Audiobook: Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

How did I end up reading a Celebrity Memoir about someone I knew nothing about?

I have to say I typically avoid celebrity nonfiction. I didn't seek out Trevor Noah's memoir "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood."
I knew it was popular, in fact I'd even recommend it to readers at my library when it seemed to fit what they were wanting to read. How did I end up listening to it? ALA 2018. I don't remember the specifics of which vendor or what workshop I got it at but I feel immensely lucky to have ended up with this title.

Who Is Trevor Noah and why should I care?

Prior to this book I knew nothing about the Apartheid in South Africa. I knew things were pretty bad in the Southern United States with Jim Crow, but nothing on the level of what Noah experienced in his childhood. Popping the disk into my player, to be honest I only had the vaguest notion of who he was. I knew he was on Comedy Central, he was probably pretty funny, and he narrated his own audiobook.

Takeaway after Listening

I am so glad I listened to the audiobook rather than trying to read his life's story. I was amazed listening to his recounting of the hardships he and his mother went through, the humor that was kept throughout, and how he was able to come so far. Between how he was able to see the humor looking back in many of the situations he found himself in throughout his youth, where he would stop to explain nuance of the culture, to simply pronouncing different things, Noah was the perfect person to tell his story and tell about growing up in South Africa in such a way that the average Joe will probably remain engaged and listen all the way through.

Should you read it?

I can think of a couple people who might not enjoy this story but overall I'd recommend it depending on what you are after. Looking back there was no way I'd sit down with a tome about the Apartheid, or a book about how difficult things are for the South African peoples on their own, This definitely isn't a story for the easily upset (gun violence, racism, domestic abuse). It definitely is told in such a way that I believe it can pull in almost any listener/reader.

All You Can Ever Know by Nicole Chung

Author Bio:

Nicole Chung

• From Nicole Chung's Website

The Opening:

From the Cover:

What does it mean to lose your roots—within your culture, within your family—and what happens when you find them?
Nicole Chung was born severely premature, placed for adoption by her Korean parents, and raised by a white family in a sheltered Oregon town. From childhood, she heard the story of her adoption as a comforting, prepackaged myth. She believed that her biological parents had made the ultimate sacrifice in the hope of giving her a better life, that forever feeling slightly out of place was her fate as a transracial adoptee. But as Nicole grew up—facing prejudice her adoptive family couldn’t see, finding her identity as an Asian American and as a writer, becoming ever more curious about where she came from—she wondered if the story she’d been told was the whole truth.
With warmth, candor, and startling insight, Nicole Chung tells of her search for the people who gave her up, which coincided with the birth of her own child. All You Can Ever Know is a profound, moving chronicle of surprising connections and the repercussions of unearthing painful family secrets—vital reading for anyone who has ever struggled to figure out where they belong.

The Structure of All You Can Ever Know:

I enjoyed the structure of All You Can Ever Know insofar as memoirs go it was linear, the author communicated clearly and her voice was relatable. Chung goes forward outlining what it was like growing up in a loving family while at the same time growing up as a transracial adoptee. She does a good job of outlining her life and her childhood, and what ultimately encouraged her to seek out answers. Overall this memoir was well edited and put together.

My Takeaway:

This is a great book to read. It's not too long, however there is some repetition of sentiment at times. Maybe this was with the intent of emphasizing certain aspects of Chung's experience and perception of her family, however I did notice some overlap. In a time where there is so much of people trying to do the right thing or adopting across racial boundaries her story is priceless in helping others understand the world she grew up in. It definitely is something I believe will help people see the world more clearly and be empathetic to those around them.

Who Should Read All You Can Ever Know?

This memoir I believe would suit anyone looking to adopt or understand the world of adoption and adoptees. All You Can Ever Know looks at Chung trying to decipher who she is and her identity. Readers that enjoy self realization and internal journeys will probably enjoy her book.

What to read next?

• Educated by Tara Westover
• Becoming by Michelle Obama
• Wild by Cheryl Strayed

An Act of Villainy (Amory Ames #5) by Ashley Weaver

An Act of Villainy

Author Bio:

Ashley Weaver

• From Amazon
• From Ashley Weaver's Website

The Opening:

From the Cover:

Walking through London’s West End after a night at the theater, Amory Ames and her husband Milo run into wealthy investor and former actor Gerard Holloway. Holloway and his wife Georgina are old friends of theirs, and when Holloway invites them to the dress rehearsal of a new play he is directing, Amory readily accepts.

However, Amory is shocked to learn that Holloway has cast his mistress, actress Flora Bell, in the lead role. Furthermore, the casual invitation is not what it seems―he admits to Amory and Milo that Flora has been receiving threatening letters, and he needs their help in finding the mysterious sender. Despite Amory’s conflicting feelings―not only does she feel loyalty to Georgina, but the disintegration of the Holloways’ perfect marriage seems to bode ill for her own sometimes delicate relationship―her curiosity gets the better of her, and she begins to make inquiries.

It quickly becomes clear that each member of the cast has reason to resent Flora―and with a group so skilled in the art of deception, it isn’t easy to separate truth from illusion. When vague threats escalate, the scene is set for murder, and Amory and Milo must find the killer before the final curtain falls.

The Structure of An Act of Villainy:

The cover lays out the story pretty well. Our protagonist Amory and her husband are leaving the theater when they bump into an old friend who lo and behold has a theatre mystery that needs to be solved. Through the book I noticed that the story almost progresses as I think a song might with a call and response. Amory askes her suspects friends questions, and they reply. To some degree I felt like this book was a verbal seesaw. There was also a theme where Amory's relationship with Milo is being contrasted with another couple in the story. It did a good job of trying to push why Amory is invested in the situation.

My Takeaway:

This was an easy read for me. With the call-response framework, and other themes running throughout, I enjoyed it somewhat, however I was more attracted to the author's descriptions of what Amory and others were wearing or the settings than the actual action at times. If you would like an easy historic mystery to curl up with and you liked Nancy Drew when you were little, you'll probably enjoy this.

Who Should Read An Act of Villainy?

If you are looking for a work where you can just sit back and enjoy the scenery this is a good book for you. Weaver's descriptions of settings and attire are great! If you are looking for engaging conversations and less of a "the hunt is on" chase by the protagonist this book won't be for you. 

What to read next?

• Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen
• Cocaine Blues (A Phryne Fisher Mystery) by Kerry Greenwood

An Unwated Guest by Shari Lapena

An Unwanted Guest

Author Bio:

From Shari Lapena's Website

From Shari Lapena's Wikipedia page

The Opening:

From the Cover:
It's winter in the Catskills and Mitchell's Inn, nestled deep in the woods, is the perfect setting for a relaxing--maybe even romantic--weekend away. It boasts spacious old rooms with huge woodburning fireplaces, a well-stocked wine cellar, and opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or just curling up with a good murder mystery. So when the weather takes a turn for the worse, and a blizzard cuts off the electricity--and all contact with the outside world--the guests settle in for the long haul. Soon, though, one of the guests turns up dead--it looks like an accident. But when a second guest dies, they start to panic. Within the snowed-in paradise, something--or someone--is picking off the guests one by one. And there's nothing they can do but hunker down and hope they can survive the storm.

The Structure of An Unwanted Guest:

When we first arrive at Mitchell's Inn it seems that we are in for a cozy weekend with maybe a little domestic intrigues and interpersonal conflicts. Think again! Things deteriorate rapidly as bodies begin to accumulate. What could be the cause? There's no way he did it, or did she? Maybe there is an unknown party that came in out of the cold to wreak havoc on these unsuspecting vacationers. If anything it is a weekend getaway that some of them will never forget. 

My Takeaway:

Overall this book kept my attention. Time and again it made me think of Agatha Christie stories like And Then There Were None, or Murder on the Orient Express. An Unwanted Guest was an engaging read, however unlike the Christie stories it brought to mind, a careful reader picks up on who the killer might be a bit more easily than any Agatha Christie novel I've ever read.

Who Should Read An Unwanted Guest?

If you enjoy a little suspense but not the bone chilling type that strays into horror, I think you'll enjoy this one. Should you be a reader that loves red herrings and twists and convolutions that make it impossible to determine "Whodunit," I'm not so sure that this will be the read for you.

What to read next?

• And Then There Were None
• The Body in the Library

Our House by Louise Candlish

Our House

Author Bio:

Louise Candlish

The Opening:

Fi (Fiona) Isn't surprised when she sees a new family moving in on her street. It's an up-and coming neighborhood in a desirable part of town, she and her husband were lucky to get in and snap it up so far back when it was attainable on there salaries. There's no way two average Joes could afford to move in now...

But wait a minute, that's not a neighbor, that's her home! It turns out that without Fi's knowledge her husband has sold the house and disappeared. With the children. What unfolds after this opening tableau is the months leading up to this ultimate moment.

The other side of the table:

Bram just can't get a brake. Not only is he estranged from his Fi wife but one thing after another keeps falling on him. Where can he go? How can he fix things? Is there a way out?

The Structure of Our House:

Our house alternates between Bram looking back over the events leading up to the sale, and Fi recounting the months leading up to her becoming homeless via a podcast. Back and forth, the reader listens as they hurtle towards the moment in the opening pages where strangers are moving into the main character's home.

My Takeaway:

At first I was skeptical as to whether or not I could get into Our House. At first blush I thought it was simply domestic fiction, but as the pages flew and the web grew tighter and tighter around Fi and Bram I began to realize that domestic suspense was a more apt description. There were times I wanted to just shake one of the characters. Another point that hit me was how flawed the characters were. The fact that they tended to cause their own problems made me want to empathize but at the same time there were moments I just had to put Our House down or be utterly annoyed with how foolish a character could be. The level at which they are flawed, or can't see how they make their own problems made me think of The Girl on the Train to a degree. Now don't get me wrong, it's not the same, but if you like unreliable narrators, and a story that twists and turns despite, opening at the apex of the action, I think you'll get into this tale.

Who Should Read Our House?

Fans of domestic suspense,

The Woman in the Window

The Girl on the Train

The Girl Before

Kitchens of the Great Midwest

Title: Kitchens of the Great Midwest

Author: J. Ryan Stradal

Main Character: 

Eva Thorvald

Location: 

Minnesota

Dakotas

Nebraska

Iowa?

From the cover: 

Kitchens of the Great Midwest about a young woman with a once-in-a-generation palate who becomes the iconic chef behind the country’s most coveted dinner reservation, is the summer’s most hotly anticipated debut.
When Lars Thorvald’s wife, Cynthia, falls in love with wine—and a dashing sommelier—he’s left to raise their baby, Eva, on his own. He’s determined to pass on his love of food to his daughter—starting with puréed pork shoulder. As Eva grows, she finds her solace and salvation in the flavors of her native Minnesota. From Scandinavian lutefisk to hydroponic chocolate habaneros, each ingredient represents one part of Eva’s journey as she becomes the star chef behind a legendary and secretive pop-up supper club, culminating in an opulent and emotional feast that’s a testament to her spirit and resilience.
Each chapter in J. Ryan Stradal’s startlingly original debut tells the story of a single dish and character, at once capturing the zeitgeist of the Midwest, the rise of foodie culture, and delving into the ways food creates community and a sense of identity. By turns quirky, hilarious, and vividly sensory, Kitchens of the Great Midwest is an unexpected mother-daughter story about the bittersweet nature of life—its missed opportunities and its joyful surprises. It marks the entry of a brilliant new talent.

Rachel's Review:

So, Kitchens of the Great Midwest. It was surprising, I enjoyed this story. As the summary from above indicates each chapter is a different time in Eva's life which proves the spice for her dishes. So from the top, firstly let's look at:

The Characters:

Sorry ladies and gents I'm not going to list specific characters. What can be said on them is this, far from the flat-ish characters of Romulus Buckle Stradal does a great job of creating real characters that you might meet wandering down the street. That isn't to be said that you always empathize wholeheartedly with the people around Eva but you do wish well for them, which to me is a major selling point in this tale

Eva on the other hand at times seems like an enigma. She is very much in the forefront at the beginning of the tale, yet as the novel progresses although she's an integral part or the force that moves the plot along, she is a secondary character to the people around her. Stradal keeps a first person perspective throughout, but never using Eva to tell the story.

The Role of Cooking and Cuisine in Kitchens of the Great Midwest

Lately I've been reading a slew of books where food culture and cooking plays a major role. Food some people "eat to live and others live to eat." Stradal's characters fall into both camps. Yet whether or not food is a person's focal point Eva seems to pull a worthwhile lesson that she pours into her cuisine from them while their paths do cross.

Closing thoughts:

Kitchens of the Great Midwest is worth a read! I enjoyed it, the people were engaging, and you can definitely tell a lot about a person from the state of their kitchen. Eva's odyssey through the midwest is a life you'll definitely enjoy reading of.

Links:

Just for fun, here are a couple links to interviews and such with the author if you want his spin on Kitchens:

If you enjoyed Kitchens:

Some lighter fare you might enjoy: Delicious! by Ruth Reichl

The Shapes of Dog's Eyes

Title: The Shapes of Dogs' Eyes

Author: Harry Gallon

Location: London

Plot Summary:

Convinced that London s young-professionals are being controlled by their dogs, a homeless bartender embarks on a drunken campaign to rescue his peers from domesticity. Sofa-hopping across a Hackney overrun with hungover musicians, craft brewers and their canine masters, he slips further into fantasy the more obsessed he becomes with setting himself, and everyone else, free. But after falling in love with a young actress, the thing he s fighting against may have become what he wants most of all.

The Shapes of Dogs Eyes explores the philosophies of love, homelessness, and a restless sense of uncertainty in a modern London as brittle and unmoored, as familiar and as chimerical, as the characters that move through it.

Thoughts:

So, The Shapes of Dogs' Eyes wasn't necessarily a bad story, but I can't say I enjoyed it. The summary of the books makes more sense than the book itself made in its entirety. Although the premise is intriguing and the themes that are promised are ones well worth reading, the execution was hard for me to follow. My assumption is that the disjointed rapidly shifting train of thought narrative was an attempt at either post-modernism or perhaps the author's attempt at pulling readers into the bartender's scattered mind. Maybe it's a great book, it definitely reflects a "brittle and unmoored" London, but it was just too far from lucid for me to follow.

Links: