October 2022 in Books

A much shorter list this month.  There were a couple books that took longer to get through, but some definitely worth reading:

The Fortunes of Jaded Women - Carolyn Huynh - fiction - four stars - This was a fun book.  It struck me as kind of a poor Vietnamese version of Crazy Rich Asians.  It's the story of the Duong sisters, who are cursed in love as the result of their ancestor Oanh.  They will never find true love, and will give birth only to daughters, never sons.  The sisters and their daughters really are a mess, sisters not speaking to sisters, mothers estranged from daughters.  Then one of the sisters, Mai Nguyen, consults a psychic who tells her that this year there will be a marriage, a death, and the birth of the son - thus breaking the curse.  Mai sets about restoring ties, but it's not all smooth sailing and a lot of fighting and craziness ensues.  This was a fun book, although the constant bickering and crazy between the sisters started to wear after a while.  Still, I enjoyed it, and it was a pretty quick read.

Moth: A Novel - Melody Razak - historical fiction - three stars - The background of this book is the partition of India/Pakistan.  It's a topic that I've read very little about, but which plunged both countries into a fair amount of chaos and violence.  The story is focused on Alma, whose arranged marriage has falls through, she is crushed and demands to be sent to live with her aunt to escape the local gossip/attention.  On the way, tragedy ensues.  This book should have been really good, but the characters were just so annoying and unlikable, and it definitely dragged.  Just OK.

Wise Gals: The Spies Who Built the CIA and Changed the Future of Espionage - Nathalia Holt - non-fiction - four stars - This was a really interesting read.  It follows the lives/careers of several women who played pivotal roles in the formation and work of the CIA.  The book talks about their many contributions and accomplishments, including their fight for equality within the CIA as part of the 'Petticoat Panel'. The panel was created in response to complaints (true) that women were not hired into administrative/secretarial roles despite the fact that the work they performed as analytical/operational, that there were no women serving at the upper echelons of the agency, that women made a fraction of their male counterparts' salaries, etc.  I really enjoyed reading about these women and how despite the unfairness they endured, they maintained focus on their mission and made a real impact.  The book was a bit slow at times and jumped around a lot, but definitely worth the read.

Solito - Javier Zamora - memoir - five stars - This is the story of Zamora's journey to the U.S. Wherever you may stand on the topic illegal immigration, this is a must read.  The journey is long and harrowing, full of unexpected and unplanned events.  What struck me most was that Zamora made the journey at the age of nine unaccompanied.  His parents had both traveled to the U.S. previously, and at nine he was deemed old enough to make the trip.  His family arranged with the same coyote who took his mother to the U.S. to take him.  He was blessed to have been taken under the wing of several of the other travelers in his group.  Strongly recommend.

A Song of Comfortable Chairs (No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, #23) - Alexander McCall Smith - detective - five stars - I really enjoyed this latest Mma Ramotswe book.  This one was very much focused on the relationship between Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi.  At the beginning of the book Mma Makutsi is continuing her practice of elevating her position in the office, and it's finally starting to wear on Mma Ramotswe a bit. Meanwhile there's a troubling development with Phuti's business.  A new furniture company is trying to put him out of business.  In addition, a childhood friend of Mma Makutsi has moved to Gabarone, but is having trouble with her son.  While these aren't her traditional jobs, Mma Ramostwe is up to the challenge and comes up with a plan to solve both problems.  She and Mma Makutsi also solidy their friendship.  Loved it.

My favorite this month was Solito.  I'm now reading One Hundred Saturdays which so far is a little slow.  Next up is The Ways We Hide.  Would love to hear what you are reading!