alex Prud’Homme

Reviewed by: Susie Rivera, Reference Specialist

Genre: Nonfiction, Biography

Suggested Age: Adults

What is this Book About? Step into the shoes of famous culinary master, Julia Child, as she travels with her husband Paul to Paris in 1948. Discover quaint Parisian shops, delectable cuisine, and charming cafes where food is considered an art form. My Life in France chronicles Julia Child’s journey from learning the French language to earning her diploma from the famous Parisian cooking school, Le Cordon Bleu. She begins a friendship with Louisette Bertholle and Simone Beck which leads to the idea of collaborating on a French cookbook for Americans. This memoir illustrates the birth of Mastering the Art of French Cooking, the cookbook that later became an American classic. You may have seen the film Julie and Julia, which is partly based on this book.

My Review: I love to cook myself, and I was hooked by the very first pages of this memoir. If you like true stories and appreciate good food you will love this book. The descriptions of the places visited as well as the cuisine will leave you feeling as if you had been the one who traveled to Paris. But, this biography is also inspirational as Julia Child adapts to a new country, language, and culture. She struggled to find a passion and once she discovered cooking, she was inspired to make French cuisine accessible to modern, American cooks by perfecting recipes over several years. I enjoyed listening to the audiobook of this title, but the print version does include pictures, so you may want to check it out as well to enjoy those little extras.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Nostalgic, delicious, armchair travel

Give it a Try if You Like: Tender at the Bone by Ruth Reichl, The Tenth Muse: My Life in Food by Judith Jones, the Great British Baking Show

Rating: 5/5

Find it at the library!

About FDL Reads

FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.

Susie Rivera2019-11-07T16:12:22-06:00November 7th, 2019|

FDL Reads: Graffiti World

Graffiti World: Street Art from Five Continents by Nicholas Ganz

Reviewed by: Laura Warren, Adult Services Director

Genre: Nonfiction, Art

Suggested Age: Adults

What is this Book About? Graffiti World’s title pretty much says it all. This book is a collection of graffiti and street art from around the world. It begins with a brief history of graffiti and its influence all over the world. It is then broken up first geographically then by artist or crew. There are pictures of the artist’s work and a bio of each artist or crew. The end of the book includes thoughts about where the field may be going in the future. It also includes a very helpful index of all the artists, crews, and even a glossary of important terms used to discuss graffiti.

My Review: This book isn’t new, yet I return to it time after time. I catch something new every time I flip through it. Graffiti is a diverse field and has immeasurable different styles and messages. Each of these artists has a unique point of view and something powerful to say. Due to this art’s medium it is by nature temporary which also affects the art immensely. Street art has always been political, and that is discussed and displayed in this volume. If you have an interest in graffiti or street art, this book is a great place to start. If you just love art, this book is filled with stunning, fascinating pieces.

Three Words That Describe This Book: artistic, diverse, provocative

Give it a Try if You Like: political art, graffiti

Rating: 5/5

Find it at the library!

About FDL Reads

FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.

Susie Rivera2019-11-04T12:36:04-06:00November 4th, 2019|

FDL Reads: Frankenstein

Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Narrated by George Guidall

Reviewed by: Sarah Baker, Library Volunteer

Genre: Classic, Horror

Suggested Age: Teens and Adults

What is this Book About? The classic tale of the dangers of science gone wrong, the hubris of man, and of what love and longing can drive someone to. Victor Frankenstein’s studies were diverse, but they allowed him to gain the insight into the creation of life. But his creation frightens him, and he abandons it, falling into a months’ long illness. Alone in the world, the creature wanders – lost, no memories or language, scared, but also scary. As time passes the creature learns, but it also realizes that it is feared and will never be accepted. He contrives a meeting between himself and Victor, demanding a mate. Victor finds himself unable to comply and a new cycle of violence and revenge begins. As the book draws to a close, you wonder who will survive and for how long.

My Review: People get worked up about the whole “Frankenstein Monster” thing. “You’re thinking of Frankenstein’s monster,” they say if you call the creature Frankenstein. But there are two monsters in this book, and one is named Frankenstein. Reading this sets Victor Frankenstein in two lights. On the one hand, he is intelligent enough to discover a secret that has eluded mankind for centuries. This is in part due to his extremely varied educational background. On the other hand, he shirks his responsibilities–A lot. He buries himself in work and ignores his family to the point they send someone to check on him. He ignores the horror of what he’s doing until the work is complete, then spurns the creature. He falls into some kind of fit followed by a long illness, and upon recovery, goes back to being a carefree man. Then the creature shows up and he hems and haws about EVERYTHING. When the creature presses him to create a mate, he puts off the task as long as possible, starts the work, then destroys it halfway through. At every sudden turn or death of a loved one, he goes into his fits and falls ill. And he doesn’t seem to be able to even decide if he wants to kill the creature.

The creature is a fascinating study of nature vs nurture. What might he have been if shown kindness? A blank slate at his rebirth, and with the ability to learn, he could have become, well, anything. But because he was shunned, feared, and even hunted, it turned him bitter and violent. Was that a natural part of his make-up? Or did circumstances drive him to it? We’ll never really know.

I went with the audio version of the book because gothic novels are a bit…well, they’re overly flowery and sometimes densely worded. There, I said it. They are products of their time, and they don’t always translate well into today’s use of language. But listening to it made the language less frustrating. It truly became a tale being told to you, transforming you into the sea captain hearing it from Victor. And George Guidall is a wonderful narrator with an impressive body of work. Great vocal range, excellent pronunciations, and the ability to switch from lighthearted to serious with ease.

There’s an important component to this book that gets noted but never really gets the impact or credit it should, and that is the author. Mary Shelley was only nineteen when she wrote this. In one stroke, she not only created the genre of science fiction, she also brought us the first creation story that did not involve divine involvement. (She was also pretty hardcore, and Goth on a level most of us can never reach. Check out her Wikipedia page or a biography like Mary Shelley : the strange, true tale of Frankenstein’s creator for more info.)

Three Words That Describe This Book: Gothic, Innovative,

Give it a Try if You Like: Pennydreadful, the Frankenstein movies, Victor LaValle’s Destroyer

Rating: 4/5

Find it at the library!

About FDL Reads

FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.

Susie Rivera2019-10-31T14:52:34-05:00October 31st, 2019|

FDL Reads: Stay Sexy and Don’t Get Murdered

Stay Sexy and Don’t Get Murdered by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark

Reviewed by: Beth Weimer, Communications Specialist

Genre: Memoir, Humor, Advice

Suggested Age: Adult

*Disclaimer: the book contains profanity and mature themes.

What is this Book About? This book is a “dual memoir” from the creators of the phenomenal hit true crime/comedy podcast My Favorite Murder. Structured around themes from their show, Karen and Georgia discuss difficult topics like addiction, mental health, feminism, and cultural issues (and a little murder, of course) with the candor, insight, and humor that 19 million listeners adore them for. Sharing personal experiences along with the survival tips they’ve coined (such as f*** politeness, stay out of the forest, and don’t be a f****** lunatic), Karen and Georgia also express gratitude for their success and the supportive community of Murderinos (those who are obsessed with true crime) that has formed around the show.

My Review: If you’re a fan of the podcast, what are you waiting for?? Hearing the authors read their own words in the audiobook is almost as enjoyable as listening to an MFM episode. (Bonus: some sections were recorded with live audiences and Paul Giamatti appears as a nod to a joke from the show.) Admittedly, the writing feels a bit stilted and the jokes somewhat forced — the format of a book simply cannot convey the conversational intimacy and hilarious, raw moments Karen and Georgia create on the podcast. I was slightly disappointed because I know Karen’s a better writer (although the chapter about her mother’s battle with Alzheimer’s bumped it up a full star), and it’s evident the book was compiled in a rush while their fame was exploding (podcasting, touring, and launching their own podcast network Exactly Right). Regardless, I’ll happily consume most anything they make. It’s hard to explain the essence of the show and the incredible impact of their advocacy for therapy and self-care, so if you’re curious listen to the podcast before you try the book. SSDGM!

Three Words That Describe This Book: Empowering, Endearing, Relatable

Give it a Try if You Like: Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay, Stiff by Mary Roach, I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara

Rating: 4/5

Find it at the library!

About FDL Reads

FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.

Susie Rivera2019-10-25T14:47:38-05:00October 25th, 2019|

FDL Reads: Archangel’s War

Archangel’s War by Nalini Singh

Reviewed by: Alexandra Schenk, Student Intern

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Suggested Age: Teens, Adults

What is this Book About? In a world where archangels rule vampires and humans, Elena Deveraux is a unique thing. The former mortal was changed into an angel by her lover, the archangel Raphael. Together with Elena’s friends and Raphael’s most trusted men, they fought the evil archangel of China once. But now Lijuan is back and even more dangerous than before. The archangel of New York will need powerful allies to defeat her this time. Within a constant changing world Elena and Raphael try to protect everything they love.

My Review: Some people love it, some people hate it: paranormal romance, I enjoy the genre very much. Granted, it is not high literature, but Nalini Singhs books are always easy to read. They make me laugh, they make me cry and the world building is simply amazing. The Guild Hunter series started with Angels’ Blood and includes twelve books, Archangel’s War being the last one so far. Some of the books could be read as standalones, but I would highly recommend reading them in order, especially Archangel’s War as it will not work for a reader who doesn’t know the history of the characters. If you read the whole series you will simply fall in love with the characters. And I’m serious about this, Singh describes all her angels and vampires as stunning beings. The males especially seem like the perfect book-boyfriends. But they not only look good, each of them has a unique background story and they fit perfectly in this crazy mixture between reality and fantasy where angels create vampires and archangels rule. Archangel’s War especially focuses on the main couple, Raphael and Elena, but a bunch of my beloved side characters also get a chance to shine. The book develops personal relationships between the characters, but we also get a lot of archangel politics and amazing fighting scenes. I love the world Nalini Singh created for her Guild Hunter series and I read each of the books in a few days. The only thing I didn’t like about Archangel’s War was the ending. It seemed so final, but there are still so many stories to be told! I’m not emotionally ready for a world where I don’t wait for a new book in one of my favorite book series!

Three Words That Describe This Book: fantastic, action, fun

Give it a Try if You Like: Paranormal romance, the Cassandra Palmer series by Karen Chance, the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward

Rating: 5/5

Find it at the library!

About FDL Reads

FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.

Susie Rivera2019-10-23T15:54:58-05:00October 23rd, 2019|

FDL Reads- Educated: A Memoir

Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover

Reviewed by: Becky Houghton, Reference Assistant

Genre: Memoir

Suggested Age: Adults

What is this Book About? Tara Westover grows up in an isolated, survivalist mountain home in Idaho. Public school education, medical care and “ the government’s influence” were not allowed by her parents who prepared Tara and her older siblings for the “End Times” by stockpiling gasoline, home canned peaches, and other supplies including a “to go” bag for the final days of the world. Tara spent her childhood doing heavy manual labor in her father’s junkyard and assisting her mother in the preparation of herbal medications and midwife duties. At seventeen, Tara left home after studying on her own to pass the ACT exam and went to college at Brigham Young University in Utah. Tara not only completed an undergraduate degree, but went on to attend Oxford University in England and obtain a PhD from Harvard.

My Review: This was both a fascinating and horrifying story for me. The deprivation and abuse that Tara suffered in her youth from her family circumstances and her older brother are a strong testimony to the resilience of the human soul. Due to her family’s belief that conventional medicine, including basic vaccinations were unnecessary, numerous medical emergencies from lacerations from the junkyard to concussions and burns from explosions were treated with the herbal medications prepared by Tara’s mother. Education was from the few books, mainly Mormon histories, in her father’s library. Abuse by her older brother, Sean, who suffered from a mental and emotional disorder that her parents refused to acknowledge was one of the hardest parts of Tara’s life for me to read. Tara’s exposure to the conventional world at college was a difficult time for her (having never heard of the Holocaust or the Civil Rights Movement), but her desire to learn and obtain an education prevailed and her innate intelligence earned her the necessary financial resources to continue this learning. This was not an easy book to read. Sometimes I wanted to escape to a lighter, less poignant read, but I am glad to have completed the book. It was worth the effort. This is a true triumph of the human spirit.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Horrifying, Inspiring, Triumphant

Give it a Try if You Like: Wild by Cheryl Strayed or Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Rating: 5/5

Find it at the library!

About FDL Reads

FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.

Susie Rivera2019-10-18T15:23:44-05:00October 18th, 2019|

FDL Reads: Shout!

Shout! By Laurie Halse Anderson

Reviewed by: Katie Smith, Reference Specialist

Genre: Autobiography/Memoir, Poetry

Suggested Age: Teens and Adults

What is this Book About? “This is a story of a girl who lost her voice and wrote herself a new one.” – SHOUT

Twenty years after writing Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson is back with a voice that is louder, stronger, and still frighteningly relevant. Written as a memoir-in-verse, SHOUT builds upon the groundwork of Speak and delves into the author’s real-life, traumatic encounters and personal struggles – such as her own rape at the age of thirteen, her father’s struggle with PTSD and resulting spousal abuse, turbulent home life, body shaming, living with depression, drug abuse, and societal misconceptions with consent and sexual assault – all with unflinching honesty. It is as vulnerable as it is rallying, and in the wake of #MeToo, her accounts (and call-to-action) are immeasurably important and timely. Anderson knows, after twenty years of talking with survivors and sharing in their pain, that her writing has the potential to unify, heal, and educate. As a survivor herself, she is unafraid to give advice to those who need it most and – for the sake of current and future generations – holds nothing back:

“Too many grown-ups tell kids to follow their dreams / like that’s going to get them somewhere / Auntie Laurie says follow your nightmares instead / cuz when you figure out what’s eating you / you can slay it.” – SHOUT

My Review: The audiobook of SHOUT is personally narrated by Laurie Halse Anderson, and listening to her voice shook me to the core – largely because her memoir is equal parts stunning beauty, horror, and undeniable rage. It’s raw, and exactly what #MeToo needs right now – a shout, rather than a whisper. What I valued most about SHOUT is that nothing is softened or held back. The trauma is laid bare for all to see and you’re faced with the awful, haunting reality – that sexual assault, depression, and trauma are real for many teens. She doesn’t sugar coat the truth or talk down to her audience, and for her readers this is incredibly empowering and helpful. VERDICT: An essential read for teens and adults – one that pulls no punches, is sometimes unbearably hard to read, and will most likely be one of the most influential books to come out during the #MeToo movement.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Painful, Controversial, Important

Give it a Try if You Like: Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, What Happens Next by Colleen Clayton, and Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough.

Rating: 5/5

Find it at the library!

About FDL Reads

FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.

Susie Rivera2019-10-15T11:47:50-05:00October 15th, 2019|

FDL Reads: Harry Potter and the Prizoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

Reviewed by: Jacob Roberts, Reference Assistant

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Suggested Age: Teens/Adults

What is this Book About? The third installment of the famed Harry Potter series is an oldie, but a goodie. It follows a young wizard in his third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There are many new obstacles for Harry and his friends Ron and Hermione such as Dementors, a new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, a serial killer on the loose, the fate of a hippogriff, and of course the looming fear that Voldemort could still be out there somewhere lurking in the shadows.

My Review: I chose this specific installment of the Harry Potter series primarily because of how different it feels to me compared to the rest of the series. It is not uncommon for both casual readers and “Potterheads” to point out the continual darkening and maturing of the series (after all, the series’ ability to grow with the reader is what has allowed it to continue to prevail and remain relevant since it’s initial publishing in 1997). However, although this book seems to take on a darker and more gritty tone with the escape of Sirius Black, what makes it stand out against the rest of the series for me is that it is arguably the only book in the series that strays away from Voldemort as the main antagonist. The only other book that comes close to this is the Half-Blood Prince, yet even then it is evident from the beginning that it is Voldemort’s wishes that drive the antagonists of the story. Therefore, I wanted to call special attention to Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, because even though it left the biggest plot of the entire series at the wayside, Rowling was able to create yet another wizarding masterpiece.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Dark, mysterious, fun

Give it a Try if You Like: The Magicians by Lev Grossman, Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs, or Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Rating: 5/5

Find it at the library!

About FDL Reads

FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.

Susie Rivera2019-10-12T11:00:55-05:00October 12th, 2019|