Nevermore: Gregory Maguire, Leon Uris, Sy Montgomery, Johann Hari, Neil Gaiman

Reported by Kayla 

Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire

Set in seventeenth-century Holland, this story follows an unlikely heroine, Iris, who is swept from the lowly streets of Haarlem into a world of wealth and success. Her path becomes intertwined with that of her mysterious soon-to-be sister, and quickly Iris begins to discover the secrets of her new household. In this retelling of Cinderella, Maguire addresses questions about the fate of the ugly stepsister and the untold curses that accompany Cinderella’s looks. Our reader recommends this book for readers who enjoy Maguire’s other popular titles, such as Wicked.

Trinity by Leon Uris

Trinity, a 1974 novel by Leon Uris is a bestseller around the world and received praise from one of our Nevermore readers during this week’s discussion. This historical saga captures the struggles and triumphs of Ireland’s struggle for freedom, from the famine to the Easter Rising. The story follows three Irish families divided by class, faith, and prejudices. Our reader recommended this book, and said it was a treat to listen to on audiobook.

Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression - and the Unexpected Solutions by Johann Hari

This New York Times bestseller explores the causes and cures of depression and anxiety in a way that may change how we think about these conditions today.  Hari teamed up with social scientists all over the world who are uncovering new evidence about the causes of depression and anxiety disorders in our brains. Identifying lifestyle issues as a major contributor, the book explores nine causes of depression as well as seven very different solutions. Our reader found this book to be a very interesting read.

The Magnificent Migration: On Safari with Africa’s Last Great Herds by Sy Montgomery

Award winning nature writer, Sy Montgomery, takes readers on an emotional journey in this account of some of the greatest migrations on Earth. While Montgomery does focus on the migration of the wildebeest in the Serengeti, many other remarkable migrations  are documented in the book such as that of the Monarch butterfly. The inclusion of beautiful color photography and an abundance of nature facts makes this one a must-read for nature and animal lovers.

Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman

This story, a follow up to American Gods, follows Fat Charlie who leads a seemingly normal life until he finds out his deceased father was a god. While still reeling from that information, he also finds out that he has a brother who is about to enter his life - bringing with him adventure and danger. Our reader felt this book was a great escape, and recommends this title for fans of Gaiman or anyone who is looking for a story with a little magic.

The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness by Sy Montgomery

Reviewed by Kristin

I never thought a book about octopuses would be interesting.  Sure, they are kind of cool and pretty to look at behind glass at an aquarium, but I couldn’t imagine reading an entire book about them.  However, a Nevermore book club reader absolutely raved about The Soul of an Octopus, so I decided to give it a try.  Sy Montgomery is a naturalist known for her non-fiction books for both adults and children, and I was pleasantly surprised by the depths she reached in this volume.

Montgomery forged a relationship with the New England Aquarium in Boston that allowed her behind the scenes and eventually earned her a volunteer badge with the grand title of “Octopus Observer.”  From Athena the giant Pacific octopus to tiny Karma, (only nine or ten pounds when she first arrived,) Montgomery learned that each octopus had a distinct personality and the intelligence to remember individual humans.

The author was amazed at how octopuses can gather so much information using their eight limbs and thousands of suckers.  Even their brains are so unlike other animals; while human brains have four lobes, octopus brains have as many as 50 to 75 lobes.  Not only that, but most of their neural activity is located in their arms.  It’s no wonder that an octopus’ front arms are fully capable of doing one thing while their back arms are doing something entirely different.  Very dexterous, octopuses are also known as accomplished escape artists.

I also learned that octopuses have a relatively short life span, perhaps only three or four years in captivity.  They may have much shorter lives in the open ocean where there are predators lurking behind every plant and rock.  While it may seem cruel to contain these creatures in an aquarium, Montgomery points out that aquarists acknowledge that they are changing the fate of the individual octopus, but promoting human knowledge of the wild creatures which will in turn protect their entire species.

Montgomery imbues her writing with such a sense of wonder that I was drawn into her experiences.  I can’t quite imagine what it must feel like to have my human arm explored by the tentacles of an octopus, but I can understand that it must be a very unique and sensational experience.