The Night Circus

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

At first you think this is a story about the circus. Then you think it is about a contest between two skilled competitors. But it's about magic. And relationships. And so much more. And it's beautifully written. Don't go into this book expecting action--it's a slow start. Allow the gorgeous descriptions to fill your imagination. Delight in the details. In fact, read this book, then read it again. The seemingly loose plot threads tie together at the end and give you the beautiful present that is this book.

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Shiver (Wolves of Mercy Falls #1)

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Wolves. High school. Poor parenting. A bit like Twilight, but better written. Maggie Stiefvater wrote this series prior to the very excellent The Scorpio Races, and it shows. The dialogue is cringe-worthy at times, and the plot is loosely held together by the merest threads, but it was entertaining enough to read the next two installments. Take this young adult offering as the pleasant diversion it is, then read The Scorpio Races for beautiful prose and an engrossing storyline.

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Silos, Politics, and Turf Wars: A Leadership Fable about Destroying the Barriers That Turn Colleagues into Competitors

Silos, Politics, and Turf Wars: A Leadership Fable about Destroying the Barriers That Turn Colleagues Into Competitors by Patrick Lencioni
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Another leadership fable by Patrick Lencioni. His books are quick reads and leave you with common sense nuggets you can share with your team. This one is about breaking down silos to unite your team with a goal to rally behind. Lencioni takes common issues often experienced in the business world and breaks these problems down in a simple, relatable story. Good for teams and leaders who are looking for ways to work better together.

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Beyond Belief: My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape

Beyond Belief: My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape by Jenna Miscavige Hill
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

An interesting look into one girl's life growing up in the cult of Scientology. 95% of the book was a recounting of the events in her life growing up in Sea Org, separated from her parents, and how she was indoctrinated into the world of Scientology. The final 5% is about her "escape", which wasn't so much harrowing as it was anticlimactic. Her experiences, while horrible and I wouldn't wish them on any child, were clearly not as bad as some of the others growing up around her, and I would love to read another insider perspective as well.

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Amethyst (Jewel #1)

Amethyst by Lauren Royal
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Amethyst is the first book in Lauren Royal's Jewel Trilogy. One of the things I enjoy about her books is the clever way she weaves the plot around historical events and people in early English history. Amethyst is set during the Great London Fire of 1666, and she does a nice job allowing that catastrophic event to drive her plot and her main characters together. Amy Goldsmith and Colin Chase first meet when he enters her family's jewelry shop to purchase a gift for his sister, and that chance meeting sets the rest of the book in motion. The details of the time are so well-written that I can forgive the cheesy dialogue and eye-rolling decisions from both Colin and Amy as they find their "happily ever after". Fans of historical romance should first read the Jewel Trilogy, then read her Flower Trilogy, set a bit in the future and cleverly ties in these characters as well.

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Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle

Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle by Fiona Carnarvon
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I'm torn on how to best rate this book. On the one hand, it is an interesting glimpse into the lives and times of "the real Downton Abbey". On the other hand, it is a fawning, at times disjointed account of the author's ancestor and a jumbled picture of how she lived after becoming the lady of the manor.
Worth a read for people who love British history or Downton Abbey. 2 1/2 stars.

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The End of Your Life Book Club

The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a beautiful tribute to a life well-lived. Will Schwalbe shares his mother's fight with pancreatic cancer, the books they read together throughout her treatments, and a glimpse into the life of an extraordinary woman whose impact on lives was spread across the globe. While the discussions and insights into the books they read were wonderful and added more books to my "to read" shelf, his book has more importantly inspired me to live more fully and be grateful for my amazingly blessed life. As an unrepentant "read the last chapter first" person, I forced myself to read this through in order since I could guess the ultimate outcome by the title. I was left sobbing on the couch for my efforts, truly moved by his final chapters. This book is a treat.

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Founding Mothers

Founding Mothers by Cokie Roberts
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

An interesting look into the daily lives of the women who helped found our nation. I enjoyed looking back into colonial times and finding out more about influential women in our history. This is a bit of a slow read, and the stories get a bit muddled at times, but you walk away learning a lot.

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The Book Thief

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Death. Nazis. Sadness. And one young girl trying to survive it all. The Book Thief was a journey through the events of World War II, seen through the eyes of our narrator, Death. I can't say I loved this book. Stylistically, it wasn't my favorite. But I can't stop thinking about it, and those are the kind of books I want to read.

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Silks

Silks by Dick Francis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Typical Francis novel, involving horses, murder, conspiracies and light romance. This one takes us into the life of barrister and amateur jump jockey Geoffrey Mason. Attacked by a former client, Mason is thrust into a new case involving two of the top professional jockeys, one accused of murdering the other. The plot takes the expected twists and turns you have come to expect with Dick Francis, and his son seems to be following nicely in his footsteps.
The ending left me wanting more, and overall it was a satisfying read.

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Close Combat (The Corps #6)

Close Combat by W.E.B. Griffin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

More World War II in the Pacific. The Coastwatchers are relieved, and we watch the fight to retain Guadalcanal. More unrealistically drawn women wanting nothing more than to land a Marine, but I will forgive Griffin this because, hey, what do I know? Maybe this is truly how women felt during the early 1940's. I love how we get more time with Pick--I enjoy his ridiculous optimism and how he has stayed the same silly man-child throughout.

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Know What You Don't Know: How Great Leaders Prevent Problems Before They Happen

Know What You Don't Know: How Great Leaders Prevent Problems Before They Happen by Michael A. Roberto
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I expected more from this book. Essentially you must ask questions, share information, encourage your team to take smart risks, and incorporate after-action reviews into your routines. I did enjoy the section on "Listening". Winston Churchill once said, "Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen."
Overall this book doesn't uncover any groundbreaking information on problem solving, and I found the extensive citations at the end of each chapter annoying. They would have been fine at the end of the book, where I could easily skip them. It caused the book to feel more like a college textbook instead of a motivating business book I could recommend to others.


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