An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green

Reviewed by Kristin

Hank Green’s debut novel, An Absolutely Remarkable Thing, is a science-fiction comedic fantasy of epic proportions.  Meet April May, the twenty-something narrator who works crazy long hours at a graphic design job she hates just so that she can fulfill the artist’s dream of immersing herself in the creative culture that is New York City.  One night (well, technically at 2:45 am) while leaving work, April sees something that changes her life:  a ten foot tall robot sculpture dressed in samurai armor.  On a whim, she calls her friend art school friend Andy Skampt and tells him to bring a video camera.

“Hello!  I’m April May, and I’m here at 23^rd and Lexington with an
unannounced and peculiar visitor….”

A few minutes of recording (deciding to name the robot Carl,) a little editing, an upload to YouTube, and suddenly April and Andy have a viral video with more than a million views overnight.  But the thing is, Carl isn’t some avant garde art installation.  No one knows how he arrived in the middle of Manhattan across from the Gramercy Theatre.  Carl is an international mystery, and April has unintentionally scooped all the other news outlets in the world.  People can’t stop talking about New York Carl.  Or Beijing Carl.  Or Mumbai Carl.  Or Hong Kong Carl.  Or the other 60 Carls who have suddenly materialized in major metropolitan areas around the world.

While the Carls form a major framework for the plot, the strength of this story lies in the characters.  April May is complex, and while she may not admit her feelings to her friends/family/lovers, she is self-aware and honest with herself throughout her narrative.  Dealing with sudden cyber-fame and constant interactions on social media, April learns much about herself.  Being thrust into the public spotlight, April’s personal relationships begin to change and she must decide her priorities in this Carl business, and indeed, in her life.

Hank Green became internet-famous as the creator of the YouTube channel VlogBrothers, with his brother John Green, already a best-selling author of young adult fiction.  The brothers’ creativity also extends to the brilliant fast-paced educational YouTube videos Crash Course and SciShow.  Trust me—we used Crash Course as supplementary material in homeschooling, and anything that can engage a teenager with the War of 1812 is worth watching!

Hank and John Green also promote positive self-image to young adults, having created a culture where it is okay to be different, and where the underdog often ends up as the hero figure.  Not many middle aged male authors seem to be able to voice a young woman protagonist, but both Greens have taken on the challenge and excelled in their tasks.  Their online followers often claim the name of Nerdfighters, with the goal to come together and do awesome things.  DFTBA, or “Don’t Forget to Be Awesome” is a common exhortation.

I look forward to seeing more from Hank Green.  With a debut like this absolutely remarkable book, he likely has his readers hanging on the edge of their seats for his next installation.

My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

Reviewed by Christy

            Hardworking nurse Korede is the responsible oldest child, always taking care of her spoiled little sister Ayoola and cleaning up her messes.  She does this quite literally when Ayoola calls her in a panic; claiming she’s just killed her boyfriend in self-defense.  Korede rushes over with cleaning supplies, ready to begin scrubbing and bleaching. This is the third boyfriend in a row that Ayoola has killed “in self-defense”.

            Braithwaite’s short novel, set in Nigeria, tells the story of two close sisters tied even closer by their shared secret. Poor Korede is downtrodden. She has a good job as a nurse but her no-nonsense work ethic hasn’t really earned her any friends in her lackadaisical co-workers. A handsome doctor who catches her eye sees her for the good nurse that she is but nothing more. The only person she really feels close to is her younger sister Ayoola, whom everyone considers the Beautiful One. But Ayoola’s beauty masks a cruelty streak.  Korede knows it’s wrong to help her sister cover up her crimes but she can’t bear the thought of her being taken away. It isn’t until the handsome doctor takes an interest in Ayoola that Korede seriously considers doing the right thing and exposing her sister.

            My Sister, the Serial Killer is marketed as “satire meets slasher” and “darkly funny” but I found it very sad more than anything. Even on her best days Ayoola is a selfish, immature brat who takes everything her sister does for her for granted. Their family openly favors Ayoola as well, a fact Korede accepted a long time ago and just sees as normal now. There is also a back story about their abusive, philandering father that is heartbreaking as well. But the novel is not without humor; like Korede constantly having to stop Ayoola from uploading inane pictures to Instagram because she’s supposed to be mourning her “missing” boyfriend.

            Despite the gloominess of Korede’s life, I really enjoyed this novel. It’s a quick and easy read, and I liked reading the Nigerian details sprinkled throughout the book. Braithwaite does a good job of getting straight to the point without sacrificing characterization. Readers will quickly know exactly what kind of person Korede is and exactly what kind of person Ayoola is. My Sister, the Serial Killer will be released on November 20, 2018.

            **I received an ARC ebook of this title from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. **   

Nevermore: Laura Ingalls, War and Turpentine, the Nile, Clock Dance, Janice Holt Giles

Reported by Jeanne 

Laura Ingalls Wilder’s story continues to fascinate after all these years.  Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Caroline Fraser is a well-written, thorough biography of Wilder which uses various documents and accounts to shed light on the Little House books.  Real life conditions of the time were often much harsher than the books indicate.  Our reader remarked that the misuse of the land played a significant role in the hardships of the time, and that the book did deal with the treatment of Native Americans in that era.  The author also discussed the controversy about the books’ authorship:  was it really Laura or was it her daughter Rose who wrote them?  Our reader felt it was an entertaining book, but thought there was more to be discovered about Laura.

Dutch author Stefan Hertmans also wrote a book of biographical fiction, War and Turpentine, about his grandfather, an artist who was forced to become a soldier during World War I.  Using his grandfather’s journals as a starting point, Hertmans imagines Urbain Martien’s life and juxtaposes it against his own.  Our reviewer said it was enthralling, and compared it to The Red Badge of Courage for its depiction of war. The book does ask the question, “Why do we fight?” It’s beautifully written and is highly recommended.

Walking the Nile by Levison Wood is the story of one man’s trek the length of the Nile—all 4250 miles of it, the first person to do so on foot.  The Nile runs through Egypt, Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan, and Rwanda meaning that Wood traveled through forests, deserts, and jungles. It was a dangerous journey; not only because of crocodiles, hippos, cobras, but some of the areas were also active war zones.   Wood, a British veteran of Afghanistan, gives a brief history of each place but also talks to some of the current inhabitants.  Our reader said he made a hunky guide (there are photos) and greatly enjoyed the tour.

 Our next reader had praise for Anne Tyler’s Clock Dance.  The story begins with a young girl named Willa who grows up in a dysfunctional family, attends college, marries, has children and becomes a widow. Remarried but neglected, Willa comes to the rescue when her son’s ex-girlfriend Denise calls for help after an injury incapacitates her, leaving her young daughter with no one to care for her. Tyler’s characters are usually people the reader can relate to, said our reviewer, and often overlooked women.  She saw the book as addressing how we deal with time after a loss, and she recommended Clock Dance and Anne Tyler books in general.

Finally, a Nevermore member has been reading the novels of Janice Holt Giles, an author best known for her historical novels.  The Believers was originally published in 1957 and is the third novel of the “Kentucky trilogy.” Set in the 1800s, Richard Cooper and his wife Rebecca seek comfort after the death of their baby.  They join the Shakers, a religious community in which men and women lead separate lives. Richard finds spiritual solace, but Rebecca is determined to try to bring her husband back into the world.  Our reader has been enjoying Giles’ books for their attention to historical detail and said this one provides ample information on the Shakers.

Tune In: The Beatles – All These Years, Vol. 1 by Mark Lewisohn

Reviewed by Kristin

Mark Lewisohn is not just a casual music fan who decided to write a book about the Beatles.  He is known as the world authority on the group, perhaps the best Beatles historian of this, or any age.  It is no wonder that this first volume of a planned trilogy weighs in at over 900 pages, including about 100 pages of notes, credits, and an index.  Although a tremendous undertaking just to read the book, I believe it is well worth the time of any Beatles fan.  Exhaustively researched (the first volume took Lewisohn almost a decade,) Tune In utilizes thousands of primary documents and hundreds of new interviews to tell the story of how the Beatles came to be.

Tune In begins in January 1958, when 17-year-old John Lennon invited 15-year-old Paul McCartney to join the Quarry Men, the musical group that John had begun in 1956-57.  This first volume spans the era through December 1962, the point when the Beatles were beginning to be known to the wider music world.  Lewisohn discusses the inclusion of Pete Best, George Harrison, Stuart Sutcliffe, Ringo Starr, and a few other musicians who played in some version of the group which would come to be known as the Beatles, meticulously noting how and when friends and acquaintances were added and/or removed from the group.  Manager Brian Epstein and producer George Martin’s significant influences are considered as well.

From a couple of teenage boys playing around on their guitars, to the single Love Me Do making a splash by hitting the charts in the fall of 1962 and peaking at number seventeen, Tune In examines those early years.  Playing clubs in Liverpool and Hamburg, Germany honed their skills, and much text is dedicated to the breadth of their live experience before being awarded recording contracts.  Lewisohn delves into the influence that musicians such as Little Richard, Buddy Holly, and Elvis had on the Beatles, as well as other societal influences of the post-World War II era.

Published in 2013, Tune In is a comprehensive telling of the Beatles early years.  It was an easy “read” for me as I listened to the audiobook version.  I was entertained for 43+ hours over the last few weeks as I drove, fixed dinner, etc.  This is one of those “driveway stories,” where I just couldn’t quite bring myself to turn off the book even though I had arrived home.  After finishing the audio version, I checked out the print version from the library as there are quite a few interesting photographs.  The author does not have a definite date for the publication of the next volume; I am anxiously awaiting that information.  Although the story is of all those years ago, the Beatles still hold our attention and our hearts, and Lewisohn is a master storyteller who should not be missed.

David Sedaris

Reviewed by Jeanne

I first encountered David Sedaris on NPR with his classic story, “The Santaland Diaries.”  I soon heard him on other shows but never picked up a book until this summer.  I started with Me Talk Pretty One Day because I knew part of the book was about living in France.  The first section dealt with Sedaris’ early years, transplanted to North Carolina along with his parents and siblings.  It was a great deal of culture shock for all concerned.  Sedaris’ youth, move to New York, and struggle to simply survive in the city while stuck in a variety of unsatisfying jobs were all covered as well. The second part of the book was more focused on Sedaris’ life in France.  He and his partner, Hugh, bought a house and Sedaris set about learning French, which wasn’t easy as the title of the book implies. 

Now comes the hard part:  how to describe Sedaris’ writing to someone who has never read him.

First off, they are wonderfully well written.  Sedaris knows how to turn a phrase and has a wide vocabulary to express his meaning, though it never feels as if he is showing off.  More than anything else, though, he knows how to control a narrative.  It’s almost like a symphony: there are cringe-inducing incidents, moments of despair and futility, hilarious interludes, and a good dose of thoughtful observations—followed by something rather appalling.  He plays his audience like a grand piano.

I followed Me Talk Pretty One Day with the audio version of his latest book, Calypso.  Sedaris himself does the narration and does a predictably masterful job.  Some of the subject matter is darker this time, as his sister Tiffany has committed suicide.  This thread runs through the entire book as family members pause at different times to question and to wonder: what drove her to do it?  As always, Sedaris is brutally honest, even quoting a comment left by a non-family member accusing the family of causing Tiffany’s suicide.

Also as always, the stories are entertaining, thoughtful and frequently hilarious.  One reoccurring event is the family gathering at a beach house Sedaris bought in North Carolina.  He recounts childhood visits to the beach and how in the first flush of the visit his father would proclaim that they would buy a house there (to wild acclaim from the children) then walk back the idea as the week progressed. So Sedaris decides to make that notion come true.  He envisions it as a family retreat and as such, refuses to allow a TV in the house, leading to one of my favorite moments in the book. I won’t spoil it for you.

After reading comments on Goodreads, I think now that perhaps I should have started with his first book, Naked, or such was the recommendations by many.  There is more family background presented and might have given me more insight during Me Talk Pretty, though I enjoyed it as was.  However, I am going to make Naked my next Sedaris book, before I pick up any others.