Top Ten Tuesday for June 21!!

Yep! It's that time yet again...another Tuesday!

As most of you are aware, The Broke and the Bookish host this weekly meme!

And this week's theme is...

Top Ten Favorite 2016 Releases So Far This Year.

However, since I have not yet even read 10 books that were just released in 2016,

I am adapting this...to... 

Top Ten Favorite Reads For the First Half of 2016!!

That works much better for me!

Thanks to the Social Justice Book Club 

(#SJBookClub) 

I have read two amazing nonfiction books!

This book club is hosted by 

Kerry of Entomology of a Bookworm, 

and founded by herself, 

Shaina of Shaina Reads, 

and Shannon of River City Reading.

April's book was Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson.

Stevenson founded the Equal Justice Initiative, 

headquartered in Montgomery, Alabama.

Though this is absolutely heartbreaking, 

each person in this country should read it!
He is proving there can be hope, love, and mercy,
by creating a measure of true justice and fairness.

Our first positive contribution is to be educated and informed...

only then can we truly advocate for a better world, 

and not just for us, but for those unfairly accused...

and worse.

June's book was 

The Long Shadow of Small Ghosts: 

Murder and Memory in an American City 

by Laura Tillman

Definitely thought-provoking, 

especially since I have worked 

with people like John and Angela 

as a case manager and advocate. 

Addiction, disappointment, and lack of accessibility 

to adequate services combine for disaster.

While I've not yet had time to compose blog posts for each of these, you can find some brief comments and links to my Goodreads reviews here!

They both also count as nonfiction! YAY!

I wanted to read at least 10 nonfiction books this year, 

with no more than 5 being memoir/biography/autobiography. 

Thus far, I have read 6 and 3 of those are not memoir/biography/autobiography!

YAY! Me! 
Plus they both qualify for the 2016 Southern Literature Reading Challenge!

(Gotta celebrate those little victories when I can!)

I keep scrolling through my "READ" shelf on Goodreads and saying to myself,

"I've read so many more than 10 really good to great books already this year!

I'll mention the three series that I am currently reading: 

Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs series!
Oh, my! Winspear is an absolutely amazing writer!
I love historical fiction and throw in a mystery...well, I'm hooked!
She takes me into Maisie's world sooooo completely!
And Maisie. She is one intense and focused person, 
and my kind of woman in so many ways.
I have not yet begun to blog reviews of the first 6 books I've read thus far.
And quite frankly, I have taken a bit of a break following Among the Mad which 
was so emotionally draining and upsetting to me that I had to rest...
I do not mean this in a negative way! 
Quite the opposite--I FELT this book so deeply within my soul! 
I believe I'll get back to Maisie in another few weeks. 
It has taken about 6 months for me to fully digest 
and reflect upon the last one.
The Mapping of Love and Death is the next installment and 
although I had started reading it months ago, I only managed about 
10 pages when I realized I just needed to 'come up for air' 
for a bit before diving right back in. 
I am so moved by the desperation of others, especially when their
circumstances are beyond their control in most every way...

Then we switch gears to the Andy Carpenter series 
by David Rosenfelt!
While Andy's cases are quite serious in nature, 
Rosenfelt imbues him with so much subtle and not-so-subtle humor,
particularly in such a self-deprecating way! I laugh and chuckle! 
I have read and reviewed the first five books in this series and 
am ready for #6, Play Dead!
Here are the first five reviews: 
Open and Shut, First Degree, Bury the Lead, Sudden Death, 
and Dead Center. Why do I love this series so? Well...
there is Tara to consider. Tara is Andy's ever-so-faithful 
couch-potato-sharing golden retriever. Just "the best dog in the world," according to Andy! 
I so appreciate the way Rosenfelt develops these characters. 
They do not remain the same, but rather they evolve, just as real people do!
Oh, and can you tell that I am reading these from the library? Hence, a review for each one?
Whereas I own every Maisie Dobbs book, so that at least partially explains the fact I review each of the Andy Carpenter books as I read it, but not so with Maisie Dobbs. 
Oh, and I did read Rosenfelt's latest stand-alone, Blackout, too! Loved it!
My husband is now hooked as well...as he is on another new-to-me series I discovered...

Laurie R. King's 
Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series!
I read the first installment, 
The Beekeeper's Apprentice, 
and was soooooo hooked! 
And as you may have already guessed, 
I am also reading these through the library!
So you may well expect a review
for each book as I read it!
Though I own the most recent release,
The Murder of Mary Russell.
Actually, I own a personally inscribed copy since
I was able to meet and speak with her in April at the 
Christamore House Guild Book and Author Luncheon in Indianapolis, Indiana! 
What a lovely person!! I asked her about the creation of a character like Mary Russell.
Her answer: Some characters just keep appearing and reappearing, coming and going, always developing, and then, then, there are some, some, that simply appear! 
Fully developed! They are just there. She verified that Mary Russell was the latter type. 
All I can say is, I am ever so grateful she appeared!!
While I would love to own all the books I read, our house is full!
And fortunately, I live where library use is very convenient!
My husband has read through this series and is reading everything else King has written!
That tells me these must have a wide appeal. :)
All three of the above series count toward the 2016 Cloak and Dagger Reading Challenge!
And Maisie Dobbs and Mary Russell count toward the 
Historical Fiction 2016 Reading Challenge hosted by Passages to the Past!

David Levithan. Two boys. A lot of kissing!
This book. It is so very powerful!
One of my good friends just read it, 
mainly because one of her grandsons 
just "came out" to his family. 
I know neither she nor I was surprised.
In fact, we were thrilled that he felt comfortable 
in not only discovering this about himself, 
but also in divulging it to his family and friends! 
Thank goodness! Perhaps we are finally 
beginning to accept all people, period! 
I cannot adequately describe all the nuances of this book, but I can say that you will do yourself a favor by experiencing it! 
I mean, what have you got to lose? 
Except perhaps a prejudice or two? :)

Your Heart is a Muscle the Size of a Fist by Sunil Yapa
Although I have not yet distilled my thoughts 
about this book into a blog post, 
here is my Goodreads review. 
But really, this book needs to be experienced. Directly. 
The best way I can describe it overall? 
It has settled into my soul. Deeply. 
And the meaning of the cover image--well, 
it just takes me right back to Seattle...
to these characters whom we get to know 
to varying degrees.
Victor. Such a tragedy. Such a waste of a person needing to belong and be loved. 
Just for who he is. A person. Fully entitled to love and acceptance.
Another amazing Historical Fiction read! And a debut!
Here is a more sane and composed review by Shannon of River City Reading! 

I don't believe I have ever mentioned 
this one in a 'listing' post before, 
but I really enjoyed reading 
Gift from the Sea 
by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. 
I might not have ever purchased 
this and read it if not for having 
read and reviewed 
The Aviator's Wife
by Melanie Benjamin for the
Literary Wives Online 
Book Discussion group, 
one of my favorite historical fiction books ever! 
My feeling is that Lindbergh's writing is timeless, 
although the initial publication was in 1955! 
It was a 1956 National Book Award Finalist for Nonfiction. 
Per Wikipedia, Publisher's Weekly claimed it to be the #1 bestseller for nonfiction 
in the United States in 1955. And rightfully so, IMHO!
This is definitely perfect for me to keep around to read portions every now and then 
as a semi-meditative exercise. It is a celebration--of life!

This brings me to a book I never ever expected to read and really, in so many ways, was one of the most powerful experiences ever! 
The mother-in-law of one of our book club members recommended we read it, since her own book club had enjoyed it so much! Admittedly, one of our members chose not to read it, 
but all of the rest of us who did, ended up loving the experience! 
It was so genuine and heartfelt. Such a lesson in considering each person's perspective and view of the world, or their own "room"... 
So, although I had purchased it very cheaply on a whim, I was rather determined I would probably never read it, and now I'm so very glad I did! So many times we are pleasantly surprised by 
books we didn't think we would like, for whatever reason! 

So...speaking of historical fiction...yet again...there was 
Circling the Sun by Paula McLain.
I had originally planned to attend an author signing/presentation with McLain in early June, 
where I would purchase this book and 
have it personally inscribed by the author. 
I loved The Paris Wife [Can you tell that was my very first blog post?!? I sure can! :)], which was the second book 
reviewed by the Literary Wives co-hosting bloggers.  
I was unable to attend the author event, 
so I checked the book out from the library and read it. 
What a great experience! Beryl endured much during her childhood, but I believe it served to only make her a much stronger adult female than she might otherwise have been, especially given the times! 
And that served her well!

You might be able to see why I have stated in the past that 
mystery/suspense and historical fiction are two of my favorite genres! 

And just to give us all even more books to consider, 
here is the Publisher's Weekly listing of debuts to watch for 
that will be released this Summer and Fall! 
I thought this was quite a diverse listing!
Here Comes the Sun was already one of my top "want-to-reads"! 

If you had to name only ONE book as your favorite read so far this year, 
what would that be?

Or, what is the title of a book you read in 2016 that you wanted to include in a listing of favorites, but didn't?

Feel free to leave a title in the comments that answers one of the above questions!

It is the reason that is truly important...

Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan

This title is a bit misleading...in some ways. 

This book is so much more than just "two boys kissing." 
Not that there aren't two boys kissing...well, and more...

Perhaps most importantly is their reason for kissing...in public...with cameras and lights filming them...although one of them has not yet even "come out" to his own family...

and they aren't really a 'couple'...any more...or...maybe they will be again?

This book was named a 2014 Stonewall Honor Book 

in Children's and Young Adult Literature.

Check out the Stonewall Book Awards!

"The first and most enduring award for GLBT books is the Stonewall Book Awards, sponsored by the American Library Association's 

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table. 

Since Isabel Miller's Patience and Sarah received the first award in 1971, 

many other books have been honored for exceptional merit 

relating to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender experience."

I'm so glad to have learned about these awards!

(This just means even more books have now been added to my TBR list!) 

And kudos to the ALA!!

I just discovered this Book Riot post written by Kelly Jensen, 
discussing and listing some LGBTQ middle-grade books. 
Her point is well taken--although we have more and more LGBTQ YA literature
there is little published thus far for "middle-grade" readers.
Although I realize there are (especially small-town rural) libraries refusing to diversify their collections to include ANY LGBTQ publications, this should be a priority, in my opinion.
With the advent of not only more widespread acceptance of, but also appreciation for diverse gender self-identifcation, we need to widen children's perspectives and consideration of possibilities to include all people...all.
If we don't work to make children aware of possibility we may well prevent them 
from ever accepting, let alone appreciating, 
those who may not identify in accordance with their own limited expectations.
And that is the opposite of increasing people's knowledge base and critical thinking skills, 
it is in effect preventing growth and development. 
There are communities which thrive on keeping everything the same as it has always been. And that is very dangerous territory, totally self-defeating, in my opinion.
How are these children to ever fit in with the real world once they reach adulthood 
and move away, as the majority do? *stepping down from my soapbox now*

Though this is the first, rest assured that it is not the last David Levithan book I will read! 

His writing is so inventive, intensely passionate, genuine, and heartfelt. 

It was as if I was listening to a really close friend reveal their inner thoughts on issues of utmost importance to them--things that arouse their passion and compassion! 

As happens to me, if I truly LOVE a book it is even more difficult for me to pare down my thoughts for a review. I am ambivalent about how much to divulge about this book, because I think it is important for the reader to discover so much of it for themselves. So I am cutting much of what I already composed. (Wait! Did I just hear potential blog readers clapping?!?) :) This narrator is one of the most unique and yet informative of all narrators I have encountered, and that is all I will say about that. 

Levithan's text is so emotionally dense and yet it flows so well. He presents many varied renditions of love--among and between family members, friends, and intimate partners. As you might imagine there are depictions of parents loving their children with unconditional positive regard as well as those who despise their children for 'who they are,' or perhaps more accurately, 'for who they are not.' :( There are brand-new 'couples' just getting to know each other and experiencing all those doubts and self-questioning thoughts as they delve into a relationship. There is a child who is so totally lost and unmoored in life as to search out anything he feels is thrilling--over-the-top experiences with little to no meaning or feeling involved. (I would attribute much of this attitude to his lack of love and acceptance within his own biological family.) I found myself with heart racing and so fearful of what might happen to him next--literally whether he would live or die.
The world, in his eyes, is flat and dull. All sensation has been leaked from it, and instead its energy is running through the busy corridors of his mind, making angry, frustrated noise. He is sitting on his bed, and he is wrestling within himself, and ultimately the only thing he can think to do is go on the Internet, because life there is just as flat as real life, without the expectations of real life. (5)
My heart ached for this child as I read this passage. 

  Cooper jolts awake, his face pressing into the keyboard, creating an unsayable word. His contact lenses feel like dry wafers on his eyes. His breath tastes like morning worms. (25)
Such wonderfully realistic description! Although his first interaction that morning is not pleasant and leads to, well...more unpleasantness.

First time meeting:
He spots Avery's [pink] hair first, then Avery. And Avery looks up at just that moment and sees the blue-haired boy glancing his way...
  Things are not magical because they've been conjured for us by some outside force. They are magical because we create them, and then deem them so. Ryan and Avery will say the first moment they spoke, the first moment they danced, was magical. But they were the ones--no one else, nothing else--who gave it the magic. We know. We were there. Ryan opened himself to it. Avery opened himself to it. And the act of opening was all they needed. That is the magic. (9)
And that is the 'magical' start to any relationship, no matter how it may turn out in the future, it is that magic of opening up to another person that starts it all! However, Avery worries about Ryan's reaction if/when he knows that Avery 
was born a boy that the rest of the world saw as a girl...His mother thought that maybe she'd always known, which was why she'd chosen the name Avery--her father's name, which was going to be given to the baby whether it was a boy or a girl. With his parents' help and blessing, if not always comprehension, Avery charted a new life, was driven many miles...to get the hormones that would set his body in the right direction. And it's worked. (12)
And Ryan is in disbelief that he has "found someone here in the bowels of the Kindling community center." He's worried about time...
Should he stop and talk to this boy more, before the DJ plays the last song and the lights come back on? Or should they stay like this, paired by the music, cocooned in a song? 
...time can be buoyed by wordlessness, but it needs to be anchored in words. (13)
Oh, doesn't that take you back to the first meeting with someone in whom you were interested, romantically? Ah, it sure does for me...all that worry and hesitation... And meanwhile the DJ plays a song that breaks up the dancers as they leave the floor he holds his phone in the air so the boy he loves in Texas can hear this song dedicated to him. Awww...that is just so sweet! This, at the same time that 
Ryan and Avery can feel their words working with each other, can feel the simple joy of falling into the same rhythm, thinking companionable thoughts. (15) 
This reminds me much of the night Mr. G and I met! We talked for 5+ hours! Rarely do you meet such a soulmate and I have been fortunate enough to meet two of them in this lifetime, my current partner/spouse and my BFF!

Avery and Ryan talk the very next morning.
  They begin to make plans, and a plan. Plans are the things you are going to do at a precise time, while a plan is the more general idea of all the things you might do together. Plans are the coordinates; a plan is the entire map. Plans are the things you can discuss in that first nervous phone call. A plan is the thing that goes unsaid, but puts the hope in your voice nonetheless. There is nothing so heartening as a chance. (29-30)
I swear I don't believe I have ever read a better description of the beginning of a relationship! Spot on! 
[Avery] doesn't know yet that doubt lingers around anticipation like bees hover around flowers. The trick is to not let the doubt intimidate you into walking away. Doubt is an acceptable risk for happiness. (44)
True! No matter how it turns out in the end, without risk there is no happiness! 

  In the middle of the night, Harry's mother opens his door, checks that he's safely asleep. Then she heads to the den and does the same for Craig, smiling to see him wrapped in the afghan. She knows they have a big day tomorrow, and she is worried for them. But she will only show he worry when they are asleep. Mostly she is proud. Pride is allowed to have an element of worry, especially when you are a mother. 
  Harry's mother tucks him in for a second time. She kisses him lightly on the forehead, then tiptoes from the room. (20) 
Oh, so true! You don't want to worry. You try NOT to worry...and I always try to twist the wording in my mind to "I want you to be happy, healthy, and "successful" in whatever way you define that for yourself...note: It does not have to fit my definition of success.
  Waking is hard, and waking is glorious. We watch as you stir, then as you stumble out of your beds. We know that gratitude is the last thing on your mind. But you should be grateful. 
  You've made it to another day. (22)
And what a day this one is for Craig and Harry! Full of kissing! 
Once they start kissing, they will have to keep kissing for at least thirty-two hours, twelve minutes, and ten seconds. That is one second longer than the current world record for the longest-recorded kiss.
  The reason they are all here is to break that record.
  And the reason they want to break that record started with something that happened to Tariq. (33) 

  He will not let it stop him from going into the city, from dancing. But still, the fear remains...And there in the back of his mind...are the most insidious questions of all:
  How did they spot me? How did they know?
  What did I do wrong?
  People like to say being gay isn't like skin color, isn't anything physical. They tell us we always have the option of hiding. 
  But if that's true, why do they always find us? (36)
Freedom isn't just about voting and marrying and kissing on the street, although all of these things are important. Freedom is also about what you will allow yourself to do....this was...the thing that Tariq looks forward to. This liberation. (4) 
Several present gag gifts to Craig and Harry at the 'kissing site' on the high school lawn, including Harry's parents. Tariq's is the last, after he has made certain all the cameras, lights, batteries, etc., are amassed, arranged and working properly. This even will be streamed live over the internet to ensure authenticity and at one point there are nearly a half million people watching!
With a grin, Tariq lifts out a bust of Walt Whitman to preside over the event. Then, to mark the occasion, Tariq recites one of Whitman's poems:
  We two boys together clinging, 
  One the other never leaving, 
  Up and down the roads going, North and South excursions making, 
  Power enjoying, elbows stretching, fingers clutching,
  Arm'd and fearless, eating, drinking, sleeping, loving,
  No law less than ourselves owning, sailing, soldiering, thieving, threatening,
  Misers, menials, priests alarming, air breathing, water drinking, on the turf or the sea, 
    beach-dancing,
  Cities wrenching, ease scorning, statutes mocking, feebleness chasing,
  Fulfilling our foray. 

  Everyone applauds. (42)

The rules for this record-setting are formidable. No bathroom breaks. No actual eating. Their lips must be touching every single second of the 115,930 seconds they must continue. No sitting down. Nothing but standing and kissing. And yet...so much more! And...do they succeed? What of Craig's family? Surely they knew. They sure do now, if they didn't before!

So this is definitely one of my absolute favorite reads for 2016! Make that for always!

If you haven't read it, please consider. It is a quick read.

Even if you feel a bit uncertain about "two boys kissing" 

you should do yourself a favor and just read it. 

I can't imagine being disappointed.
I agree with those who feel this book is in much the same category as 
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green and
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell.