false 167 1081 1043 true 5647556 read 3 true 2166099 currently-reading 35 true 2166098 to-read 176 false 2833557 hist-fic 168 false 2833556 mystery-crime 167 false 2833579 non-fic 110 false 2833570 mod-lit 60 false 3171891 kids 50 false 2833640 fiber-arts 34 false 3245689 classics 32 false 2869727 no-thanks--i-ll-pass 23 false 2845683 all-time-faves 19 false 3292248 arc 15 false 3542581 paranormal 0 false 8232722 wishlist http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/81514330 The Hour I First Believed: A Novel (Hardcover) by Wally Lamb
bookshelves: currently-reading, mod-lit
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/81341114 The Judgement of Strangers (The Roth Trilogy, #2) by Andrew Taylor
bookshelves: currently-reading, mystery-crime
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/79930996 to: The Four Last Things (The Roth Trilogy, #1) by Andrew Taylor
bookshelves: mystery-crime
Over the past year, Andrew Taylor has become a favorite author of mine, for the tautness of his plots, the pithy nature of his prose, and most importantly, for his ability to first develop his central characters and then to commingle their fates. To accomplish this in one novel is remarkable. To do so in a series such as the Roth Trilogy is exceptional, and it is not hyperbole to say that his novels transcend genre. Taylor has mastered the art of building atmosphere and tension, revealing bits and secrets of each character's personality chapter by chapter. Some elicit empathy from the reader, and others, revulsion. But none are perfect, and it is in the way that their choices impact one another that their mutual though unconscious complicity results in the crime. The Four Last Things exemplifies this power. Somber, deeply disturbing, but ultimately satisfying. And the biggest shock is the final line of the final chapter. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/80227708 to: Skeletons at the Feast (Hardcover) by Chris Bohjalian
bookshelves: hist-fic
Having read all of Chris Bohjalian's previous works, I can venture the opinion that this is his masterpiece. Skeletons at the Feast tells the tale of the Emmerlich family, lower ranked aristocrats living in Poland during WWII. War is hell, to quote Civil War General W.T.Sherman, but - thankfully - most of us will never realize the full truth of that aphorism. Skeletons at the Feast goes a long way toward bringing reality. Most of the soldiers who fought in that conflict, bloody and impossibly cruel, are no longer with us. Spend a few hours reading this book and you will never again treat the subjects of war, genocide, and revenge with casual apathy. The main characters here include German gentry, a British POW, a Jew who escaped a concentration camp, a group of imprisoned, starved Jewish women, German refugees, and the conquering Russian army. What takes place is a saga of horrific cruelty that we all need to experience once in a while, however vicariously.
Skeletons brings to the reader an authentic sample of the horrors of war from the perspective of the noncombatants, who are always the victims no matter the setting. Bohjalian breathes life into his characters and brings his readers as close as is possible to the terrible fallout that results from any war, all wars. Skeletons is a story that needs to be told. It's not all "mission accomplished."
This is not easy reading, but bear with the discomfort, and you'll learn something of vital importance. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/80227708 Linda's review of Skeletons at the Feast
by Chris Bohjalian

So far I'm liking it. I've read about 100 pages. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/37158999 to: The Brass Verdict (Mickey Haller, #2) by Michael Connelly
bookshelves: mystery-crime
Only a few of my favorite authors produce stories in which their series characters intermingle. One of my favorites was the Church of England series by Susan Howatch (as far from stodgy as it’s possible to get), and now, with The Brass Verdict, Michael Connelly promises to do the same with a skillful interweaving of characters from earlier novels. This is not an easy task, but Connelly is more than up to it. Mickey Haller is back, following his introductory outing in The Lincoln Lawyer. He was pretty brash and arrogant at first, but after a year in rehab, with time to contemplate his victories and losses, Mickey has grown, psychologically. He’s still a razor sharp defense attorney, but now he’s a defense attorney with scruples, and he’s begun to realize what’s important in life. Now he takes issue with anyone who tries to bamboozle him. Into the mix add Harry Bosch, the sharpest detective on the LA force, Jack McEvoy, investigative reporter, and the always jumping LA setting, and you’ve got a foolproof recipe for first rate American crime fiction. The Brass Verdict, edgy and topical, full of surprises, does not disappoint. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/79145701 to: Bird Yard (Mass Market Paperback) by Julia Wallis Martin
bookshelves: mystery-crime
An abandoned, derelict neighborhood in Manchester, England is slated for demolition. Only a single, crumbling house is still inhabited, by a solitary man and hundreds of exotic finches. The eerie aviary sets the tone for the entire novel, a compelling police procedural centering upon an urgent search for a missing boy. DS Parker recruits a forensic psychologist to assist in what increasingly appears to be a serial killer case, and, as these two men form a grudging working partnership, author Martin takes readers within their minds as they struggle with the horrific details of the case. A haunting journey, surreal and malevolent, with richly developed characters and compelling psychological underpinnings. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/79145807 The Scarecrow (Jack McEvoy, #2) by Michael Connelly
bookshelves: to-read
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/8115.The_History_Book_Club Linda joined the The History Book Club group. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/78324855 to: The Monster of Florence (Hardcover) by Douglas Preston
bookshelves: mystery-crime, non-fic
The Monster of Florence is co-authored by an Italian journalist and an American novelist. Accordingly, this serial killer saga is told in two sections, the first with a focus on the activities of Mario Spezi, and the second, those of Douglas Preston. Spezzi is arguably the Italian expert on the murders, which occurred sporadically, during summers in the late 1960's to the mid 1980's. When Preston moved to Italy for a prolonged stay, he became drawn into Spezi's obsession with finding the real killer. Their collaboration would lead to the publication of a chronicle of botched investigations, planted evidence, corrupt judicial officials, and a gruesome crime spree which has never been solved. Along the way, Spezi was imprisoned in isolation as the prime suspect, and Preston forced to leave Italy accused of abetting Spezi. Although the authors believe they know the identity of the Monster, he has never been brought to justice, while others have been convicted, probably unjustly. ]]>