My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella

 This audio book was twelve hours of wit and fun and romance and juicy story. It was the perfect kind of book to keep me totally entertained as I drove from Vacaville to St. George over two days in rainy November!

As I drove the "country roads" south of Vacaville to connect with Highway 99, it kept me calm and going. I didn't even worry too much about the signs warning of potential flooding, but kept on going. The tone of this engaging story is light and funny, so it helped me not take myself too seriously! Honestly, it made the drive home pleasant.

When I neared Vegas, I didn't want to stop the story so I could shop at Ikea. But I did, and the break was very good for me! 

I really enjoyed the obvious short-sightedness of the immature Katie, who became Kat when she moved to London. As the story rolled on, and she gained maturity, she returned to Katie and revealed more and more of who she really was. Although it's light and fun and silly, the basic message of being yourself was a really good one for young adults, or really for anyone of any age! Her obsession with her boss's, Demeter's lifestyle, was a cautionary tale of truth! 

I also related to her struggle to remain in London or return to her country life; the struggle of having to choose reminded me of returning to America after my sojourn in Berlin. Can you really have the best of both worlds? I'm wondering about that as I watch Joerg be very homesick for Germany. He thought he had chosen, but now I see some regret creeping in... An interesting dilemma for sure. 

Tiger Daughter by Rebecca Kim

 Another audio book, a captivating one. I was driving to Sacramento, and enjoying the Bicycling with Butterflies nonfiction story, but it was rather boring once I got to Sacramento, and decided to try out this one instead. I'm so happy I did! It was fun to listen to on my walks and on my drives to and from Napa and Sacramento from Vacaville. Ann did a lot of the driving, but when I was alone, I really enjoyed this story.

The characters were fascinating. The Chinese girl, Wen, tried to crack open the friendship of her taciturn and brilliant friend Henry. Their relationship unfolded as Wen gradually broke through. Wen's relationship with her parents formed the backbone of the story, mainly because they were so unbelievably strict. When tragedy struck Henry's family, the two families become friends, and the outlook is brighter. In the course of the story, though, Wen's struggle with her parents is hard to listen to. That her father could be that broken was tough. Her mother's softening, though, was sweet. And a good, but unknown ending.

One aspect of this story that was particularly fun for me was that it was set in Australia. So the racism against the Chinese was of Aussies, not Americans, for a change. I also really enjoyed the accent of the reader--very well done!

This Library app, Libby, is so much fun! Easy to use and free! I can see myself really enjoying lots more stories! 

Imposter Syndrome by Patricia Park

 This audio book that I downloaded last night came "librarian recommended" from the best books of the year. It looked interesting, and I'll tell you, it captivated me from St. George clear to Fresno as I drove today, It made the trip fly by. I left at 7 AM and didn't even turn it on until almost to Mesquite. I realized several times, that I was watching the road, but remembered nothing about it. Maybe it's unsafe to be so caught up in a story, but I was grateful I could focus on that and not, for example, on the somewhat scary fog I encountered around Tehacipi. I didn't want to stop for bathroom or lunch breaks. I drove through McDonald's for a frozen coke so I could keep listening. So good!

The main character, Alejandra Kim, descends from Korean Argentinians, and we suffer and relate with her as she attends her private high school on scholarship and meets racism at almost every turn. This theme is thoughtfully handled with many nuances and nothing ahem, black and white. Ale's ambivalence about being a person who fits in vs. someone who calls out blatant racism is instructive to watch. I really enjoyed the journey of her growth through her interactions with her friends and family. 

The New York City milieu plays a significant role in the story as well, as Ale travels to friends and to work and to school. Her description of her barrio and feeling at home is poignant. Her insistence on going to an expensive college and her blindness to her mother's poverty reminded me of my own selfishness thiat that period in MY life. It's just really well done, and I didn't like the somewhat frequent F-bombs, I know that's probably authentic...

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

 I finally figured out the free Libby library app, and was able to listen to the amazing novel about an uncompromising woman Chemist from the sixties whose sensibilities were wayyyyy ahead of her time, and probably could have only be written in retrospect. 

I enjoyed the characters, the dog, and the way the story told the backstories of the characters. Although they were all somewhat extreme and cartoonish, they had real things to say and brought the theme to life. The way the different threads came together at the end was marvelous to behold.

HOWEVER! The notion that scientists have to be dishonest or deny evidence to believe in God is utter trash and completely untrue! I understand the frustration with religion and the hate it can spawn when misguided, but still, I don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. And I don't even believe women were so "religious" in the sixties, the way they were portrayed. To posit atheism as the main character's philosophy, based on "science" and as a natural conclusion, was disingenuous at best. All science and all evidence-based vs. religion is a false dichotomy and I didn't like the way it was woven and portrayed.

And yet...there is truth in the notion that many traditions will keep people oppressed and women especially. 

The plot moved beautifully forward and I envied Elizabeth Zott's commitment to do what she felt was right, no matter the consequences. 

I also enjoyed the notion that chemistry and cooking are about life and are important. Well done. Mostly okay language, too, with a few exceptions. Rather graphic rape scene, but it served a purpose.

Listening to this story was delightful and made my walks and housecleaning very enjoyable!

Restart by Gordon Korman

 I've been experimenting with the public library app, Libby. The first audio book I've been able to access on this app was this one. Although it's a YA title, I really enjoyed it! The characters were fun and some were predictable and over the top, but the growth of the main character was fun to observe. His jock-father, a junior high football star in his youth, was particularly over the top and not believable!

I enjoyed the humor and conversations that this author was able to share. It felt pretty real for thirteen-year-olds, though I wouldn't know that for sure! The story kept moving and took some interesting twists and turns, which was enjoyable. The different audio voices were effective in helping me keep the different characters straight. I especially enjoyed the kid who kept trying to make video for YouTube that would go viral. He was a hoot!

Lightning Strike by William Kent Krueger

 I've read some Krueger before and enjoyed it. At last month's book club here in St. George, we decided to read This Tender Land, which I have read years ago. I decided to read it again, and, while at the library browsing, I came upon this one. It's the prequel to his "popular" Cork O'Connor series. So, I thought, I'll give this one a try. It's good. Not as lyrical or inspiring as his others, but okay. Not a great detective story either, but I enjoyed the characters. It's kind of low key.

I enjoyed the accurate depiction of the stress between Native Americans and the whites who live nearby the reservations. This story is set in Minnesota, but is very like what I felt and saw in South Dakota, though a bit over-simplified. I liked the twelve-year-old Cork character--what a good and honest kid! I may read another one of this series when he's an adult, but may not. We'll see. Still searching for some great authors and some great literature! Sigh...