Author: Book Girl

The Mountain in the Sea

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The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler

This near-future science fiction novel is about first contact, and artificial intelligence. Evrim is the first true android, and is exiled to Con Do, a remote Vietnamese island, whose population had been relocated earlier. Dr. Ha Nguyen is a marine biologist who’s arrived on Con Dao to study a colony of long-lived octopuses. Shapesinger is an octopus, who may be a tool user, and might even write symbols. The octopuses are not entirely benign, and can defend themselves.

Corporations seem to have a lot of control in this future Earth. Artificial intelligence of all types and sizes can pilot a fishing vessel as well as deliver poison darts. There are auto monks who help sea turtles on the beach, and artificial online friends. Eiko and Son are forced labor on one of the fishing vessels, and Son tells stories about creatures from the sea. In real life, octopuses show intelligence but have fairly short, mostly solitary lives. It’s fascinating to read about what might be different if they develop a culture.

This book was not at all a quick read, and rather dark in parts, but I was fascinated by the various characters, and gradually drawn into an immersive, compelling story.

Kim Stanley Robinson also writes cli-fi, or climate fiction, but isn’t as character-focused. There are a number of recent novels featuring octopuses, but I’d suggest the non-fiction The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery.

Brenda

The Road to Roswell

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The Road to Roswell by Connie Willis

This is an engaging, witty romantic comedy with UFOs and an alien nicknamed Indy. Francie is on her way from the Albuquerque airport to Roswell, New Mexico, where her friend Serena is planning a wedding. This is Serena’s fourth fiancé, and Francie has talked her out of the other weddings. The wedding is delayed by a possible UFO sighting. Francie, in an unfortunate glow-in-the dark bridesmaid dress, has a close encounter with Indy, and is forced to drive an SUB out of town and into the desert. Fortunately for her, Indy collects other passengers, beginning with charming con man Wade. The others include a UFO chaser, elderly Eula Mae, who likes to gamble, and a retiree with a luxury RV. While Indy is looking for something, or perhaps someone, the group ends up in, of course, Las Vegas, then in the middle of a spectacular thunderstorm.

Francie, Wade and the others have the unexpected journey of a lifetime, full of heart and humor in this funny and heartwarming story. I’m so happy to read a new novel from the award-winning author of time-travel and screwball comedy novels such as The Winds of Marble Arch, Crosstalk, and The Doomsday Book. This is perfect for fans of Men in Black who want less violence and more humor and witty dialogue. Indy will win many hearts; I won’t attempt any description so as not to spoil the fun for readers. This will be published on June 27.

Brenda

Georgie, All Along

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Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn

Georgie, Levi, and Hank, his large dog, connect in their Virginia hometown after her parents ask Levi to house and plant sit for them. Georgie’s job as a personal assistant in Hollywood abruptly ends when her boss Nadia decides to retreat to the desert. Georgie comes home to help her friend Bel, who has just moved from Washington, D. C. to a large house nearby with her husband Harry and needs help organizing the house before their baby arrives. Georgie finds the notebook she and Bel made in 8th grade with their plans to take on high school and hopes it will help her reinvent herself. Bel has always been a high achiever, but Georgie has drifted along, skipping college to take the first job that interested her, then eventually becoming a successful PA. The notebook had a lot of fun plans that the teens somehow never completed, such as dancing at a local bar. Bel and Levi agree to help Georgie complete some of her teenage plans, which leads to some funny scenes. Levi’s dog Hank is also entertaining, as well as endearing.

Levi owns a small local business, but is estranged from his wealthy family, although he misses his brother Evan and sister Olivia. He was the family black sheep, and still has some issues to work through. Georgie’s parents are more easygoing free spirits, and love Georgie without giving her a lot of guidance, except after she has an argument with Levi. Of course, Levi and Georgie reconnect, leading to a charming ending. This tender romance is a compelling read, though this is definitely not a rom-com.

Readalike authors include Lucy Score, Emily Henry, Jen DeLuca, and Jennifer Crusie.

Brenda

The Things We Make

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The Things We Make: The Unknown History of Invention from Cathedrals to Soda Cans by Bill Hammack

This is a short, engaging read which taught me about how engineering and science differ, and the awesomeness of engineers. The stories of lone inventors of famous things are often wrong, or only a tiny part of the story. Using science, a rule of thumb, then human ingenuity, engineering moves beyond science to adapt or create something new, sometimes just tiny improvements or failed attempts that later become something practical and enduring.

Cathedrals are one example. How did the masons know how thick to make the walls of an arch? How did the beautiful white on blue Wedgwood ceramics get made. From the filaments of light bulbs to microwave ovens and color photos, little known engineers figured out how strong to build the Sears Tower, or how to design satellite propulsion systems.

Bill Hammack is a professor of engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign but is better known as an author and especially as Engineer Guy. His short, entertaining videos at engineerguy.com are part of his goal to share engineering with everyone. Readalike authors include Simon Winchester, Henry Petroski, Adam Grant, and Peter Diamandis.

I have been reading more non-fiction lately, and enjoying it, though I read non-fiction much more slowly than fiction.

I recently finished Life on the Mississippi by Rinker Buck and Life in Five Senses by Gretchen Rubin, and am currently enjoying reading The Secret World of Weather by Tristan Gooley, Under Alien Skies by Philip Plait, and have just started An Immense World by Ed Yong.

Brenda

Death Comes to Marlow

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Death Comes to Marlow by Robert Thorogood

I quite enjoyed this clever sequel to The Marlow Murder Club. Londoner Judith, 78, likes to go swimming in the Thames, in the buff. It helps clear her mind. She has just been invited to a pre-wedding celebration by Sir Peter Bailey at his home, White Lodge. They’ve never met, but Sir Peter is afraid someone will poison him, and he’s heard of Judith’s skill as an amateur sleuth. Sir Peter is marrying his live-in nurse, and his two grown children are of different opinions about his upcoming marriage.

Judith decides to attend the party, and brings her friends Suzie, a dog walker and local radio host, and Becks, the local vicar’s wife. Together, along with DS Tanika Malik, they make a good crime-solving team. This time, they are dealing with a locked room mystery. Tanika’s superiors aren’t even calling the resulting death anything but an accident. There are, of course, several suspects with various motives. What they all have in common are excellent alibis, including one that Judith, Suzie, and Becks can all confirm. The room was locked with a large, ornate key, which was found inside the room, and no copies seem to have been made. Suzie and Judith are also worried about Becks, who has been acting very secretive of late.

This cozy British mystery has lots of lovely plot twists, and the four women have pleasingly different personalities and skills. Crossword puzzles are also featured here, as Judith both creates and solves puzzles. If you like to read mysteries for a good plot but also want interesting characters, this might be your cup of tea, or, as Judith prefers, your glass of whisky.

More, please! Readalikes include The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman and The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz.

Brenda

Maggie Finds Her Muse

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Maggie Finds Her Muse by Dee Ernst

Maggie Bliss, 48, has writer’s block. The second book in her romantic adventure Delania trilogy is to be published soon, and she is completely stuck on the final book. Her boyfriend Greg is completely unsupportive, even when Maggie misses a deadline. Her agent Lee and his partner Martin have an apartment in the Marais section of Paris, and invite her to stay there and write. Maggie gets to spend time with her daughter Nicole, who’s living in Rennes, and Nicole’s father Alan, who’s just retired. They tour the Musée d’Orsay together, and visit Versailles. Lee and Martin have a live-in housekeeper Solange, whose son Max often travels to Paris on business. There’s also a cute dog Jules, who keeps Maggie company when Solange is out of town. Handsome Max becomes Maggie’s muse, and she has trouble writing when he’s out of town, leading to a desperate Maggie lying about trouble between Nicole and her boyfriend Louis. The descriptions of life in Paris, especially the wonderful meals, make for perfect armchair travel, and the possibility of romance between Maggie and Max, or Maggie and Alan, make for very entertaining reading.

I really enjoyed the author’s newest book, Lucy Checks In, set in Rennes, in northwest France.

Brenda

On Earth As It Is on Television

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On Earth As It Is On Television by Emily Jane

This debut science fiction novel is a deeply weird yet engaging read. Blaine wonders about his wife Anne, who likes single use plastic more than a green lifestyle and is rather over the top about almost everything, especially bacon. Their kids, Jas and Avril, fight like young wild beasts until the TV catches their attention, or Mr. Meow Mitts, their cat.

In Malibu, Heather is taking a rather aimless gap year before college when alien spacecraft arrive, hovering over major cities, including Los Angeles. Her mother is on vacation with Heather’s stepfather, Jack, a television executive who gained fame on Jeopardy. Jack’s son Alex, a high school senior, is so perfect that Heather thinks her mom likes him better.

Then there’s Oliver, who has an extremely bland existence until the starships arrive. The ships leave, but it turns out there may already be aliens among us. And did I mention the cats?

The characters’ stories mesh together cleverly, and not very predictably. This book will be published in June, and may be a hit. Readalikes include forthcoming novel The Road to Roswell by Connie Willis and also this fall’s Starter Villain by John Scalzi because, cats. No, not because of bacon. I don’t even eat bacon (true). If you’re in the mood for something a bit different, enjoy!

Brenda

Not the Ones Dead

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Not the Ones Dead by Kate Shugak

It’s great to see Kate Shugak, Alaskan P.I., back in fine form, along with her sidekick Mutt, half-husky and half-wolf, in this thrilling mystery. A Cold Day for Murder is Kate’s first appearance, while my favorite is the very funny Breakup. I also enjoy Stabenow’s Eye of Isis Egyptian mystery series, beginning with Death of an Eye.

Bobby Clark, a black Vietnam vet who runs the area’s unlicensed radio station, is run off the road near Kate’s homestead. In town, Inuit Kate is shopping with partner and fromer trooper Jim Chopin, when she is snubbed by a guy in camouflage.

A large isolated lodge has a new, unknown, owner and hikers on public trails nearby have been threatened. After a midair collision leaves 9 people dead, Kate is asked to investigate by the children of one of the pilots. There was drone activity in the area, and young reporter Van gets an anonymous email claiming there was a 10th body.

Set in mid to late 2022, the Niniltna Aunties may be looking to add to their group. Bernie’s Roadhouse, where the Aunties quilting group meets, has a serious problem. I won’t say much about the plot, to avoid spoilers. I was intrigued by the author’s note, which gives the inspiration for much of the plot. Welcome back, Kate, Mutt and Jim!

Brenda