Chapter Two Hundred Thirty-Seven: Lab Girl

I'd been meaning to listen to Lab Girl by Hope Jahren for a while, seeing as it combines two topics I really enjoy (memoir and women in science), and I enjoyed this audiobook maybe even more than I thought I would.  Jahren reads it herself, and I found her narration to be soothing in its slower pace, which I also felt really suited the subject matter well.  She also does an excellent job at infusing subtle emotion into her speaking--and, on a few occasions when it's really merited, she really lets the emotions come through in her voice.  I guess my point is that I can see how this style of reading may be slower and steadier than some people would like, but it worked beautifully for me.  Moreover, Jahren's story of being a woman in research science is fascinating, at least to someone like me who doesn't know much about how research science works.  I truly enjoyed listening to this book, and if I were to make a list of the audiobooks I've most enjoyed listening to this year, Lab Girl would definitely be on it.

Chapter Two Hundred Thirty-Six: Spinning Silver

I'm not sure how I read Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik a little over two months ago and haven't gotten around to writing about it here until now!  It's been a busy autumn, I guess.  Anyway, I quite enjoyed Spinning Silver and definitely plan on reading more by Novik, particularly Uprooted, which I'd heard good things about anyway and seems to be in the same vein as Spinning Silver, which is to say a re-telling or re-imagining of a fairy tale.  In the case of Spinning Silver, it is a story that seems mainly inspired by Rumpelstiltskin and what seem to me to be elements of Russian folklore, as well as elements that seem to be of Novik's own creation (mainly the Staryk, a vicious people of winter who have been menacing the society in the book for years).
It is told from many perspectives, which I really enjoy, and the three main perspectives offer a great variety of experiences: Miryem, a young Jewish woman whose family goes from poverty to moderate wealth all the while being ostracized for their religion, Wanda, a very poor young woman who escapes a brutal father by working for Miryem, and Irina, the wealthy but isolated daughter of a nobleman.  Their stories, plus those of other people, end up being incredibly intertwined, and the telling is all the more nuanced for the multiplicity of perspectives.  In fact, in general Spinning Silver, unlike its fairy tale inspiration, is not a black-and-white story of good versus evil but rather a layered story of sticky situations and difficult choices, for which I greatly appreciate it. 
I wasn't super satisfied with the putative romantic aspects of the plot, which tended to follow far more closely than I would like the fairy tale tropes of clever women needing to tame dangerous men in order to avoid death and falling in love (or at least in lust) with their oppressors, but one can't have it all, can one?  Still, it would be nice to see more romantic relationships, especially in fantasy, that are based on respect rather than fear...
Still, on the whole, I really did enjoy reading Spinning Silver.  If you enjoy fantasy or fairy tales, it's definitely worth your while to try.

Chapter Two Hundred Thirty-Five: Slow: Simple Living for a Frantic World

As with The Year of Less, I ended up listening to Slow by Brooke McAlary, primarily because it was available as an e-audiobook through the library, and secondarily because I was interested in the topic.  Also, the author reads her own book and is Australian, so I enjoyed listening to her accent.  It was refreshing to hear someone talk about the ways she has struggled in her efforts to live more slowly, and it was especially refreshing to hear someone remark that of course it all sounds simple in her book because the process of writing requires streamlining what happened, or she'd be writing the book forever and we'd never get to read it.  I'm also just a little bit nosy, so I always enjoy books where people explain a bit about how they live and what their life is like, and Slow was no exception to that rule.  In fact, I'd say Slow is at least as much about the author's life as it is a how-to, perhaps more, because one of the points she emphasizes is that what works for one person or family won't necessarily work for another.  For her, slow living is more about figuring out what works best for you and your family and disregarding the numerous images of "perfect" lives that are presented to us so frequently in the media and on social media.  Anyway, if you're looking for tips on living more mindfully or if you, like me, are just nosy enough to really enjoy books where someone describes their daily life, you may well enjoy Slow.

Chapter Two Hundred Thirty-Four: The Year of Less

Now that I have a new car with no CD player, my audiobook selection is more limited to what's available digitally through the library.  While browsing my options, I came across The Year of Less by Cait Flanders and decided to give it a go.  It's sort of a cross between memoir and self-help as it details the author's yearlong shopping ban, which she embarked upon to decrease her spending and increase her saving and quality of life.  It also delves into the author's past, her previous struggles with compulsive or mindless behavior, and how the shopping ban helped her be more aware of her own motivations.  Her shopping ban not only involved strict limits on what she could buy but also included a decluttering component, which was interesting to me, as I've been feeling lately like I have a little more around the apartment than I strictly need.  If you're looking for practical tips on spending less and owning less or if you simply enjoy memoirs about personal challenges, The Year of Less would be a solid choice.

Chapter Two Hundred Thirty-Three: An Absolutely Remarkable Thing

On the whole, I enjoyed Hank Green's first novel, An Absolutely Remarkable Thing.  It had an interesting feel to it: the style felt like YA, while the content felt more geared to adults, if younger adults.  It was sometimes a little too easy to be frustrated with the narrator, April May, but then again, that was kind of the point, I think--and the premise of the story (a mysterious and probably alien set of statues appears around the world) was certainly original and engaging enough to hold my attention.  However, if you're the kind of person who likes a definitive end to your stories, this is probably not the book for you; it leaves some questions at the end.  Still, it was an interesting read, and I liked it pretty well.  It definitely kept me on my toes!

Chapter Two Hundred Thirty-Two: Who Is Vera Kelly?

I don't read many spy novels (honestly, I can't think of the last one I did read), but Rosalie Knecht's Who Is Vera Kelly? caught my eye on the new book shelf at work, and I'm so glad I gave it a go.  I was intrigued by the setting--mostly Buenos Aires in the early 1960s, not a time and place I know much about--and Vera's character drew me right in, piquing my curiosity and inciting my empathy.  I read this in one sitting.  (I was on an airplane, in fairness, so I didn't have much else to do, but I think I would've wanted to blaze through it even if I had had other options!)  I don't know whether it would appeal to people who normally read spy novels, since I don't know that genre well enough to gauge how typical this one is, but if you like a book with a strong female protagonist and plenty of intrigue and action, definitely consider Who Is Vera Kelly?

Chapter Two Hundred Thirty-One: The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet is the first in a sci-fi series by Becky Chambers, and I certainly plan on reading the others that have been published.  The short version of this review is that if you like Firefly, you should definitely give The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet a try: it's got a small, familial crew--with all of the inherent emotions--a somewhat ragtag but very lovable ship, and high-stakes adventures. 
If you haven't seen Firefly, or if that description didn't hook you, let me also add that I really appreciate this novel for its apparently effortless (and therefore probably very intentional) world building: it gave me everything I needed to know without bogging me down with too much.  I felt like the alien cultures were dynamic and deeply considered, and I could believe how humankind had evolved in the few hundred years between now and when the story takes place.  I also appreciate the variety of relationships--romantic and otherwise--depicted.  Plus, it's got an original plot and a pleasantly fast pace with a nice balance between action and character building.  If you like sci-fi, or if you want to give this genre a try, The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet would be an excellent choice.