Heart Wants Books

Reading Life Review: November 2020

November 30, 2020

The following post includes affiliate links. More details here. As you’re doing your Amazon shopping today, we’d be ever so grateful if you’d use our affiliate link to do so as it helps pay the bills around here!

Oh y’all, we chose poorly this month. So many women fighting to be seen as people is enraging. Honestly, we wanted Evie Dunmore’s books election week because #suffragettes, and we thought a month of strong women in celebration of the 100th anniversary of women voting would be great (and bonus points that they were all mutual holds). We failed to realize that all of them being either historic figures or set in the past would have a level of tragedy to it. We apologize to you and to us, and as such bring you what else we read to balance out some of the influx of patriarchy. You already know we’re planning to read Little Women by Louisa May Alcott very soon, and we invite you to join us (and 100% give you permission to watch any movie version). We’ll talk about women running the world some, how Marmee and Mr. Lawrence know what’s up, even if Aunt March is a hot mess, and so much more. All of this will go down on Friday, December 11 at 7:30 p.m. CST, but you’ll only get ~~a pickled lime~~ the details if you sign up here.

Ashley IN MEDIAS RES

Nikki IN MEDIAS RES

Ashley FIN

*FINI in October.

Nikki FIN

Dear, sweet, readers, I have struggled this weekend to settle in with a book. That’s unfortunate because the long weekend is the perfect time to go full-steam-ahead on one’s TBR. This was my struggle bus, and you’re probably going to agree that I did it to myself, and you’d be right. So right. Here it is: I’m reading a horror novel in the middle of decorating for Christmas and all I want to do is read seasonally appropriate “Christmas Smut.” And, there you have it. Nikki and I have Mexican Gothic on deck for Thursday’s book post and it’s just not the thing that my heart wants to read right now. I’ve watched beaucoup Christmas movies (and Hamilton and 1994’s Little Women in preparation for next month, again). Done some shopping, both online and in-person. And just have been sorta avoiding the inevitable. I also have a busy next couple of days with work and last minute errands and chores before heading to New Orleans to become a godmother this weekend! I’d be totally lying if I didn’t also want to be a ‘fairy godmother’ to my niece, too, but she’s not quite old enough for glass slippers, a ball gown, or a pumpkin turned into a carriage. She’s not even old enough for solid food, but the time will come and I will have been preparing for it her whole life. I was made for this. #bougiefairygodmother Not to leave out my nephew…my sister says that the advent calendar I bought will be his favorite because it’s Hot Wheels. I am also stoked about being his cool aunt and since he was born he’s gotten a book for every occasion (and some not occasions because anything is an occasion for books). If you haven’t figured it out, I am all about that #AuntLife. Soon, the niblings will be old enough for #BAEcation (Best Aunt Ever Vacation) where they will come and spend time with me and their Uncle Adam to give their parents a much needed break.

Other than our blog picks that have featured women struggling through the patriarchy, I’ve read a couple of things in preparation for next month’s Little Women extravaganza, one romance novel, a nonfiction buddy read with my husband (Adam’s read 2 chapters and I finished in 3 days…), and the YEAH BADASS WOMEN YA novel Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo, the first book of the DC Icons Series. As I mentioned in Thursday’s post, I’ve started Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu which is the second book in the series and I am loving it. I’d probably done better to settle in with Bruce Wayne over the weekend, but he doesn’t have a deadline attached to him like Mexican Gothic, so there we are.

Did you spend the weekend shoulding on yourself and your reading life? Are you getting in the holiday spirit by lining up seasonally appropriate reads? Let us know in the comments or on socials, cause we might join you if you are!

~Ashley

Dear, sweet, readers, I too have struggled this weekend to settle in with a book. I legit said to Ashley earlier this long weekend that I was hoping to finish two books (I was 60% on both, it should have been easy) and get started on my reward book (I know, we’ll circle back to that), but alas, all the things needed doing. Most of the things at least got attention, and y’all, after nearly 7.5 years in some state of construction THE BOY BATHROOM WILL BE DONE THIS WEEK! I’m so excited and *may* have shared my excitement with my coach earlier, after having asked her to suspend her coach attitude (we’re also related, which doesn’t work for everyone, but it works for us, also she was my doula, and my yenta, so we’re just weird that way), as it was one of the goals I set with her to do before the end of 2019. What happened at the end of 2019? No clue. Whatevs, it’s going to be finished before 2020 is up.

While we’re on the subject of 2020 ending, thank you to my pastor for pointing out this morning, as it’s the first day of Advent, it’s also the first day of the new church year (I’m confident I messed that all up – but Happy New Year Church!). I’m here for new years and new bathrooms and new books to read. So, Ashley mentioned this was not the time to read Mexican Gothic. I’m not sure she’s right, but we’ll have SO much more for you on that Thursday. I’m sitting at 100 pages to go and I’m scared to read it at bedtime. Not because of horror (I’d go with paranormal mystery so far over horror), but because my lack of respect for tomorrow is generally lacking and OMG I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS SO BADLY. So, after 100 pages, I’ll be starting my reward book and I’m SO PUMPED!

This month, I’ve read, and loved two Goodreads Giveaways titles. They gave me books when I entered, I (finally) read said books, and I genuinely adored both! So, I’m sharing the love with you here too! Behind door #1 we have Love Her or Lose Her (Hot & Hammered #2) by Tessa Bailey. I read the first book, Fix Her Up, earlier this fall (I was channeling Ashley’s enneagram one-ness) and it was everything I wanted this open door romance title to be – fun, sassy, steamy, and not stupid dramatic. (Yes, you need drama to move the plot, but I like real-life drama not excessive, not plausible drama.) So, when I went into #2, I had a feel for the characters already (which is something I love about romantic series), and then it clicked: THIS IS ABOUT A MARRIED COUPLE. Y’all! There is no meet cute, there’s couples therapy (which is hilarious, and also legit). This book is no surface level rom com, although there are funny parts and lots of sass. The reader goes to therapy and sees each of our main characters struggle with themselves and what’s left of their marriage. It is gorgeous! I’m also glad to know #3, Tools of Engagement came out in September, and does not include a meet cute, because that happened in #2 and it was SO fabulous!

Behind door #2 is The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan. I tried to explain this book to my librarians on Saturday and it was hard. The short version is it ticks so many of my boxes. British city librarian is downsized, so she buys a truck, moves to rural Scotland, and converts said truck to a mobile bookstore. There’s some drama, there’s a side of romance (spicy with fade to black), but it’s mostly about Nina finding herself and it’s gorgeous. My favorite part is that this book doesn’t try to be something it’s not – it’s a story about a bookish woman finding her role, her place, and her people. It’s not over-written or under-edited. The descriptions were lush and picturesque. It’s a great winter story to read with a blanket while watching cold weather outside. It’s book one in a series called the Scottish Bookshop Series. FOR SERIOUS, SIGN ME UP. So yes dear readers, book #2, The Bookshop on the Shore is my reward book and is currently waiting rather impatiently on my kindle. See also: this is why we don’t read the excerpts of other titles, especially when you’re already here for them!

Outside of our blog titles this month, I’ve read some titles that just didn’t land as well as I wanted them to with me right now, and others I can’t stop thinking about. Bookish and the Beast (Once Upon a Con #3) by Ashley Poston was a delight and I highly recommend this romance series featuring high schoolers! Myquillyn Smith delivered amazing advice and a gorgeous book in Welcome Home: A Cozy Minimalist Guide to Decorating and Hosting All Year Round. Y’all, I pre-ordered this book in hardback – it’s so beautiful. (And yes, I did borrow the e-book from my library to read it, but I wanted the bonuses and the reference for later, when hosting is a thing again.) The stand out for me this month is an ARC (thank you Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley, all opinions are my own) – Our Italian Summer by Jennifer Probst. Three generations of women, all on the struggle bus as individuals and as a family go to Italy for a month. Each of them comes home having grown, lived, and seen and they come home closer as a family as well. I didn’t love the ending (I have ALL the questions about one character’s ending specifically), but I adored the journey (and I’m here for an extended epilogue or maybe a follow up novella). If this appeals to you, consider pre-ordering this January release or recommending your library purchase a copy!

What are you looking forward to reading soon? Is it an “in” book or is it just the right next book for you?

~Nikki

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Book Review

The Kingdom of Back by Marie Lu

November 26, 2020

The following post includes affiliate links. More details here.

Happy Thanksgiving from our bookish hearts to yours! We are thankful for you dear readers! As you’re doing your Amazon shopping today, we’d be ever so grateful if you’d use our affiliate link to do so as it helps pay the bills around here!

After reading about the patriarchy living its best life in the Mozart family, is it strange that I’m looking forward to spending time in Concord where the March sisters have a vote to accept Laurie into their confidence, the girls at the party dress up Meg because they want her to feel included, and they show love to all their neighbors? Nope. Not at all, and I’m hoping you’ll join me as I spend a few hundred pages’ time enjoying watching these women living their best lives amidst a national crisis, and then you’ll join me again on Friday, December 11 at 7:30 p.m. CST for virtual book club as we all cuddle up with Marmee and her little women! Please register so we can send you the details!

The Kingdom of Back, image from Goodreads

Oh dear readers, I don’t know what I was expecting from Marie Lu’s The Kingdom of Back but it wasn’t this. This was better than I expected! I’d read the marketing copy, so I knew this was a fantasy book and a tale of Mozart’s sister who was also a prodigy. I knew nothing about the lives and employment of musicians during the late eighteenth century and little of Mozart himself. I want to lead with my favorite part, and also spoil the author’s notes. While this was a fantasy book, the Kingdom of Back is real! Legit, Woferl and Nannerl made it up and asked Sebastian to draw it for them! Is it exactly as described in the book? Who knows, but the facts of the inspiration for this book make it so much more fun!

I can see the wheels turning in your minds and it looks something like this: first paragraph includes “patriarchy living its best life” and second includes “better than I expected,” what in the crazy pants is going on and what does she actually think about this book. Well, so many things y’all, so many. Ashley’s going to dig into the patriarchy and family issues, which were a heavy struggle. For now, let’s hang out in the Kingdom of Back.

Like many a good sibling in books we love (hint Little Women) Nannerl and Woferl, as young children, share a bed for warmth (it’s the late eighteenth century in Austria, it makes sense), and as also happens (and in real life) kids won’t just go the *bleep* to sleep because they have words that need to come out. For the Mozart siblings, they determined stories were the best way, starting with Nannerl spinning a piece of the tale and then Woferl joining in to shape this fantasy world created on the premise of everything being backwards from real life. Now, do we know this is how the Kingdom came to be? Nope, but I adore it and knowing little kids, and listening to them play as I do, they take turns spinning tales and creating scenarios to play out, which is so fun to watch. As in real life, it doesn’t stay fun (in real life someone screams, for cause or not). I won’t ruin the ending, but I do want to say the fantasy piece of this book is a bit dark, but there’s also hope. I wish Nannerl could have raised her brother less and read books more, because some of the fantastical story line was fairly predictable to a reader of the genre, but not to our sweet heroine. It takes me back to my freshman seminar class to say it, but Hyacinth feels like a metaphor for the layers and nuances of Nannerl’s life, just with bolder edges. As much as the Kingdom made me cringe and want to shake Nannerl, it also made me fall in love with Marie Lu. The way Lu describes the Kingdom painted a gorgeous picture in my head and made me feel like I was in the middle of it with Nannerl, Woferl, and Hyacinth. She also brings alive the feelings of the music through her description, which feels like a special kind of magic. Nannerl says of Woferl’s playing, “I recognized the kingdom in his melody—at once sweet and beautiful, newly formed, in a minor key that made it sound like a place that could never quite settle.” I remember next to nothing about music theory from middle and high school, but the idea of a minor key being unsettled is still so familiar. And the way the idea of music being such a nostalgic connector is so real to me (just ask me next time the grocery store plays my jam, because that’s how old I am). I’m not likely to reread this, but all of Lu’s backlist is soon to be on my TBR.

I give The Kingdom of Back three and a half stars, which I’ll reluctantly round up to four, and I struggled with it. It’s a heavy book, and I don’t appreciate the historical truths of Nannerl’s real life experiences, but it’s a gorgeous new part to a story already told by so many who have not shined a light on the sister who raised Wolfgang. Nannerl deserves her genius and her struggles to be known too. She deserves to be remembered, as we all do.

What’s a book that you didn’t like, but appreciated all the same?

~Nikki

I needed to take some time to percolate my thoughts and opinions on the story that brought New York Times bestselling young adult author Marie Lu to her publisher’s attention twelve years ago, but wasn’t ready to meet the world until March 2020. The Legend series was published first, then came The Young Elites series, and then the Warcross Series. Just released September 2020 is the first novel in the Skyhunter series. Lu is a former computer Flash artist working in Los Angeles for Disney turned full-time author. She was born in China and immigrated with her parents to Texas in 1989. When she is not writing, she reads, draws, and plays Assassin’s Creed, living out her day in LA with her husband, young son, and their dogs.

As Nikki stated, Lu’s inspiration for The Kingdom of Back was based on research about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and his talented older sister Maria Anna Mozart, called Nannerl. The book takes place over the span of ten years, as Nannerl is 8 and grows to 18. She does grow in herself as well as physically, but I was frustrated at the lack of support she received from her own family. I want to unpack some of her family of origin issues. I also want to call it like I see it – this is how parents can help create Enneagram Type One children.

Enneagram One personality types are commonly known as The Perfectionist. (Hey that’s me!) How does one help form an Enneagram One personality type? Read this book for a starter guide. But, the summary is that with whatever tasks you give them to do, or imply that they must do, you only praise them for perfection, never just for trying hard things. These parenting strategies may sound like only giving praise where it is earned – tough love or not coddling a child – but what it can do to that child is teach them that the only times they are worthy of praise is when they are exhibiting perfect behavior. Their minds give them an inner critic that constantly belittles every single thing they want for themselves, drilling down that lit.er.al.ly. nothing they do is good enough, and that they are not good enough as an extension. For what are we defined by but by that which we do? Nannerl’s father Leopold is the epitome of this parenting style, never giving approval unless there is perfection. Nannerl hides her compositions, the music of her soul that could bring her such joy, for fear of her father’s disapproval and his ability to destroy her work because it wasn’t a “woman’s place” to compose or create. Except for more little boys of the patriarchy, but I digress… Nannerl’s mother does nothing but acquiesce to Leopold in every decision for their family because it is “not her place” to have an opinion of where her family lives or when they travel. She doesn’t even try to teach her daughter that their lives could be different, that Nannerl could compose because she had talent and skill. Woferl, young Wolfgang, was Nannerl’s only support and he praised her at every opportunity, loved her for herself, but Nannerl was so conditioned by the fear of her father and his disappointment she couldn’t see her brother’s unconditional love for what it was. By the end of the book Maria Anna, calling herself Mariann, finally holds her inner self up even if her outer self still meets the expectations that the patriarchy imposes upon her. I needed more from her as our ‘heroine,’ and it is probably not right to place these expectations on an actual historical figure telling her own fantastical tale, but I’m the reader and I can do what I want. Also, I was really creeped out that historical Mariann allowed her father to raise her first born, a son named Leopold, and biographers say it was because Leopold Senior wanted another chance to raise a musical genius. What the actual, y’all?

This book was a very hard read for me, emotionally, from start to finish. Even though Lu’s writing was delicious, the theme was a rough time for me, and I won’t be revisiting this title. I have been In Medias Res on Lu’s Batman: Nightwalker novel, number 2 in the DC Icons young adult series since early in the month. Now I am loving that book and can’t wait to settle back in with Bruce Wayne during this long Thanksgiving weekend.

Are there any works of an author that you love that don’t sit well with you after you have read them, but you’ll still go back to their other works searching for that je ne sais quois that you loved from before?

~Ashley

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Bookish Life•Resources

Holiday Bookish Discussions and Gift Guide

November 23, 2020

The following post includes affiliate links. More details here. If you’re looking to give this blog a gift this season, click on an Amazon link below before you do your shopping!

Darling readers, as we are now knee deep in the holiday season, I’m very much looking forward to spending part of my Thanksgiving weekend with the March sisters and yesterday morning the music director at my church gave me a sneak preview by including “Our Hymn of Grateful Praise” during service. I’m thinking of the 1994 soundtrack, the book, and maybe a movie (2019 or 1994, perhaps 1950) too if I can swing it. It’s not just that I want to be ready to discuss all of life in and around Orchard House with you on Friday, December 11 at 7:30 p.m. CST at Virtual Book Club. It’s also that I need a solid dose of normalcy in this weird and wonky year. We hope this classic and some good bookish conversation might also be good for your soul and that you’ll join us. Please register, so we can also have the joy of anticipating seeing your face!

Lego table, purchased second hand, from a dear friend years ago, still VERY much in use!

What else is this week saying to me? Well, my mom, brother, and I (yes, the sometimes overprotective one that is more Sherlock than Mycroft, and also usually more Leonard than Sheldon – bazinga bubba!), had a long-standing tradition of Black Friday shopping in the early hours of the day. It’s been on again, off again over the past decade or so, but more solidly off for the last couple of years as many stores have shifted their sales to be online as well. Right now, I’m glad for it. I’ll be in the warmth of my home, not worried about anyone’s cooties or attitude but my own, shopping to my heart’s content. I’ve already started (and didn’t realize the awesomeness I’d already acquired from the local buy, sell, trade group for my kids thanks to an amazing friend and neighbor cleaning out – y’all, this is going to be a second year of awesome kid gifts from this source!) and have several more ideas to get me really going! Some of my people will be receiving books and / or bookish things, and others will not. If you’re looking for bookish gifts for the people in your life, we’ll have some tips for you today.

But first, I want to chat about Thanksgiving, families, and what we should be arguing about over our turkey, dressing (not stuffing, gross), and sweet potatoes. Some clues first, it’s not politics, it’s not who is wrong on the internet, and it’s not when to put up Christmas decor. It’s who gets to break the wishbone and BOOKS. IT’S ALWAYS ABOUT BOOKS. But really, since the final round for the Goodreads Choice Awards is going on through November 30th, if there are readers at your Thanksgiving festivities, you should be talking about this! In all honesty, there are a few trusted sources I consulted for thoughts and opinions when I was contemplating my vote at the ballot box this year, and if you don’t talk about books with your family, then you should. If readers at your festivities aren’t on Goodreads they should be, so they too can vote and so you can see what books you have in common to discuss (and to find which books you might want to give them that aligns with their loves and possibly their TBR). You might be surprised at who’s reading what, or who you might inspire to read something different! And if an argument gets started, don’t you want it to be about something that might end up expanding your TBR rather than something that sends people to different rooms for their post dinner football and / or nap?! I’m here for any conversation that expands my TBR, especially if it helps me find a title I enjoy and can discuss with a loved one, but be careful dear readers, don’t should on your reading life just because a loved one enjoyed a book. Make sure it’s a good choice for you too!

As for me and my Thanksgiving ~~argument~~ discussion plans, I’m looking forward to a thorough discussion of The Lazy Genius Way and really all things lazy genius because Kendra Adachi’s wisdom has been pumping through my headphones for the past several days and I converted my sister over the summer and I can’t wait to talk to her more about it! We might also discuss romance novels, although we have different tastes within the genre but I think she might adore Kathyrn Nolan’s Codex Series, and we’ll see what else comes up.

Now, for gifts ideas.

B wanted to go to the track after the library. S wanted his head in a book. Both got their wish.

Bookmarks are always a hit at our house. We have three baskets placed around just for the boys to find a “quitter strip” whenever their awful parents make them close their books to do things like eat, shower, and sleep. I know, we’re the worst. Last Christmas, we gifted these timer bookmarks which were a huge hit. These joke bookmarks appeared in Easter baskets and may make their way into holiday party goodie bags care of the blog’s favorite room parent (that’s me, I’m claiming it). For an older reader, there are inspirational bookmarks and positive self-talk reminders. If you have a reader who likes to annotate (or who would like to, but then it’d mar their book, or the library’s), perhaps book darts or my personal favorite, Post-It Note page markers.

THIS is how much I adore these erasers and fancy pencils!

In case we haven’t mentioned this, we’re both office supply nerds. My kids are required to get Ticonderoga pencils for school, so you know they’re teacher approved, and they also have these fun neon pencils and these neat looking black ones, if the standard yellow is something you can deviate from at least for a bit. We all adore these amazing cap erasers, which I most definitely ordered last week and then texted my pencil loving co-worker a picture of when they arrived, along with a promise to share. Speaking of, while Ashley adores pens for her calendar, I need pencils for mine. I adore ordering from CW Pencil (who I just adore and isn’t sponsoring this, although we’re open to that). I wish I could tell you what to get, but I can’t. I can tell you that I consistently order enough (between me and my aforementioned co-worker) to get free shipping and we have both been super pleased so far with the variety of items I’ve gotten. They have gift sets and sampler sets galore! Samplers include options like musicians, lefties, puzzles, and more as well as some more general options if someone on your list just loves office supplies or pencils in general.

Books can be hard to gift, but as a reader I have to say, something fun is always welcome, even if it takes me an age to get to it. Something that a reader in my life has read and thinks I’d enjoy is always a cherished gift! Take the conversational opportunities of the Thanksgiving festivities to see if they have books they’re looking forward to (and perhaps putting off purchasing for now) or check out their Goodreads to see what they’re reading and loving (or not loving) for inspiration too. If you’re nervous to purchase a book, consider a giftcard to a local indie bookstore and a list of a few potential purchase suggestions you considered for them. Gift cards can be thoughtful gifts, when well-considered. Also, dear readers, put books on your wishlist if there are titles you’re wanting! Don’t hesitate on this one because if someone is giving you a gift, they want you to like it, so your wishlist is likely a go-to!

I do have one specific book suggestion to share. If you have young adventure seekers at home, I cannot suggest Lonely Planet Kid’s Wild Things enough! Earlier this fall I searched for dragons on my local indie’s website and purchased this as a result. Our whole family could not be more pleased. We’ve done crafts, the boys have had adventures. The gnomes that live in our back yard currently have a fortress of leaves that helps them guard the monk bats (half monkey half bat – I picture the flying monkeys from The Wizard of Oz but that is unconfirmed). Sometimes the boys have to take their swords (sticks + twine + a page in this book + a little help from dad) and go help the gnomes maintain order. It is amazing and such good inspiration for outdoor creative play (like when their energy level was too much for me yesterday at 7:30 a.m. +and I told them to leave my house)! We have several of the other Lonely Planet Kids titles on our holiday wish lists, but this is the one that started it all!

Do you have a gift you’re pumped to give this season? Are you stumped by someone on your list? We’ve love to hear about both in the comments, and just maybe we’ll have an idea or few to offer you!

~Nikki

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! (If you didn’t sing that in your head I don’t know if we can be friends…) I love giving gifts to show how grateful I am for the people in my life, but this Enneagram Type 1 needs to make sure that the receiver will appreciate the gift that is given. Mostly because it annoys me when I prepare a wish list of epic proportions, hello my entire pinterest lifestyle and amazon wish lists that are available publicly if you are so inclined, and my gifts are not from said lists. It’s really easy to figure me out, people. (I’ve been told I am an excellent thank you note writer, all thanks to my mom!) So, instead of sharing specific items that bibliophiles will appreciate, I’m going to share some of my personal favorite creators of bibliophile gifts and sundry for you and those book lovers in your life, big or small.

Out of Print: You’ve seen us at Virtual Book Club repping our Out of Print swag. [Nikki here: I’m seen in the background of online school in their shirts on the regular – teachers approve!] (All purchased with our actual, earned dollars because we love them so much! But, we have used a coupon code on each order.) We love them because not only are the images and quotations licensed from the publishers and authors, Out of Print donates money to literacy initiatives and books to areas in need. An excellent way to do double duty on your giving! Check out their story here.

NerdyInk: Tee-Shirts and Prints and Fandoms, Oh My! This family run business started in 2015 as a subscription box service, and in January of 2020 changed their business model to allow us to purchase their amazing items a la carte! Happily they still offer fans curated bundles at a discount. Follow their instagram @nerdyink for item sneak peeks and general shelfie love.

Ideal Bookshelf: Artist Jane Mount will create your personal ideal bookshelf as a painting or a print, or you can order prints of your favorite genres or themes, like this one that Ashley loves of multiple versions of Little Women. There are also mugs, totes, shirts, and our personal favorite, PINS! Because who doesn’t need a little more flare in their life? (As of this writing, there is a Buy 4 get 1 Free Pin deal happening on the website. Y’welcome.)

FrostBeardStudios: I don’t know a reader who doesn’t also enjoy a scented candle to enhance their reading life. FrostBeardStudios is a Minneapolis based business making soy-wax candles in our favorite bookish scents: Oxford Library, Bookstore, and Rainy Day Reads being three of their permanent bestsellers. They offer a Candle of the Month Club subscription to fill your home with literary scents all year-long. Also check out their seasonally themed collections.

We would be remiss if we didn’t mention how our Amazon Kindle Fire Tablets have changed our reading lives, or how a Kindle e-Reader could be an excellent choice for the young or young-at-heart book-dragons in your life. Consider the gift of a Kindle Unlimited Subscription, which is good for more than just digital books, like magazines and some audiobooks as well! There are two deals currently available – 2 Months Free or 6 Months for $29.97 as of this writing.

And, for the gift recipients that have everything they need and most anything they want, why not donate to a non-profit in their name? Besides donating to the recipient’s local library, consider the American Library Association – I am specifically interested in their Disaster Relief Fund efforts.

Gentle Reminder Dear Readers, we always want to help you shop local by suggesting you purchase from your local independent bookseller, and help us out here at Heart.Wants.Books. by clicking that affiliate link to find them online. Many of your indie bookstores carry items by Out of Print, Ideal Bookshelf, or Frost Beard Studios among other bookish creators, so try to shop there first and do double duty when patronizing on Small Business Saturday or any day of the year!

Add your favorite bookish creators and places to shop on the world wide web in the comments and on our socials to share the reading love!

~Ashley

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Book Review•Books on Screen

The Enola Holmes Mysteries by Nancy Springer

November 19, 2020

The following post includes affiliate links. More details here.

If you love some good contrast, consider Eudoria and Marmee. They both strive to raise their daughter(s) to be informed and responsible people. The contrast isn’t just the mothers, either as mothers or as women, but it’s also in how the siblings affect their girl(s). The Holmes brothers compared to the March sisters is an interesting idea full of love in their unique way as well what is considered right, although really, each sibling has his or her own ideas as to this as well. To discuss Marmee and her little women more, please join us Friday, December 11 at 7:30 p.m. CST. Watch, listen, or read, but refresh your soul with this coming of age tale of love, family, and finding oneself, even if what you find isn’t what society wants to see.

“Enola, you’ll do quite well on your own.”

Oh dear readers, I feel such a connection with quirky Enola, who’s struggling to figure out where she belongs in this world that doesn’t want to accept her as she is. I too was raised by a mother who wanted me to be able to do very well on my own, with a well-meaning, sometimes overprotective older brother. My mother didn’t abandon me, and I didn’t have to create costumes and alternative personas to validate myself, but Enola feels kindred all the same.

We shared a bit about our new obsession with Enola Holmes in the September Reading Life Review and want to share more now that we’ve both finished the book series. First things first, I want to tackle the books. This middle grade mystery series is such a joy. I enjoyed it on audio (which is not my habit, but the holds list gave that as my only option) and it was a great experience. My narrator standards are high (thank you David Tennant), and I was quite impressed by Katherine Kellgren and the subtle differences as Enola transitions across the levels of late nineteenth century London society, as well as differentiating between Mycroft and Sherlock! I listened to these on 1.2 speed and it was a blast!

My children coping with the horror of an audiobook they didn’t select.

The Enola Holmes Mysteries are quite likely to be in the audio queue for my mystery loving boys. They (after being forced to endure the horror) love the Hardy Boys on audio, so I like the idea of Enola’s story for them, especially with the history of women’s suffrage and the pursuit of gender equality. What I don’t like for my boys is the idea of a 14-year-old running away and making a life by herself in London (or anywhere for that matter). It’s just not realistic in any century that older brothers, particularly of the gentry, would allow such a thing of a younger sibling of either gender. I don’t find the movie’s change of Enola’s age to 16 to be any different from this perspective. Overall, I don’t think it’s substantially more outrageous than other tales for children or middle grade readers, but when reading or listening as a parent (or a sister with a significantly older brother), it does give me pause. I do enjoy how Enola adapts her costumes to become different characters and find it very reasonable that most people she interacts with would believe she is who she is pretending to be. It’s amazing (and astonishing) how much clothing can influence the way a person is perceived by others.

Darling Helena Bonham Carter in four of her many amazing roles.

Each of the books in the series does hold its own mystery while the series has an additional aspect of mystery that arcs over the whole of the series. While the clear mystery of the series is the story of Enola’s mother, the story that interested me more is what will happen with Enola. This is where the book and the movie differed greatly. While I enjoyed both for different reasons, I can’t help but feel like the movie missed a great opportunity for a limited series. Even so, the arc of the characters is very similar, and the mystery of the first book is solved in a similar enough fashion during the movie, but the treatment of dear old mom is a bit disconcerting. While I would put nothing past darling Helena Bonham Carter, I don’t buy the vibe of the movie, but much prefer how the book lands on this (spoilers upon request). I do love the addition of the tea house to the movie, especially as it feels like a shout out to The Witches of New York (in my reading order, not in real life, sadly).

The crowning glory of both is how Enola owns her path and stays on it, despite society, her struggles, and how her brothers feel about it. A close second is how Sherlock stays on the periphery of Enola’s work and his perspective on her changes, while Mycroft misses Enola’s ability to be independent all together. Perhaps that is the genius of Sherlock, but I really think it’s more the patriarchy thoroughly ingrained in Mycroft until Enola convinces him otherwise.

I enjoyed each of these books and the movie, and give each book a solid three stars. They are a fun, simple, and creative addition to the well-known stories of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Neither is grand, but both are worthy of time and attention, particularly Mille Bobby Brown’s performance! This was my first experience with her, as Stranger Things isn’t in my wheel-house (see also how horror is not typically in my comfort zone), but I will be paying much more attention to her in the future! As usual, Henry Cavill and Sam Claflin gave quality performances, and it was fun to see them both in period dress!

What have you read and watched and enjoyed both but found them very different?

~Nikki

Author Nancy Springer is a prolific writer to say the least, having written over 50 novels, for children, adults, and ages in-between. She’s won the Edgar Allan Poe award from the Mystery Writers of America two years in a row. Genre isn’t a stop to her writing either, because besides mystery, her works can be found in the fantasy, contemporary fiction, young adult, middle grade, and horror sections. She currently resides in the Florida panhandle with her second husband where besides writing, she partakes in birdwatching and fishing. In reading her biography on her website I am amazed at her self-knowledge and willingness to do what she deemed necessary to have a happy life outside of her career as a writer. Maybe that’s why she was so good at her job.

Enola Holmes was also good at her job, as a scientific perditorian, a professional finder of lost things and people. And had six adventures entitled, in order: The Case of the Missing Marquess, The Case of the Left-Handed Lady, The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets, The Case of the Peculiar Pink Fan, The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline, and The Case of the Gypsy Good-Bye. The kindle version of book 1 is currently $2.99 on Amazon and the others are $6.99. Even though both Nikki and I listened to the entire series on audio – a thrill and a joy while driving and putzing around on the internet, respectively not at the same time – there is also a series of graphic novels illustrated by Serena Blasco, but only three of them are currently available in English. I have downloaded The Case of the Missing Marquess as a free read through my Amazon Prime membership, and the illustrations are lovely watercolor and ink like drawings. Also, the digital version of this graphic novel is AMAZINGLY interactive. You can double click on the frame you want to focus on and it becomes full screen, then swiping takes you to the next frame in the series. Holy. Whoa. This blind mid-thirties reader definitely needs all the help she can get to read the graphic novels in her life. Speaking of her life and this little spot on the internet we call home, if you’re thinking that these books, or anything from Amazon would be great for your collection, we would really appreciate you doing some of your shopping through our affiliate links. It helps us feel super loved and unlike Knox and Jamie of The Popcast, we won’t go notifying everyone who listens (reads?) about the weird things you’ve bought through our affiliate links [Nikki here: However, we may discuss your book purchases amongst ourselves, and we’d love the opportunity.]

I had watched the movie before listening to any of the books, because I have a minor obsession with Henry Cavill (like you don’t) and I was really surprised about all the things that were different between the stories. Not good or bad, just different. Here are some of my observations.

I prefer book Enola’s theory that she shouldn’t have to dress like a boy, as is done in Shakespeare, in order to not be recognized by her brothers or strangers during her adventures. The way she uses the garments, social, and beauty standards of the time to become someone unlike herself is amazing. Yes, please let’s hide money in our ‘bust enhancers.’ Movie-Enola dresses as a boy right away to run away from her brothers which makes sense if you don’t have another source to go by. I was also surprised at the diverse cast that was involved in the movie, which I love and appreciate on the first watch, but then seemed to stretch plausibility upon subsequent watches, especially after listening to the books. (I’ve watched it four times, don’t get at me. It’s research.) I was expecting the books to mention how London was (and is) amazingly diverse in its peoples given the length and breadth of the British Empire especially during the reign of Queen Victoria, but I found it lacking given the amazing and pointed use of people who don’t look like me in the cast. My favorite thing about the movie though, was how Millie Bobby Brown broke the fourth wall, oftentimes just with a look of incredulity at something a male co-star said or did. Classic! [Nikki here: This is the only thing I don’t like about the 1996 Emma, but I also adore it here.] The smallest mention in the books was how young Enola rented a space for her Scientific Perditorian practice but rented the living quarters above it to other tenants that covered the cost of her rent of the entire building. This Victorian girl was in the real estate rental arbitrage game before it was popular!

Here’s another one of my #moviebeforethebook situations and both versions stand up to criticism and praise in equal measure. I love both for different reasons. What’s your favorite ‘little thing’ from a book or movie that just clicks and makes you think: ‘Genius!’?

~Ashley

PS: Goodreads Readers Choice Awards Final Round of voting is open now until November 30th. Choose wisely!

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