Book Review: Jamaica Inn – Daphne du Maurier

Good Read Synopsis:

The coachman tried to warn her away from the ruined, forbidding place on the rainswept Cornish coast. But young Mary Yellan chose instead to honor her mother's dying request that she join her frightened Aunt Patience and huge, hulking Uncle Joss Merlyn at Jamaica Inn. From her first glimpse on that raw November eve, she could sense the inn's dark power. But never did Mary dream that she would become hopelessly ensnared in the vile, villainous schemes being hatched within its crumbling walls -- or that a handsome, mysterious stranger would so incite her passions ... tempting her to love a man whom she dares not trust. 

Review:

This was a fascinating book. For one, I wasn’t expecting the somewhat old-fashioned writing style but thought it really added to the mood of the story. Also, wasn’t expecting how matter of fact Mary was about relations between a man and a woman.  I particularly wasn't expecting this attitude from a romance novel that was supposed to take place in the time of horse and buggy. True, she grew up on a farm but it still seems a bit liberal for that time period. I did really like how honest she was about what motivated her to hang out with Jem. Even though she thought he was bad news, she didn’t make excuses for her behavior, just simply acknowledged that she like him and moved forward.

The reveal of the nature and the brutality of the crimes being committed was cause for reflection about how life was once. Even in places that were thought to be more civilized, life was still precarious. I do think Mary should have been a bit more concerned for her own welfare being isolated with her uncle and the type of company he kept. I feel like as a woman she would have felt a little more vulnerable.

The story was entertaining, the characters very well developed, and (even though mildly predictable at times) the plot was engaging. Netflix has released a movie based on one of du Maurier’s other books ‘Rebecca’. I’m going to have to exhibit some self-control and try to hold off watching it until I can read the book first. We’ll see how that goes!  

Book Review: The Girl from Everywhere – Heidi Heilig

GoodReads Synopsis:

Nix has spent her entire life aboard her father’s ship, sailing across the centuries, across the world, across myth and imagination.

As long as her father has a map for it, he can sail to any time, any place, real or imagined: nineteenth-century China, the land from One Thousand and One Nights, a mythic version of Africa. Along the way they have found crewmates and friends, and even a disarming thief who could come to mean much more to Nix.

But the end to it all looms closer every day.

Her father is obsessed with obtaining the one map, 1868 Honolulu, that could take him back to his lost love, Nix’s mother. Even though getting it—and going there—could erase Nix’s very existence.

For the first time, Nix is entering unknown waters.

She could find herself, find her family, find her own fantastical ability, her own epic love.

Or she could disappear.

Review:

This book is perfect for a long weekend when you’re not in a big hurry. It’s one of those books that are a great read when you just want to relax and be taken someplace new. This book is more like a conversation with an old friend than an all-consuming love affair. Its engaging and entertaining but you’re not so sucked in that you can’t put it down. It might drag on a bit in a few places but I loved the characters so much that I didn’t mind spending extra time with them.

Another thing I really liked was at the end of the book you’re told what real historical events the book is based off of. The author has taken a single event in history and has created a whole fictional narrative around it. The story is a fairly clever way to interpret what happened. Heidi Heilig clearly has a good imagination.

All in all, a wonderful book.

Book Review: The White Prince – Matthew Horton

GoodReads Synopsis:

Elgaard, year 320.

It was the eve of his sixteenth birthday and the royal ceremony in which he would receive his crown as heir to the throne. Everything was going according to plan until his wicked older brother returned.

Banished from his kingdom by a power-hungry enemy, a prince embarks on a dangerous journey to return and take his rightful place as king of a land cursed in a never-ending winter.

After an enchantment causes him to forget, Prince Rykus is raised far outside of the kingdom by peasants, remembering nothing of his royalty or his wintry powers. While working as a swordsmith, he befriends a pirate with a secret of his own and a bear who help to remind him of who he really is. Thus, he begins the adventure of returning to the barren kingdom and to fight for the crown, exacting justice for his brother’s betrayal and cruelty and he must do so before Elgaard is overrun by an even bigger enemy.

Murder. Revenge. Dragons. Winter. “The White Prince” is Frozen meets The Lion King meets The Pilgrim's Progress for a new generation of readers with a mind for fantasy and adventure.

Review:

Matthew Horton clearly has a great imagination. As I read The White Prince I couldn’t help but feel like his passion and excitement for the world he had created was seeping through the pages. The story is fast paced, full of adventure and fun characters.

I did find it a little frustrating because I really liked the plot and wanted to hear more! The world and characters could have been developed more. With how fast it moved it did remind me a little of a 'choose your own adventure book', like the kind I use to read when I was younger. You know, where suddenly you come across a troll and you have to choose to fight or run away. If you choose to run away, you find yourself on the edge of a cliff and then you need to decide if you are going to go back and fight the troll or take your chances jumping off the cliff. If I'm being completely honest, it reminded me a little bit of my own writing style and how I have tried to develop narratives more. So, not only did I enjoy the book but I also learned a lot!

Book Review: American Royals – Katharine McGee

Good Reads Synopsis:

What if America had a royal family?

When America won the Revolutionary War, its people offered General George Washington a crown. Two and a half centuries later, the House of Washington still sits on the throne.

As Princess Beatrice gets closer to becoming America's first queen regnant, the duty she has embraced her entire life suddenly feels stifling.

Nobody cares about the spare except when she's breaking the rules, so Princess Samantha doesn't care much about anything, either . . . except the one boy who is distinctly off-limits to her.

And then there's Samantha's twin, Prince Jefferson. If he'd been born a generation earlier, he would have stood first in line for the throne, but the new laws of succession make him third. Most of America adores their devastatingly handsome prince . . . but two very different girls are vying to capture his heart.

Review:

I was very intrigued and excited by the story line! I've never thought about it before, if George Washington had tried to be king. The world might be such a different place if he had. I couldn’t wait to read this book because I was so curious to see where it was going to go. I was filled with questions about what the world would look like. How much had America’s democracy shaped the course of history?

Unfortunately, when I finished it I was a little disappointed. The book had a somewhat egotistical feel, being mainly centered around the royal palace. Sure, there was mention of other places but not enough to take the reader anywhere else. Also, all the main characters Bee, Daphne, Nina, and Samantha felt very egocentric as well. They all seemed so caught up in their own personal love dramas that it was a bit melodramatic. I would have liked one main character to have some other problem, any other problem really.

Please, don’t get me wrong, I liked it. I did. I will definitely read Majesty. I just wanted American Royals to have a little more depth to it, a little more there there.

Book Review: Girl, Serpent, Thorn – Melissa Bashardoust

Good Reads Synopsis:

There was and there was not, as all stories begin, a princess cursed to be poisonous to the touch. But for Soraya, who has lived her life hidden away, apart from her family, safe only in her gardens, it’s not just a story.

As the day of her twin brother’s wedding approaches, Soraya must decide if she’s willing to step outside of the shadows for the first time. Below in the dungeon is a demon who holds knowledge that she craves, the answer to her freedom. And above is a young man who isn’t afraid of her, whose eyes linger not with fear, but with an understanding of who she is beneath the poison.

Soraya thought she knew her place in the world, but when her choices lead to consequences she never imagined, she begins to question who she is and who she is becoming...human or demon. Princess or monster.

Review (WARNING: there are spoilers):

I love this book because there are elements that do not conform to the cookie-cutter model of what a fairy tale typically is, even though it has the overarching feeling of a typical fairy tale. There is a princess, hidden way in a castle, and a handsome warrior comes to rescue her. The princess, and what she decides to do, is what stands between the forces of evil taking over the kingdom. You know, the typical stuff of fairy tales. However, this book brings you monsters that are not your typical monsters. These monsters are divs, “the demonic servants of the Destroyer”, and they come in all shapes and sizes; but they’re not all necessarily evil either. Then the handsome prince turns out to be the biggest monster of them all and the princess needs to rescue, not only herself, but everyone (with a little help of course).

What I also liked about this book was The Shahmar (handsome prince turned monster) and his desire to have a connection with Soraya (the princess). In her, he sees someone like himself, someone wronged by their family, alone and yet powerful, someone capable of taking what they want. He gained power by killing his family and he keeps pushing Soraya to do the same.  Perhaps, I am reading too much into it but it seems like if he can get her to murder her brother it will in some way justify his own actions. The dynamic gave the book more depth. I’ll definitely read more from this author.

Cake Decorating!

When I was pregnant (can you believe that was almost 2 years ago now!!) I made the mistake of binge watching the Great British Baking Show. I use the word ‘mistake’ because the last thing I needed when I was 8 months pregnant and crazy with hormones that were ramping up my need to nest, was the overwhelming desire to make hand-raised meat pies.

My first attempt at fondant flowers.

The drive to bake has calmed down a lot since then but I still have the desire to create a beautifully decorated cake. In pursuit of this hormonally motivated dream, not too long ago I tried my hand at decorating a cake by piping some buttercream roses. I don’t think it went over that badly, but I could also see that this technique wouldn’t really take me to where I wanted to go. So, over the last few days I dug into a few YouTube videos, made a few Amazon purchases and tried my hand at creating fondant flowers. The experience was heavenly!

My second attempt at fondant flowers.

My first attempt at fondant flowers was far from perfect but I could see the potential. The very next night, armed with a spoon, a chop stick (my primary shaping tools) and a glass of wine, I tried again. My second attempt turned out just lovely! I haven’t been this satisfied with a creation in a while. It’s like turning my love of botanical art into something that’s edible. Can life really get any better than that?

Please – don’t judge me too harshly on the frosting. It was like 90 degrees here so I wasn’t going to actually bake anything. Instead, I bought a sheet cake at the store, stripped it of its buttercream, cut it into rounds and then re-frosted it using the same frosting from the original cake.

Book Review: Good Girl, Bad Blood (A Good Girl's Guide to Murder #2) - Holly Jackson

GoodReads Synopsis:

Pip Fitz-Amobi is not a detective anymore.

With the help of Ravi Singh, she released a true-crime podcast about the murder case they solved together last year. The podcast has gone viral, yet Pip insists her investigating days are behind her.

But she will have to break that promise when someone she knows goes missing. Jamie Reynolds has disappeared but the police won’t do anything about it. And if they won’t look for Jamie then Pip will, uncovering more of her town’s dark secrets along the way… and this time EVERYONE is listening.

But will she find him before it’s too late?

Review:

This book is so much like the first one in the way it reads! Which is both bad and good. The beginning it is a little hard to get into again and I’m not quite sure why, since I now know the characters from book one. But it took a while to connect with the story, which at first give me a real sense of disappointment. However, like the first book in the series, after that initial hump, I just couldn’t put it down. I burned through the last 2/3 in an evening. I’m not sure when it grabbed my interest but I went from being bored with it to a feeling of intrigue, wanting to know what was going to happen next.

I am happy to report that my unanswered questions from the first book were in fact answered in the second one. And that this mystery also kept me guessing for quite a bit of the book! Also, I quite like how text messages, transcripts of her interviews and case notes are all included. Reading the different points of view provided a amusing element to the story. Overall, it’s a fun little series.

Jelly, Oh Jelly!

I have to say that there is something romantic about jelly. Little bits of summer captured in glass jars displaying bright colors. The almost overwhelming sense of calm that ensues on a cold winter day when you curl up with a hot cup of tea, toast covered in brilliant melting jelly and a good book is bliss.

Golden Chokecherries from North Dakota

Not to mention, the idea of preserving delicious ephemeral fruit or berries is also very pleasing. Often fruits and berries come out in such abundance for such a limited amount of time. Seeing them overwhelm the markets can be bitter sweet because you know it is just fleeting. It’s nice to be able to preserve them and hold on to them for just a bit longer.

So, with the allure of making jelly hanging overhead I’ve tried it a couple of times. Even with the centuries of heritage behind the making of jelly it is quite an art form to achieving the perfect set. Really! It’s harder than it sounds. Too little sugar and you end up with syrup, too much and you can bounce your jelly off the floor. Sounds simple enough but don’t forget all fruit has a different concentration of sugar, so the recipe you have that works for apples might not work for strawberries. But it’s all worth it when, after the picking, the washing, the boiling, and the boiling again, you pull out of your oversized canning pot a marvelous little piece of summer.

Book Review: Darkest Minds – Alexandra Bracken

GoodReads Synopsis:

When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.

When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.

Review:

I have a confession to make… I saw the movie before I read the book. I absolutely prefer to do it the other way around but sometimes that just doesn’t work out. What this means is when I read the book I didn’t imagine what the characters looked like, or their mannerisms, etc. I just saw the actors from the movie. But, with that said, I did like the movie so much that I had to go read the book.

The Darkest Minds is an easy read; the sentences just roll by. It takes no effort to jump right into the plot and hit the ground running. The book drops you right into the beginning of a dystopian world which allows the reader to really feel connected to the story. I was immediately hooked from page one. The story is written from Rudy Daly’s perspective, a young, rather pragmatic girl. What I like are the details. For example, when recalling a traumatic event in the past Rudy recounts, “It had rained the night before, so my parents sent me to school wearing red galoshes.” To me that just seems the way you remember things from childhood that stand out. Sure, you remember the event but there always seems to be some other specific details that ties itself to the memory, like the color of the shoes you were wearing or the way it smelled in the kitchen that morning when you were having breakfast. These details just give the character a personal feel; you connect with her.

The one thing in the story that doesn’t resonate with me is how parents could just turn their children over to “rehabilitation camps”. As a mother they would have to pry my child from my arms to take her away. I understand that for some of the more dangerous children you might think you are doing what is right for them but what about the children that have more benign gifts (like a Green)? I can’t be the only parent that wouldn’t part with my child, or once parted not try and move heaven and earth to get them back. But being fiction, I am willing to suspend disbelief and just enjoy the story. And a good story full of adventure, comradery, danger, mystery and of course a quest.

Book Review: The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood

GoodReads Synopsis:

Offred is a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead. She may leave the home of the Commander and his wife once a day to walk to food markets whose signs are now pictures instead of words because women are no longer allowed to read. She must lie on her back once a month and pray that the Commander makes her pregnant, because in an age of declining births, Offred and the other Handmaids are valued only if their ovaries are viable. Offred can remember the years before, when she lived and made love with her husband, Luke; when she played with and protected her daughter; when she had a job, money of her own, and access to knowledge. But all of that is gone now . . .

Funny, unexpected, horrifying, and altogether convincing, The Handmaid's Tale is at once scathing satire, dire warning, and tour de force.

Review:

Well, I’m now scarred for life; thank you very much Margaret Atwood. Oh, thank you to my sister, who is the only reason I read this book. My sister said she finished the entire book on a long flight, which might not sound like much but she rarely finishes a book. If she could not put the book down, I just had to see what it was about.

This novel is very well put together. Atwood paints a picture of a society that has mutilated religious ideals in order to twist life into a dream for a few but a living nightmare for others. The entire time I was reading this I kept thinking, “this could never happen,” women of the world would never let this happen. However, I then remember the photos I’ve seen of Afghanistan and Iran pre and post regime changes that implemented Islamic law. Those pictures clearly demonstrate– that we have already let this happen.  

The Handmaid's Tale exemplifies some of the darkest aspects of human nature but also illustrates some of the best, such as the love for a child. It’s a tale of perseverance through hardship and political upheaval.

A Real Field Scientist

I’ve been going on field expeditions since 2006.  It all started when my boss, at the time, gave me the opportunity to do to a two-week rotation at the Mars Society’s station in Utah. I was working on my associate’s degree at a community college trying to figure out what this thing called ‘science’ was and what it meant to me. After two weeks digging around in the dirt in Utah, getting hands on experience, I was captivated. I wanted to go explore and discover and learn! Ever since then field work has called to me.

I’ve had the privilege of going to some of the most unique (inhospitable) locations in the world. The overwhelming desire to do field work has compelled me to put my life on hold and go spend 4 months on a deserted island, with six other people who were practically strangers (which ended up turning out great – I love those guys!). It is also the reason I stuck it out and stayed in the middle of a dry, hot desert sick with norovirus, sharing only a few baking hot porta potties with a team of other people.

The ActionPacker

But today, today I feel like Pinocchio when he finally becomes a real boy. Today I became the proud owner of my very first ActionPacker. For those of you unaware, the ActionPacker is the primary staple of all field equipment. In reality, it’s just a durable plastic container to put all your science-y equipment in. Before now I have never needed one. I used them all throughout school but when I graduated and started working on my own projects everything I needed for the field fit in a backpack. But now as I look at this iconic vision of field work with its black base, soft gray lid and bright red clasps I can’t help but feel like I have graduated to the next level.

Book Review: A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses #3) – Sarah J. Maas

GoodReads Synopsis:

Looming war threatens all Feyre holds dear in the third volume of the #1 New York Times bestselling A Court of Thorns and Roses series.

Feyre has returned to the Spring Court, determined to gather information on Tamlin's maneuverings and the invading king threatening to bring Prythian to its knees. But to do so she must play a deadly game of deceit – and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre, but for her world as well.

As war bears down upon them all, Feyre must decide who to trust amongst the dazzling and lethal High Lords – and hunt for allies in unexpected places.

In this thrilling third book in the #1 New York Times bestselling series from Sarah J. Maas, the earth will be painted red as mighty armies grapple for power over the one thing that could destroy them all.

Review (There are spoilers in this review):

This is a fascinating story full of fun, adventure and romance. I like how some of the characters are from other worlds and that you get just a glimpse into their own rich histories. I like how you’re not given the answers to everything. You never hear from Elain and Nesta about what happened to them in the Cauldron, or really get a true understanding of what Nesta took from it. The relationships that develop, be it as friends or as enemies, adds a nice depth to the story.

Two things that did bother me are: 1) when all the High Lords meet and 2) an aspect of the final battle. First, when all the High Lords meet there is a lot of petty squabbling and bickering, which could be expected from a group of ego centric immortals that have had to deal with each other for eons; however, some of their actions just seemed way to immature for people that are supposed to rule kingdoms. There is a lot of tongue sticking out and other childish nonsense, which is great when they are in an intimate setting, but just didn’t seem to go with the scene. Secondly, I think someone important (their father doesn’t count because you were never emotionally invested in him) should have died in the final battle. It seems a bit hard to believe that in a battle that big where everyone was fighting, that they wouldn’t have lost anyone important.

But when all is said and done I have to say I can’t wait to continue the saga!

Book Review: A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses #2) - Sarah J. Maas

GoodReads Synopsis:

Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.

With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas's masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.

Review:

I liked this one even better than the first! It is all around a fun read and there wasn’t anything I didn’t like. The fae world is vibrant and the development of the relationships between all the main characters is so vivid; as I was reading I couldn’t help but continually think – I really want to see this as a movie!

SPOILER - The love story in the first book between Feyre and Tamlin always seemed a little superficial and it was delightful how Feyre and Rhysand become involved, developing a deeper connection. Some stories give the impression that they’re not quite sure where a story is going but Sarah Maas seems to have plotted everything out way before she put pen to paper, providing a cohesive and well-rounded world for the reader.

A Court of Mist and Fury, the second book in the series, feels like it should be the first and A Court of Thorns and Roses, the first book, feels more like a prequel to the series. Can’t wait for more of the adventure.

Book Review: Midnight Sun - Stephenie Meyer

GoodReads Synopsis:

When Edward Cullen and Bella Swan met in Twilight, an iconic love story was born. But until now, fans have heard only Bella's side of the story. At last, readers can experience Edward's version in the long-awaited companion novel, Midnight Sun.

This unforgettable tale as told through Edward's eyes takes on a new and decidedly dark twist. Meeting Bella is both the most unnerving and intriguing event he has experienced in all his years as a vampire. As we learn more fascinating details about Edward's past and the complexity of his inner thoughts, we understand why this is the defining struggle of his life. How can he justify following his heart if it means leading Bella into danger?

Review:

I just love these books. Something about the story just gets to me. I was a little leery to read the whole story from Edwards point of view, since I’m totally team Jacob 100%. But I have to say it was entertaining. Don’t get me wrong, Edward does not disappoint; he fully delivers in the area of melodrama and in being overbearing. Man, he can go on and on at times being so dramatic!

Small aside – I’m a little confused as to why his behavior was just acceptable. If I found out someone crept into my apartment and watched me while I slept I would get a restraining order. It’s concerning that this behavior is portrayed as a gesture of love. I’m sure that’s how every stalker views their behavior. Anyway, fun fiction novel so moving on.

I absolutely love that you get more insight into the Cullen family! Instead of seeing them from an outsider perspective you get to see them as family. It would be great if each one of them had an autobiography. They would be the best historical fiction novels and I would read them all!

All in the name of science

As an astrobiologist, I work on a variety of topics, including determining which planetary bodies are most likely to be habitable and establishing how we would go about detecting life if it is there. Often what my work boils down to is subjecting microbes to harsh conditions to see if any of them can survive. In other words, I am constantly coming up with new and creative ways to torture and kill them. 

What makes my job really interesting is the fact that not all microbes are the same! Some are really good at surviving under extreme heat, others in high concentrations of salt, some can even survive the vacuum of space. This means that not all microbes are made equal, that they can differ widely in physiological characteristics. Which is wonderful but also presents some challenges when trying to determine the limits of life or where is the best place to look for life. 

Let’s take for example looking for life on Enceladus. Enceladus is a moon of Saturn with an ocean covered by thin ice. There are cracks in the ice where water is being ejected into the vacuum of space. When thinking about a life detection mission to sample the plumes of Enceladus you have to think about what types of life you might find there and then how does the process of being ejected into space affect them.

There is a diverse array of organisms that could make a living on Enceladus. For example, methanogens might be able to harness the energy flux present on Enceladus. Or we might want to look at Nautilia profundicola, an anaerobic nitrate-reducing bacterium from an active seafloor vent. Or maybe a better model organism would be Colwellia psychrerythraea, a heterotrophic marine bacterium ubiquitous in cold marine ecosystems. And the list goes on.

But you can’t just look at what types of organisms might live in a specific environment, you also have to look at how the environment might affect your ability to look for signs of life. What’s the effects of the plume environment on the microbial cells? Does it destroy them? It is important to understand how the process of being ejected into the vacuum of space would impact such life in order to design missions and choose the best instruments for detecting it.

As you might be starting to imagine, there are endless ways to subject different microbes to all kinds of horrific ends. Welcome to a small part of the Astrobiology world!

Images of microbes (left) under atmospheric pressure and (right) after being injected into vacuum. Cells were stained with a fluorescence dye to show the impact on cell membranes. (Bywaters et al. 2020)

Book Review: Annihilation - Jeff VanderMeer

GoodReads Synopsis:

Area X has been cut off from the rest of the world for decades. Nature has reclaimed the last vestiges of human civilization. The first expedition returned with reports of a pristine, Edenic landscape; the second expedition ended in mass suicide, the third in a hail of gunfire as its members turned on one another. The members of the eleventh expedition returned as shadows of their former selves, and within weeks, all had died of cancer. In Annihilation, the first volume of Jeff VanderMeer's Southern Reach Trilogy, we join the twelfth expedition.

The group is made up of four women: an anthropologist; a surveyor; a psychologist, the de facto leader; and our narrator, a biologist. Their mission is to map the terrain, record all observations of their surroundings and of one another, and, above all, avoid being contaminated by Area X itself.

They arrive expecting the unexpected, and Area X delivers—but it’s the surprises that came across the border with them and the secrets the expedition members are keeping from one another that change everything.

Review:

I really wanted to like this book because of the premise. It’s about a badass all-female crew exploring the unknown, told from the point of view of a biologist. I am a female biologist. I explore remote field locations. Again, I wanted to like this book. But unfortunately, it really wasn’t my cup of tea.

Everything in the book is told in uncertainties. For example, a few excerpts:

“I don’t know why the word tower came to me, given that it tunneled into the ground.”

“Later I realized I might have misread her expression…”

“I don’t know quite what I saw.”

“I could not tell which part I craved and which I feared…”

“Perhaps I’d been wrong about curiosity.”

These few examples are from just the first few pages. I’m sure you can imagine how the rest of the book goes. The author does a great job of setting up a metaphysical landscape where the reality and nature of everything is brought into question. The whole time I felt like the book was slippery; like there wasn’t really anything there.

I know that this is a great example of a specific writing style. But this book is kind of like a Picasso to me; I can appreciate the ingenuity around the creation of the piece but I just don’t like the style.

Art Class

A little while back I stumbled upon botanical art. I really liked the idea of drawing flowers, not just drawing them but making something that truly looked like the specimen in question. The scientific illustration aspect of botanical art is what really appealed to me. After a quick google search I found the Filoli Historic House and Garden, a site owned by The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which offered short (1-4 day) classes on various botanical art topics. I have never had an art class, other than modern art appreciation in undergrad, and have never really attempted anything greater than a Care Bear coloring book. So, having nothing to lose (other than a nice chunk of change and time, both of which I really didn’t have) I signed up for a two-day Introduction to Botanical Art.

At the end of the two days I left with a colored pencil drawing of a pear and an irrevocable new love. There is just something about sitting there, your entire mind focused on having your hand capture what your eye was seeing, that soothed me. I stopped worrying about whatever I was worrying about or the things on my never ending to do list. It was better than Netflix. But it was also more than that. I felt connected … that sounds cheesy. But I felt like nothing in the world existed except me and my pear, which I admit I promptly ate in the car on my way home. Illustration is hard work!

I then signed up for the class Color Pencil Fruit from the Orchard where I did an apple (which I also ate on the way home). My career as a scientist (which at times can seem like two full time jobs – grant writing and research) gets in the way of me really pursuing this passion. However, I recently was able to sneak in a two-week Digital Painting online course at California State University, Monterey Bay. The class was great! It was my first-time using Photoshop and the instructor was so patient with me. This time I attempted to capture a five petaled rose. Never stop doing what you love.

Goal # 111 – 145 Northern California Hikes Continued

I’m still working my way through my list of over 100 life goals but Goal #111 (to complete 145 Northern California hikes) is going a little slow. I took a bit of a break due to having to prioritize my time in other ways. However, I’ve started doing them again so I wanted to catch you all up.

I recently did an 8.4-mile hike at China Camp State Park, which is on the north/west side of the San Francisco Bay. This hike offers some great views of the bay and since it’s not super remote I still had cell service. I know, I know that seems a little counter intuitive to the whole get out in nature theme of hiking. But with a pandemic going on and having to work from home I realized that “working from home” really could mean “working from anywhere”. So why not the trail? If it’s a day where I have meetings/telecons for most of the day, why not call in while I’m stretching my legs?

I’ve done two more hikes since my last post, which means I’m completing these at a rate of approximately 1 per year. With 103 more to go I might need to pick up the pace just a bit.

Book Review: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder - Holly Jackson

GoodReads Synopsis:

The case is closed. Five years ago, schoolgirl Andie Bell was murdered by Sal Singh. The police know he did it. Everyone in town knows he did it.

But having grown up in the same small town that was consumed by the murder, Pippa Fitz-Amobi isn't so sure. When she chooses the case as the topic for her final year project, she starts to uncover secrets that someone in town desperately wants to stay hidden. And if the real killer is still out there, how far will they go to keep Pip from the truth?

Review:

If you’re looking for a fun YA murder mystery I would recommend this book.  

First the bad. At the beginning it is a little hard to get into. At times, the writing in places seems a bit awkward. Also, I was not immediately emotionally invested with the characters and wasn’t quite sure why Pip was so passionate about what she was doing but later it does become clear. However, after that initial tiny hump I just couldn’t put it down, burning through the last 2/3 in an evening.

And now the good. As far as murder mysteries go this one actually kept me guessing for quite a bit of the book. There were definitely a few twists and turns that I didn’t see coming but there were also a few things I was able to surmise. It was a good mix. Maybe a tiny spoiler… I SO wanted it to end in a large conspiracy that involved a ton of people from the town. But alas, it wasn’t quite that grandiose and, therefore, probably way more realistic. There were also a few unanswered questions which I think the author might be setting up to be answered in the sequel. Can’t wait to read the next one!

Microbes and the Moon

Microfluidics disk (chamber for growing organisms) and an off-the-shelf microscope.

Well, it’s been 5 months since shelter in place has been in effect here and that means 5 months of no lab access. So, I’ve decided to set up a microscope on my kitchen table! This little beauty is a DinoLite Edge with a 700-900x magnification, similar to the NanoRacks Microscope-3 on the International Space Station. One of the projects I’m currently working on is the development of a platform for monitoring the growth of microorganisms on the moon or other planetary surface. It integrates a microfluidics disk (chamber for growing organisms) and an off-the-shelf microscope, all of which will eventually end up in a housing unit.

Generally, it was thought that microorganisms, such as microalgae and cyanobacteria, are too small for gravity to have an impact on their structure and function [1]. However, that does not seem to be the case. Multiple microorganisms have shown altered growth characteristics during space flight [2-8].

To be able to tap into the full potential of utilizing microalga and cyanobacteria to create a sustainable habitat on the moon, research is needed to understand the effects of the lunar environment (gravity, radiation) on microorganisms. Microorganisms could potentially be used as a food source, to recycle water or even in biomining of lunar regolith (dust, broken rocks, etc.) to obtain useful materials such as iron.

Also, we’ll need to understand the effect of lunar regolith on microbes. There is a longstanding concern about the toxic properties of lunar dust when breathed into the human lungs, and recent studies [9] show it might cause DNA damage. How this would impact microorganisms we have yet to find out.

[1] Pollard, E.C., 1965. Theoretical studies on living systems in the absence of mechanical stress. J. Theor. Biol. 8, 113–123 [2] Thévenet, D., D’Ari, R., Bouloc, P., 1996. The SIGNAL experiment in BIORACK: Escherichia coli in microgravity. J. Biotechnol. 47, 89–97 [3] Klaus, D., Simske, S., Todd, P., Stodieck, L., 1997. Investigation of space flight effects on Escherichia coli and a proposed model of underlying physical mechanisms. Microbiology 143, 449–455 [4] Mennigmann, H.D., Lange, M., 1986. Growth and differentiation of Bacillus subtilis under microgravity. Naturwissenschaften 73, 415–417 [5] Mattoni, R.H.T., 1968. Space-flight effects and gamma radiation interaction on growth and induction of lysogenic bacteria, a preliminary report. Bioscience 18, 602–608 [6] Wang, G., Chen, H., Li, G., Chen, L., Li, D., Hu, C., et al., 2006. Population growth and physiological characteristics of microalgae in a miniaturized bioreactor during space flight. Acta Astronaut. 58, 264–269. [7] Xiao, Y., Liu, Y., Wang, G., Hao, Z., An, Y., 2010. Simulated microgravity alters growth and microcystin production in Microcystis aeruginosa (cyanophyta). Toxicon 56, 1–7. [8] Li, G.-B., Liu, Y.-D., Wang, G.-H., Song, L.-R., 2004. Reactive oxygen species and antioxidant enzymes activity of Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 (Cyanobacterium) under simulated microgravity. Acta Astronaut. 55, 953–957. [9] Caston, R., Luc, K. Hendrix, D., Hurowitz, and Demple, B. 2018. Assessing toxicity and nuclear and mitochondrial DNA damage caused by exposure of mammalian cells to Lunar regolith simulants. GeoHealth, doi/epdf/10.1002/2017GH000125