The Philosopher’s Flight by Tom Miller

The Philosopher’s Flight by Tom Miller

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Set in an alternate history America, The Philosopher’s Flight is a delightful, and insightful, coming of age story set in the early 20th century.  Empirical philosophy, the ability to control the wind to fly, heal, and move objects is a science dominated by women.  Female Philosophers have long used their abilities to fly great distances while transporting critically injured patients, move large armies across countries to surprise enemies, and are just all-around badasses who are counted on to save the day.  

Raised by one of the greatest fliers of all time, Robert Weekes is determined to become one of the first male members of the US Sigilry Corps’ Rescue and Evacuation Department members.  Considering men have barely enough ability to get their toes off the ground, Robert is soundly laughed off. But when he proves his skills during a daring mission he is given the chance to study at Radcliffe and pursue his dreams.  

Or so he thinks.  

The women at Radcliffe make their disdain and disgust about a male student joining their female dominated studies very well known.  Struggling against deep rooted sexism and constant harassment, Robert is forced to prove himself at every turn. When Robert falls for Danielle Hardin, an outspoken activist, their relationship quickly catches the attention of the Trenchers, a group determined to end the philosophy movement at any cost.

FIghting for his place amongst the elite fliers, against the growing threat of the Trenchers, and for his love of Danielle, Robert will be pushed to his limits.

This was such a great book!  There is so much to unpack with how Robert and the other male students deal with the sexism and disrespect every day at Radcliffe-and just every day in general.  The women truly dominate the field of flying and they have no patience for a man trying to enter their domain. Danielle has to deal with constant anti-semitism and constant attacks from the Trenchers on top of dealing with-what I assume is-some form of PTSD from serving in the Great War.  Robert’s mother has a long history with battling the Trenchers and leaving her behind in Montana is incredibly stressful for him. It’s just an incredibly tense story but there are plenty of times that it becomes quite whimsical and funny.

I found this book absolutely delightful and I couldn’t recommend it enough.  This was a backlist title that I picked up through Book of the Month and I can see why it was selected-it really is that good.

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Early Riser by Jasper Fforde

Early Riser by Jasper Fforde

February 2019 Book of the Month Selection

Early Riser is a fascinating take on human history and human interactions.  In this wonderfully imaginative novel, Jasper Fforde asks the question, what if the human race hibernated?  What if the world went through an intense cold spell for four months every year and the only way to survive is to be like your favorite bear-fatten up, sleep well, and conserve as much energy as possible.  But we’re humans and humans can monetize every aspect of our lives, including basic survival. Finding sufficient food and shelter can be expensive and when it was discovered that dreams can be physically draining, medications to halt dreams lead to a new way to find cheap labor and create a new type of class division in society.

Charles Worthing is working his first winter with Winter Consuls, a group that is responsible for making sure humans survive safely through the harsh winter.  Approaching winter unprepared can cause humans to become nightwalkers-humans that are breathing but with simple minds and a craving for human flesh. Nightwalkers can then be farmed out on the black market for replacement body parts and to be used as breeding stock for future generations.  

This book can really dark yet be incredibly funny all at the same time. It’s a wonderfully bizarre book.

When Charles believes that he has uncovered some crooked agents within the Consul, his naive quest for justice leads him on a deadly adventure where those he can trust seem to change from minute to minute.  When an outbreak of viral dreams affects Charles, he begins to lose the ability to tell reality from dreaming.

This story is absolutely wild and I loved it.  The way that hibernation has shaped the world and changed humans was fascinating to read.  It was both hilarious and heartbreaking-reading about how easy it was for people to die during their hibernation and then Charles will wake up and brush out his bed bugs...I just can’t come up with a better description.  It’s wild. The writing is incredible and I really enjoyed all of the footnotes. Many of the footnotes were vital to the story and some were just plain silly-it was a great mix. Fforde does a wonderful job of including enough information about the world that I never felt like I didn’t understand what was going on but didn’t get so deep that you spent pages and pages in details.  Background was doled out in small doses as needed and it really helped with keeping the story flowing.

Wonderfully quirky and unique, Early Riser is a fantastic read and I highly recommend giving it a try.  

Interested in reading Early Riser?  My copy came from my Book of the Month subscription as the February 2019 pick.  I have written of my love for Book of the Month before here.  If you’re interested in starting a Book of the Month subscription, they have a special going on now and it really is an easy service to use.

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I found this book to be beautifully written, completely engrossing, and an absolutely magical read.  If you like a copy of this book, and would like to help support the site, you can find one here:

The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar

Back in the summer, I started a subscription to Book of the Month when they had a $5 promo deal.  I was so excited to find new books and authors and have a diverse selection of beautiful books lining my shelves.  But here’s the thing, I found that and more.

This is not an ad, it’s a confession.

I selected my books every month and often added in previous titles at the amazing discounted price.  I have beautiful books lining my shelves and even got a copy of Calypso that I can’t wait to bring with when I see David Sedaris at my local theater next month.   

What I didn’t think about, which was very obvious, was how much time I really had to devote to reading another selection of titles.  I am so very lucky to have the opportunity to read books before they are published and select the titles for the Library. I literally sit in a building that has over 30,000 titles that I can pick up at literally every moment of my workday.  I buy books for myself every chance I get.

My physical TBR was made unattainable by starting BOTM.  It’s amazing. I love it and I love the books.

Back in September, one of my selections was The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar.  Set in 1785 London, we get to follow the lives of businessman Jonah Hancock, courtesan Angelica Neal and a mermaid, and how the three of them are thrust onto an unlikely path together.  After unexpectedly receiving a mermaid from one of his ship’s captains, Jonah is intent on making back the money lost by the captain’s foolish investment. Working with his niece Suki, they display the mermaid to great fanfare and it quickly becomes a sensation.  After catching the eye of local madam Mrs. Chappell, the mermaid is commissioned for display at her brothel. It’s at the opening night of the mermaid’s exhibit that Jonah meets the beautiful and desirable Angelica Neal. Newly single and in need of someone to care for her-or pay her bills, whatever-Angelica quickly latches on to Jonah.  But the evening doesn’t go as planned for anyone involved. What will follow is a story of lust, greed, and unexpected friendship.

This story was wonderful!  The writing is very witty and I really enjoyed getting glimpses of the everyday life of Angelica and the other courtesans.And poor Jonah.  That guy just couldn’t seem to catch a break. First his captain sells Jonah’s ship to buy a mermaid, then he has to make back his lost investments, deal with an unreasonable sister, and the whole time he just doesn’t want to make anyone mad.  Slight spoiler on Anglica-you were warned: Her character grows so much over the course of the book. She begins as this spoiled and arrogant person who needs to be surrounded by beautiful things in order to be happy. But she’s never really happy.  She is so out of tune with the world that she truly has no idea what trouble she is in or how to save herself that it’s almost sad. When she is finally offered a safe and happy home, she does an extraordinary amount of growing up and realizes that she can find happiness in simpler things.       

Really big spoiler-

Really big-

I still have no clue what the mermaid was at the end.  No clue. I reread and reread and someone please tell me what that was! Because-buckets?  Huh? And I’m very serious-what do you think it was?

But I loved this book and the characters and I really got drawn into the story and couldn’t put it down.

If you’re thinking of starting Book of the Month, I can honestly say I’ve enjoyed the experience.  If you’re looking for less commitment, you can get your copy, and help support the site, here:

The Dinner List by Rebecca Serle

August Book of the Month Pick

If you could have dinner with any five people, living or dead, who would they be?  It's a question I can't seem to answer.  I honestly can't make up my mind.  Would there be hard feelings if I chose J.R. Ward over my husband?  Probably.  He knows about the Black Dagger Brotherhood.  Are you obligated to pick your own child?  Your parents?  Bill Murray would be amazing, as would Amy Schumer.  Would they be as interesting to talk to as Nnedi Okorafor or John Scalzi?  Should I think bigger?  Queen Victoria or King Arthur?  Can they be fictional?  If so, definitely King Arthur.  Or Odin.  

Like I said, I can't make up my mind.  

Sabrina Nielsen arrives at her birthday dinner to find Audrey Hepburn, her deceased father, longtime roommate and best friend Jessica, her college professor, and her ex-lover Tobias.  How?  No one has any idea how they got there, why they are there, and how much time they have.  What follows is a sometimes uncomfortable look at how our many relationships can shape our lives and possibly our own destiny.  

Turning 30 hasn't been what Sabrina thought it would be.  Her decade long relationship with Tobias hasn't led to marriage.  She hasn't climbed as far up the ladder in publishing as she'd like.  Her best friend is now married and a mother in the suburbs with a completely different life than her own.  Added to her stress, her birthday dinner includes her long deceased father who left the family when Sabrina was still little.  Will learning his side of the story bring closure?  Why is her former professor at the dinner?  How did Audrey end up here and what does she have to teach Sabrina about love and life?

A look at life, love, and forgiveness, Rebecca Serle explores it all with grace and sensitivity.  Told through a combination of memories and present day, Sabrina reflects on her life and relationships and what she needs to be fulfilled. 

This was my third Book of the Month pick and I have yet to be disappointed.  While this story did start a bit slow, I really wanted to learn how and why her list of five was able to be at the dinner.  

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