She Sheds and She Sheds Style by Erika Kotite

Reviewed by Ambrea

Like the man cave, “she sheds” are a place where a person can get away and enjoy the peace of their own space.  For the most part, these sheds are lovingly decorated but fully functioning spaces that are outside of the house—such as in a shed.  (However, they can be made however and wherever the builder so desires.)  These spaces are small, impactful places where ladies can go to simply getaway or indulge in their creative pursuits.

Needless to say, I was intrigued.  I love gardening in the spring and summer, so the thought of having a place to prepare and store seeds, hang my tools, and yet still have an enjoyable space of my own was a wonderful idea.  Plus, who doesn’t want a hideaway where they can sit and read for a couple hours in peace?  I picked up both She Sheds:  A Room of Your Own and She Sheds Style:  Make Your Space Your Own by Erika Kotite to start some research.

I quickly realized that she sheds can be a lot more intricate than simply plotting a pre-fabricated shed into your backyard.  In Kotite’s books, she details the ways in which she sheds can be built—discussing building resources, offering tips on re-purposing and recycling handy materials, as well as reviewing how to build a she shed from a kit—and delves into the decorating side to cover everything from functional and fabulous to barnyard chic.

Honestly, it’s quite a lot to take in when you know absolutely nothing about building or refurbishing a shed.  And that’s not even getting into the tiny details like electrical wiring, paint palettes, architectural details, and decoration.  It’s a bit daunting to say the least.

Although Kotite has many easy projects, as well as several budget-friendly suggestions, her books can feel a little overwhelming.  I liked many of the ideas I saw; in particular, I was very interested in the designing and building a she shed from a kit (which is detailed in She Sheds) and I loved the herringbone pattern brick floor she mentions in She Sheds Style.  However, I noticed many of the sheds she featured were incredibly complex and, in some cases, seemed humongous.  I realize all of the she sheds featured are just examples and a person can customize a she shed how they like, but I couldn’t help but feel that these projects were just way too much for me.

Plus, I had questions, like:  how do you keep a shed cool and breezy?  (I know from personal experience that they can get miserably hot in the summer, and I wouldn’t want to spend five minutes there let alone let it serve as a “getaway.”)  How do you combat humidity, especially if you’re planning to store materials that could be damaged?  What are your lighting options if you don’t have electricity?  How do you keep the mosquitoes or other creepy crawlies away?  I have more, but those were the most pressing and I don’t think they were quite answered.  I may not have done a deep enough reading, though.

Overall, I think She Sheds and She Sheds Style were interesting books.  They have helpful information, they have beautiful pictures, and they are enjoyable to browse.  I know I was certainly inspired to build my own shed; however, I think I’ll keep it simple and very budget friendly.  Dutch doors and wrought iron décor are cute and all, but maybe not realistic for my garden shed.

When the Lights Go Out by Mary Kubica

Reviewed by Kristin

Jessie Sloane and her mother Eden have only had each other.  While they don’t fit the mold of a traditional nuclear family, it works for them, and it’s not that unusual for children to grow up with a single mother these days anyway.  When Eden is diagnosed with cancer, Jessie faces losing her mother when she is barely out of her teens.  In her last days, Eden encourages Jessie to stretch her boundaries, to try new things, and to find herself.

In her mind-numbing grief, Jessie attempts to rebuild her life alone without her mother.  Her sorrow is compounded by an inability to sleep, and Jessie’s days and nights blur together as she finds more questions about the mother she thought she knew.  When Jessie applies for financial aid to attend a local college, a discrepancy with her social security number leads to even more questions about the life she and her mother had together.

Mary Kubica skillfully weaves together Eden’s 20-years-earlier story of her marriage to Aaron and their desperate attempts to conceive a child alongside Jessie’s present day quest to uncover her past.  Jessie’s insomnia makes her actions appear disjointed and nonsensical at times as the narrative reveals decisions she makes in an attempt to move on with her life.  As the story progresses, the tension rises to a fever pitch that had me fearing for Jessie’s life.

I had never read any of Kubica’s work before, but will definitely be seeking out her earlier titles:  The Good Girl, Pretty Baby, Don’t You Cry, and Every Last Lie.  She has published a psychological thriller every year since 2014 and is showing no signs of slowing down.  Kubica definitely kept me guessing and turning pages late into the night and I look forward to her other novels of suspense.

Nevermore: The Blood, Animal Farm, White Rage, Last Day, River Bodies, Ravenmaster

Reported by Kristin

Nevermore loves a good mystery, and The Blood: A Jem Flockhart Mystery by E. S. Thomson is no exception.  Third in the series, this time Jem and sidekick Will Quartermain are on a floating hospital called The Blood, where the investigators find much more sinister goings-on than might be expected in a medical establishment.  Our reader said that you don’t have to read the books in series order to enjoy them, and that most of the villains are intriguingly hiding in plain sight.

Next, a book club member enthused about the Netflix show Trotsky, and how it had inspired her to re-read the classic Animal Farm by George Orwell.  Reading it again as an adult, our reader easily was able to understand the human individuals represented by the animal characters.  Snowball the pig is very similar to Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky.  Czar Nicholas is represented by the farmer Mr. Jones, while the Old Master seems to be a mix of Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin.  Our reader’s enthusiastic reprisal of this school reading list standard was entertaining and enlightening.

Turning to non-fiction, White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of our Racial Divide by Carol Anderson made our next reader think deeply about the deep racial divisions within the United States.  From the post-Civil War era to today, people of color have been systematically discriminated against in subtle and not-so-subtle ways.  Our reader did not just give a positive review of this difficult to read book; she said she “highly, highly, highly recommends it.”

Going back in time, The Last Day:  Wrath, Ruin, and Reason in the Great Lisbon Earthquake of 1755 by Nicholas Shrady was another interesting read.  Long before the creation of the Richter scale, the earthquake was probably a “9,” hitting Lisbon, Portugal on a Sunday morning.  Shaking for over ten minutes, buildings tumbled, tsunamis formed and the city burned.  The destruction and the rebuilding of the city captivated our reader.

The next book didn’t get such a positive recommendation: River Bodies by Karen Katchur.  Becca Kingsley is a veterinarian who has returned to small town Pennsylvania to be with her dying father.  When a local murder may be connected to a cold case from twenty years ago, Becca becomes involved.  Our reader said that unfortunately this thriller was somewhat mediocre, and could have benefited from having 50-60 pages of the “whodunit” revelation removed.

Finally, another reader enjoyed The Ravenmaster: My Life with the Ravens at the Tower of London by Christopher Skaife.  Folklore claims that if the ravens are ever removed that Britain and the Crown would fall.  Skaife had served the palace for decades before becoming responsible for the ravens.  Our reader enjoyed that the book contained so many details about the keeper himself, but also about the pageantry surrounding the care of keeping of the ravens.

The Witch Boy by Molly Knox Ostertag

Reviewed by Ambrea

I picked up The Witch Boy by Molly Knox Ostertag on a whim.  I saw it hanging around the Teen Library and I thought, “Why not?”  It has magic, colorful panels, interesting characters and, even better, an intriguing story.

In Aster’s family, girls are raised to become witches while boys are trained to become shapeshifters—and anyone who dares to upset this balance is promptly exiles.  Unfortunately, Aster has a knack for witchery and, despite reaching his thirteenth birthday, he’s yet to shapeshifte like the other boys.  But when a mysterious creature threats his family and abducts the other boys, Aster knows he can help—not as a shapeshifter, but as a witch.

I really enjoyed reading The Witch Boy.  It reminds me of other graphic novels I’ve read, such as Nimona by Noelle Stevenson and The Lumberjanes (which also happens to be created by Stevenson), because it has such bright colors and a lovely sense of humor and, more importantly, it’s a story with a big heart.  I loved reading about Aster’s journey, as he comes to terms with his talent for witchery—as he struggles with his family history and his future within his family.

I love fantasy and magic anyway, so it was incredibly easy to fall in love with Ostertag’s book and the characters she created.  Moreover, it’s a heartwarming story about love, acceptance, friendship and finding one’s place within the world.  I mean, how could I not fall in love with something so sweet and wholesome and, well, good?

I will note that the graphic novel falls under the category of “middle grade.”  Although I found The Witch Boy to be complex enough to keep me entertained, it is geared for a younger audience.  The language and the content can sometimes reflect this; however, I think Ostertag’s book definitely deserves a chance, especially if you’re looking for something light and fun and heartwarming.

The Strange Disappearance of a Bollywood Star by Vaseem Khan

Reviewed by Jeanne

Police Inspector Chopra (retired) is enjoying his new job as a private investigator.  He named his business "The Baby Ganesh Agency" after his sidekick, a baby elephant inherited from his uncle. Ganesh certainly seems to have a flare for detective work, or so thinks Chopra-- or maybe he just enjoys having the energetic little elephant around.

In this third entry in the series, Chopra receives a call from a legendary Bollywood star who is searching for her missing son, Vikram.  The boy was starting to make a name for himself as an actor, but had the reputation of being difficult.  Now he’s starring in one of the biggest productions ever, but has inexplicably vanished.   He’s disappeared before, so it’s possible that he’s off partying somewhere but Chopra is troubled by some of the messages the young man had received.

Meanwhile, Chopra’s associate Rangwalla has been summoned before the Queen of Mysore, a formidable person who rules the eunuchs of the Red Fort.  She has been supplying entertainers for a mysterious patron who never appears.  He pays well, the girls aren’t harmed, but the Queen suspects there may be some malicious intent behind it. She wants to know exactly what is going on and the only way to find out is for Rangwalla to go undercover—as a eunuch.

I have enjoyed the previous books in the series, in part because I like the exotic (to me, anyway) setting and I am fond of the characters.  In some ways the books remind me of Alexander McCall Smith’s No. 1 Ladies Detective series:  not only is there a warmth to the books, but the characters have strong moral beliefs in things like justice and mercy and are able to recognize their own limitations. Chopra was a bit of a thorn in the side of authority when he was a policeman because he stood above the corruption: he didn’t take bribes and he didn’t turn a blind eye to crimes committed by the wealthy and/or powerful but did a thorough investigation no matter where it led him. There’s a well-developed supporting cast, too:  Poppy, Chopra’s devoted but independent wife; Irfan, a street urchin who they have befriended; Rangwalla, the more conventional but ever loyal assistant; and, of course, the baby elephant Ganesh, who steals every scene he is in.

The Indian setting was especially vivid in Bollywood Star.  The movie industry is incredibly popular, and everyone knows about the private lives of the actors.  Productions are lush and expensive, and many are based on Indian literature, history, or religion.

More than the film industry aspect—which reminded me of the American film industry in the 30s-50s, with the carefully crafted images of the actors—I was fascinated with the culture of the eunuchs.  They occupy an odd niche in Indian society where they are both reviled and feared.  They refer to themselves as female, hence the Queen. 

I am looking forward to the next in the series!

The books are:

The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra

The Perplexing Theft of the Jewel in the Crown

The Strange Disappearance of a Bollywood Star

Murder at the Grand Raj Palace