Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography

Surprisingly the audiobook translates well from print to the audio format.  With NPH as the narrator, the listener is taken on an the adventure of his life.

• The book captures NPH's trademark humor.
• The book is written in the second person (e.g. Next you are cast in a series playing a child doctor).
• NPH's candor about his shortcoming and failures adds to his likability.
• The listener/reader gets a behinds the scenes look into his career, most interestingly his time between Doogie Houser, M.D. and his recent return to fame.
• NPH details his exploration into magic and the work going into hosting award shows.

While not the best source for comprehensive and authoritative biographical information for NPH, his autobiography only deepens respect and admiration for this retired child doctor.

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

This is a book about book lovers for book lovers.  If you are only mildly fond of reading and literature, then this isn't the book for you.

• This novel could have been just a quaint love story about book lovers, but it is so much more.
• It feels as if events happen in the plot, and then later you learn the back story of the characters.
• One of my favorite reads in the last year!

Sweetland by Michael Crummey

To be honest I almost walked away from Sweetland about half way through, but on a whim decided to continue reading it.  I'm glad I did.

• This novel is about the importance of place, this is an interesting concept as society becomes increasingly mobile.
• This novel is about identity and loss, and how these factors shape characters.
• There is much more to the main character than it seems.  This is revealed about 85% of the way through the book.
• The novel jumps around chronologically, often quite rapidly.

Guest Review: Bomb by Steve Sheinkin

My husband and author of Data Science Notes is contributing this guest review.

My wife picked this book out for me on the recommendation of one of her coworkers.  Overall, I really liked the story, even after later learning that it was a YA book. A description of the early days of nuclear science, and the development and proliferation of the bomb:

Pros 

• Honestly, a fun book to listen to, good narrative, fast paced.
• Interesting learning about the different personalities of the scientists and spies.
• A good quick primer for kids on how nuclear weapons work.

Cons

• If you were like me, and expecting a bit more detailed on technical aspects/calculations behind nuclear physics of the bomb, you'll be let down.
• There's a dual narrative, with the science side taking one thread, and spy side taking another. Though intertwined, I would have preferred just the science, as the spy side seems to be a book in its own right.

Your Family in Pictures: The Parents' Guide to Photographing Holidays... by Me Ra Koh

This how-to photography guide is oddly technical for its intended audience.

• Presents some interesting ideas
• Describes technical settings used in example photos
• Some examples verge on overexposure
• Many examples are poorly executed

Overall, there is nothing unique presented in this book that isn't easily available online.  The author's photography isn't especially striking or original.  The aesthetic is very singular and insulated.

Night at the Fiestas: Stories by Kirstin Valdez Quade

Quade explores Hispanic culture in New Mexico in this collection of short stories.

• Explores fitting into cultural roles and customs
• Many sticky and prickly relationships between family members
• Characters at all stages in life

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

Fault in Our Stars

- cancer

+ depression and suicide

- international travel

+ Indiana travel

-------------------------------

All the Bright Places

At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson

Bryson describes how modern day private life experiences were shaped by unexpected historical forces.

• Some overly detailed sections
• Many off topic tangents (e.g. grave robbing)
• Appeals to history fans

Bryson challenged many assumptions I wasn't even aware I had about modern private life.

Ugly Girls by Lindsay Hunter

• Characters figuring out who they are
• Written from multiple points of view
• Surprisingly action-filled
• Gritty

On Such a Full Sea by Chang-Rae Lee

While set in a dystopian future, this novel doesn't rely on an over-used plot.

• Focuses on the experiences of the characters over plot action
• An unknowable main character
• Ventures through all levels of privilege and access