In my previous post a while ago, I wrote about how I sped through reading six books in one month in an effort to complete my goal of reading twenty-five books last year. It was actually quite a feat for me as I rarely read that fast before. Since then I have continued to keep up that momentum, which will be helpful in achieving my new goal of reading thirty books this year. Now that we are well into 2021, I thought I would share the first five books I read so far, ranging from romance to contemporary fiction, as well as what other books I have on my To Be Read pile for the year.
A Rogue of One's Own by Evie Dunmore
A Rogue of One's Own is actually the second book in Evie Dunmore's League of Extraordinary Women series, with Bringing Down the Duke being the first. I actually read Bringing Down the Duke when it was a Book of the Month pick and while it was overall a good read, I didn't love it as much as I had hoped I would. I think a lot of it was because of the buildup between the romance of the two characters and the complexities surrounding the women's suffrage movement that I personally felt was a little unbalanced, but maybe I just need to read it again. So, when I decided to read A Rogue of One's Own I actually came into it a little skeptical. By the end however, I ended up loving it more than its predecessor.
Lady Lucie is one of the steadfast leaders of the Women's Suffrage Movement. She never saw herself marrying as she refuses to be tied down by what it entails and has been devoted to the movement even after she was banished by her family. After discovering she has a chance to take control of a publishing house that will help further along the cause she is faced to confront a familiar person from her past: Lord Tristan Ballentine. Lord Ballentine is most definitely a rake, a rogue if you will, with rumors about his many scandalous affairs being the subject of gossip among society that go along with his attractive redheaded appearance and one earring that is rebellious on its own. When the two confront each other over the publishing house, there is an undeniable attraction that Lucie tries to suppress and one that has been harbored by Lord Ballentine for many years. As they begin to see each other in a new light, the two will have to decide what is most important to them and what they will risk in order to gain what they truly want.
It took me a while to get into the first few chapters of the book because of how I felt about Bringing Down the Duke, but once it got going a couple of more chapters in I was hooked. I loved the chemistry between Lucie and Tristan and found it more palpable in comparison to Sebastian and Annabelle from Bringing Down the Duke. Both characters have such strong personalities but also complement each other so well than they realize. There was also so much more depth to them where you understand their motives and why they are who they are. Tristan for example has a complicated relationship with his father, but rather than defy him or shut him out completely he has to follow his demands in order to protect his mother who has become unstable. Lucie meanwhile is an activist in her own right and while she may appear assertive it is also sometimes a front to conceal that she has a sensitive side, which is comes through when she takes care of lowly women.
This book renewed my interest in the series and I cannot wait to read the third book coming out later this year, Portrait of a Scotsman, that follows Lucie and Annabelle's fellow suffragette, Hattie, and a mysterious brooding financier mentioned in A Rogue of One's Own. There are also plans for a fourth book featuring their other friend, Catriona that I am excited for as well.
The Last Story of Mina Lee by Nancy Jooyoun Kim
I remember coming across this book a while back sometime after purchasing Searching for Sylvie Lee by Jean Kwok. The plot for The Last Story of Mina Lee seemed to be in the similar vein as Searching for Sylvie, but was different in its own way. Once I finished it I was left feeling empathetic, a little sad, but also appreciative of my Asian heritage.
Ever since Margot Lee was a child she never really understood her mother, Mina Lee. For most of her life, Margot just wanted to be like the other kids in her class who were white and came from privileged middle class families as opposed to what she had growing up Korean-American in an apartment in Los Angeles's Koreatown to a single-mother who never learned English and ran a clothing stall in a swap meet. Margot ended up moving to Seattle for college and work, but mostly to get away from it all with only a few phone calls to her mother. The day she decided to finally visit her mother she was horrified to discover her dead and possibly even murdered body in their apartment. How did this happen? Why didn't she reach out more when she should have? What didn't she know about her mother that could have caused this? Told between the past and the present, we get to understand the real story of Mina's life from her arrival to America from South Korea as an undocumented immigrant and the struggles she faced that lead to Margot's birth and the secrets she kept that lead to her own eventual death.
I'm not going to lie, but this book was heavy. The story alone affected me and made me think about people and families who immigrate in the hopes of pursuing a better life and the hardships they face in a foreign land. It also reminded me too of this movie called The Namesake, which features a character similar to Margot, who tries to separate himself from his family and culture to the lengths of changing his Indian name to a more American name. I read somewhere that children of first-generation immigrants tend to distance themselves from their heritage while growing up in a Western country because they want to assimilate or adapt with their predominantly white classmates or neighbors. We see this through Margot from how she remembers her childhood and the author juxtapositions this with her mother's story of her coming to the US and what she had to overcome to start the life her daughter knew. It's cyclical.
The entire novel was beautifully well-written with much care and attention to understanding Mina as if she was a real person because in most ways she is. She could be your parents, your relative, your friend, your neighbor, your co-worker, your classmate, or a person you know but never really knew. We never really understand a person or the life they live and rarely do they share it wholly. If we did though, we would see them in a new way and feel more empathetic if not reflective even about everything we thought we knew, and that's the journey Margot goes through. Margot represents us readers, whose mind opens up in understanding her mother and reconnecting with her heritage.
Apart from this, I also loved how the author highlighted the characters' Korean background through food. There were times even I was hungry and craved what they were eating. I feel like we forget how certain cuisines are a representation of a culture. Italian food is not just pizza and pasta just as Chinese food is not just sweet and sour chicken and fried rice. There is a whole history behind them and how they are prepared and served that is enough to evoke a feeling of home to one's motherland or the past and understanding a culture through the senses.
What You Wish For by Katherine Center
All right, I will admit that I am a sucker for a good romance novel and I've probably admitted this before but will say it again. They are easy and fun to read and can really help uplift your mood just as good movie would. I actually don't like how they are sometimes called "chick-lit." It doesn't seem to fit the genre. At times I accept them as romantic comedies, but depending on the story not everything in it is entirely wholesome despite its romantic tones. In the case of Katherine Center's What You Wish For, there was enough romantic factors to fuel a Hallmark movie adaptation, however there were also two serious subplots that brought its two characters together.
Samantha loves her job as an elementary school librarian at the Kempner School in Galveston Island. The school prides itself on being open, friendly, and inviting just as the couple who founded the school, Max and Babette Kempner. After Max suddenly passes away, the school board hires Duncan Carpenter to be replace him as the new principal. Samantha actually has history with Duncan as they previously worked together at a school in California prior to her move to Galveston. She had a crush on him back then. He was outgoing and exuberant and her unrequited feelings for him were the reason why she left the school. Samantha wasn't ready to face Duncan again, but knowing how great he was with students made her believe that he would be the perfect fit for the Kempner community. However, Duncan has drastically changed since she last knew him. He has now become a stern educator obsessed with asserting strict rules on the staff and the students, eliminating everything that makes the school special. With everything on the line with all the progress the Kempner School has made, Samantha and Duncan must find a way to strike a balance but also open up and rediscover themselves.
Katherine Center has a way of balancing romance and serious subject matters in her books. When I read her previous novel, Things You Save in a Fire, I went into expecting a regular rom-com type of story and was surprised that apart from the main plot it also dealt with sexual abuse and the dynamics of a male dominated workplace. In the case of What You Wish For, I again came into it thinking the same thing and was surprised by what she delivered, and yet I still enjoyed every page of it. I thought she was able to handle both of the characters' internal struggles and trauma honestly without it feeling forced and their connection to each other and their development was clear. There were times when it got a little cheesy and some things were summarized quickly to move forward, but it didn't hinder the story too much. I liked how she was able to deliver a good story that didn't shy away from the realties some people face showing how sometimes you just need someone to understand what you have been through in order heal and grow.
The Royal Runaway by Lindsay Emory
Whether it is the real royal family or a fictional one, it cannot be denied that we are fascinated by them and the glamorous fantasy they exude along with the uneasiness that is the head that wears the crown. There have been countless books written about fictional royals varying from fantasy to sci-fi genres, but for me I usually prefer the ones set in a modern day world as they offer a fun alternate realty that is recognizable and relatable especially when they feature a fictional new country.
Princess Theodora Isabella Victoria of Drieden still cannot believe that she was left at the altar on the day of her royal wedding to Christian Fraser-Campbell. After spending four months in hiding, Thea has returned to Drieden but not all the more recovered from the disappointment and embarrassment from that day. As second-in-line to the throne after her grandmother the Queen, Thea is expected to fulfill her duties as heir despite what happened. In her response, she decides to escape the palace for one night. She ends up meeting a handsome Scotsman named Nick Cameron, who later reveals himself to be spy and that he is looking for Christian as he may be involved in something that could affect the country and the Crown.
This was a good caper that had elements of The Princess Diaries with a hint of adventure that could come from one of Sean Connery's James Bond movies. One of the things I really liked about this book was how it was set in a fictional country under a fictional monarchy, but was rich with detail and history that it made it feel real enough to believe that it could exist. Not many books can do that, and I liked how Lindsay Emory littered every bit of background and history on the monarchy and descriptions of the country that gave you a clear image of Drieden.
The chemistry between Princess Theadora and Nick Cameron was good. However, my one complaint was that Thea sometimes annoyed me especially at the beginning of their journey together when she would get a little high maintenance while being on the run with Nick. I mean I understand that she is a princess, but really lady - you are in a dire situation. As the story progressed though, Thea's strengths, knowledge, and strong-will came through so I was able to let go my initial misgivings.
The mystery surrounding the central plot was different from what I had expected. It was a little complicated and one part of the reveal took me out of the reality of the story, but I appreciated how it was something that tied everything together and was much bigger than just a simple and easy answer. So, I am glad the author took risks and played around with everything she presented.
After I finished it, I was surprised to discover that there is a sequel called The Royal Bodyguard featuring another royal family member mentioned in this book. Considering how much world building was created for The Royal Runaway it would be great to see what else lies ahead for the royal family of Drieden.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
I have been a fan of Matt Haig since I read his novel, How to Stop Time. The story there told about an immortal man and how he's lived across the centuries. This is my favorite quote from the book:
"The longer you live, the more you realise that nothing is fixed. Everyone will become a refugee if they live long enough. Everyone would realise their nationality means little in the long run. Everyone would see their worldviews challenged and disproved. Everyone would realise that the thing that defines a human being is being a human."
Even though the story itself is interesting, it is mostly the message within and how he conveys it that really sticks with you. So, I was eager to read his latest novel, The Midnight Library, which follows a female protagonist and what it means to live.
Nora Seed regrets many things she's done in her life. She made the wrong decision of quitting a band with her brother just as they were to be signed with a record label. She chose to break up with her fiancé, Daniel, just days before they were to marry leaving her still single and alone. And she regretted never pursuing a career as a glaciologist as suggested by her kind librarian friend from youth named Mrs. Elms, or as an Olympic swimmer after being such a successful one recognized by her teachers and peers while in school. After so many regrets on the choices she's made that have affected her life and those around her and the disappointing life she currently leads, Nora decides to take her own life. Once she does, she ends up not in the afterlife but in a library. She is soon greeted by Mrs. Elms who properly introduces her to the Midnight Library. Every book on its shelves contains a different life Nora could have led and she has the chance now to experience them all or as many as she likes. Jumping from one possible life to another Nora's regrets slowly begins to dwindle and she ends discovering not only what she has always been capable of but the real secret to life and how to live it.
I know it's early to admit this, but I will anyway - The Midnight Library is my favorite book I read this year. Just like with his previous novel, it's the message of the story that really stayed with me. I don't want to spoil anything but the book contains my new favorite line by Matt Haig using chess as a metaphor that gives an idea of what to expect.
"Mrs. Elm was right. The game wasn't over. No player should give up if there were pieces still left on the board."
We all have regrets in life and sometimes even spend hours thinking about what we could have done or should have done. When I was reading this book, I tried to imagine myself like Nora living out my own alternate realties. After thinking some of them through I was left feeling discontent because the truth was those choices I could have made would not have made me entirely happy than I am now. I would have become a different person had I not made the choices I chose that turned me into the person I am now, and that's the similar journey Nora goes on through the Midnight Library. It's almost a cerebral way of thinking things through, but it's amazing on where you find yourself.
The story is simple in that there really was no huge conflict that happens except for the challenges Nora faces within herself and the alternative she lives, but that is all it needs. There is enough to be explored in the character's growth that makes The Midnight Library timeless, memorable, and one that will remain with you once you've finished reading it.
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