The People of the Abyss by Jack London

Non-fiction - 4.5 stars

I did not know what to expect from this book, as London is mostly known for his Yukon-set fiction, but I will have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by this piece of mostly non-fiction work. In many ways an essay on the social issues in the turn of the 20th century East End of London, The People of the Abyss is a peek into the lives of millions at that time and outlines the challenges faced by them to eek out a meager living. It also addresses the homeless situation, perpetuated by the laws and the social programs of the time - a problem we face even with today's homeless society. I really enjoyed this peek into history, a glimpse of the true horrid nature of life in places such as the famed Whitechapel. London pulls no punches describing the wretched nature of the impoverished subculture of workers and homeless. I highly recommend it for those interested in British History or for those interested in social history. Filled with monetary breakdowns of income vs. expenses and with the vivid descriptions that are true to London's style, this book is a true piece of history itself.

Written in My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon

Historical Fiction - 5 stars

Swoon! In this eighth installment of the Outlander series, Written in My Own Heart’s Blood, the story of Jamie and Claire Fraser continues into 1778. In the cliffhanger from the previous book,  An Echo in the Bone, Jamie Fraser returns from "the dead" to discover that Lord John has married Claire to protect her from the British Loyalists. Meanwhile,  William has discovered who his father really is, Ian has fallen in love with a Quaker, and Claire is busy trying to stay sane. No spoilers here - I'll merely say that things don't calm down upon Jamie's return.
 
The Frasers are under the illusion that Brianna and her family are safe in twentieth-century Scotland. However, all is not peaceful at Lallybroch. She and Roger embark on their own journeys in search of family.

According to Barnes and Noble review, "Written in My Own Heart’s Blood is the brilliant next chapter in a masterpiece of the imagination unlike any other." I whole-heartedly agree.

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

Historical Fiction - 4 stars

The description of Wolf Hall from B&N says:

England in the 1520s is a heartbeat from disaster. If the king dies without a male heir, the country could be destroyed by civil war. Henry VIII wants to annul his marriage of twenty years and marry Anne Boleyn. The pope and most of Europe opposes him. Into this impasse steps Thomas Cromwell: a wholly original man, a charmer and a bully, both idealist and opportunist, astute in reading people, and implacable in his ambition. But Henry is volatile: one day tender, one day murderous. Cromwell helps him break the opposition, but what will be the price of his triumph?

While this description is certainly accurate, it does not get to the meat of what the book is about. It is really a biopic of the life of Thomas Cromwell, beginning with his adolescence and continuing through the death of Thomas More and the beginning of Henry's disenchantment with Anne Boleyn. Cromwell certainly lived an adventurous life, which prepared him for the political wrangling of Henry's court. I liked this book as it deals in one of my favorite historical periods. However, I can only give it 4 stars as Mantel's writing style can be difficult. This winner of the 2009 Man Booker Prize is informative and sweeping, but not for fans of light reading.

 

Let's Pretend This Never Happened (A Mostly True Memoir) by Jenny Lawson

Non-fiction - 4 stars

In the irreverent Let’s Pretend This Never Happened, Lawson retells stories from her childhood with her sister, dealing with the antics of her absurd father. As she gets older, her husband, her daughter, and lots of psychiatric specialists help her uncover the surprising discovery that the most terribly human moments—the ones we want to pretend never happened—are the very same moments that make us the people we are today.

I got this book in a two-for-one sale with Craig Ferguson's, and I am so glad I did. Between Ferguson and Lawson, I laughed for two weeks straight. This book is hilarious, mainly because I can relate to many of the stories she tells, including one about a rattlesnake. I absolutely loved it.