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July 03
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Lazygal
gave  to:
The Unusual Mind of Vincent Shadow (Hardcover)
by
Tim Kehoe
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my rating:
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read in July, 2009
Lazygal said:
"This book is actually a slimmer read than expected because the last quarter is Vincent's invention notebook. The plot is pretty basic: Cinderella-type boy (eg, dead mother, stepmother hates him, wicked stepsisters, father usually away) is an amazing...more
This book is actually a slimmer read than expected because the last quarter is Vincent's invention notebook. The plot is pretty basic: Cinderella-type boy (eg, dead mother, stepmother hates him, wicked stepsisters, father usually away) is an amazing inventor, finally gets appreciation and recognition for his work.
But beyond the basics, Vincent's story is fun. His inventions are, well, inventive, in a Willy Wonka-ish way. The "blue" episode alone is worth reading; unfortunately(? perhaps not for parents of similarly minded children) the actual inventing process is often glossed over.
Boys will particularly like this book, and I hope it becomes a series.(less)
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July 02
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Lazygal
gave  to:
Under the Covers and between the Sheets: Facts and Trivia about the World's Greatest Books (Hardcover)
by
C. Alan Joyce
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my rating:
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read in July, 2009
Lazygal said:
"Another fun read filled with (little known) facts about various authors and the works they created. There were times when I wished there had been a little more information about the book or author but that's what research is for. The irreverent ton...more
Another fun read filled with (little known) facts about various authors and the works they created. There were times when I wished there had been a little more information about the book or author but that's what research is for. The irreverent tone will allow non-voracious readers to feel as well-informed as those who devour books.(less)
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Lazygal
marked as to-read:
Jarrettsville: A Novel (Paperback)
by
Cornelia Nixon
bookshelves:
next,
to-read
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my rating:
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Lazygal
marked as to-read:
Stealing Death (Hardcover)
by
Janet Lee Carey (Goodreads author)
bookshelves:
next,
to-read
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my rating:
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Lazygal
marked as to-read:
Ladder of Years: A Novel (Paperback)
by
Anne Tyler
bookshelves:
to-read
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my rating:
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Lazygal
gave to:
Oh, Say Did You Know?: The Secret History of America's Famous Figures, Fads, Innovations & Emblems (Hardcover)
by
Fred DuBose
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my rating:
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read in July, 2009
Lazygal said:
"History is made up of stories, right? This book contains anecdotes that make those stories live, the type of information that helps you remember more than just the bare facts of the events, people and dates. I wish some had been embellished a littl...more
History is made up of stories, right? This book contains anecdotes that make those stories live, the type of information that helps you remember more than just the bare facts of the events, people and dates. I wish some had been embellished a little more (for example, what were the lyrics to "To Anacreon in Heaven", the song that gave us the melody to our national anthem?) but other than that this is a fun, quick read.(less)
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July 01
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Lazygal
gave  to:
Midnight Fugue: A Dalziel and Pascoe Mystery (Hardcover)
by
Reginald Hill
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my rating:
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read in June, 2009
Lazygal said:
"One of the things I love about this series is how Hill keeps the relationships fresh, and how the mysteries do not seem to repeat in tone or nature. Don't get me wrong, there are certain moments that you know will come, certain catch phrases (or cat...more
One of the things I love about this series is how Hill keeps the relationships fresh, and how the mysteries do not seem to repeat in tone or nature. Don't get me wrong, there are certain moments that you know will come, certain catch phrases (or catch phrasing) that will be there (eg, the fatness of Dalziel, the education of Pascoe, the ugliness of Wield), but they don't bother me as much as constantly hearing of Nero Wolfe's "eighth of an acre of yellow silk pajamas" did.
And unlike in other series I've read, the characters really do grow. I can't remember another series in which the sidekick (in this case, Pascoe) has almost outgrown the master - it's a little like what they're trying to do with the Inspector Morse series, now that Colin Dexter (and Morse/John Thaw) is dead. But in that case is feels like trying to repeat the original, while here it feels like natural growth.
As with the Lynley/Havers mysteries, it's not always Dalziel front-and-center. Here, Pascoe's almost an interfering parent figure to Dalziel's teenager, with Ivor having a larger role than usual and Hat and Wield almost totally off stage. One of my friends didn't like the lack of time together between the Unholy Trinity (as they're known), and while I'd like to see more of them I think the book is still very strong and it's only my sentimental attachment that wants that relationship to shine.
They mystery itself is relatively predictable, resolving itself into two different "problems". The solutions weren't completely telegraphed (always a good thing), even though Hill gave the characters one day to figure it all out. What puzzled me is that the "24 hours in which to do it" seems more dust jacket nonsense, as there was nothing in the book that suggested that if this wasn't solved that quickly something worse would occur.
This is a far more filmable book than the previous Dalziel/Pascoe mysteries, but I really hope that it doesn't get made (and not just because I think the roles have been miscast). It's the arc of the relationship between Dalziel and Pascoe that will get lost (having skipped a few "episodes") and that's a pity.(less)
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June 22
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Lazygal
gave to:
Other Powers (Paperback)
by
Barbara Goldsmith
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my rating:
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read in June, 2009
Lazygal said:
"While the author may choose to think of this as a biography of Victoria Woodhull, in reality it is so much more. This book ties together the emerging suffrage movement, the Great Awakening, Free Love, the Civil War and just about every major event/m...more
While the author may choose to think of this as a biography of Victoria Woodhull, in reality it is so much more. This book ties together the emerging suffrage movement, the Great Awakening, Free Love, the Civil War and just about every major event/movement in Victorian Era America. Woodhull is one of the major players, but Horace Greeley, Susan B. Anthony, the Beecher clan and Frederick Douglass (among others) all play equally vital roles in this story.
Most readers may have heard of, or studied, one or two of these topics but having them so clearly interwoven shows what a young, closely knit country we were. It would be nice of more histories (or biographies) did the same "putting into context" that Other Powers does.(less)
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June 20
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Lazygal
gave  to:
To Kill or Cure: The Thirteenth Chronicle of Matthew Bartholomew (Matthew Bartholomew 13)
by
Susanna Gregory
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my rating:
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read in June, 2009
Lazygal said:
"This is from another one of those historical mystery series - medieval setting (Cambridge in the 1300s), town/gown tensions, monks galore. The sad thing is that every one that I've read barring Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael takes themselves so serio...more
This is from another one of those historical mystery series - medieval setting (Cambridge in the 1300s), town/gown tensions, monks galore. The sad thing is that every one that I've read barring Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael takes themselves so seriously it hurts.
The conflict here is threefold. One, an outsider claims to be a better doctor than the ones currently practicing in town; two, the town wants to raise rents on the hostels occupied by the varying University students; three, who killed Wenden and Lynton? Each story is interwoven, and their solutions aren't that far-fetched. The central mystery, the murders, turns out to have little to do with the other two stories except that they provide some red herrings for the Senior Proctor, Brother Michael and his Corpse Examiner, Matthew Bartholomew.
Some of the book felt like padding (we didn't need to continually hear about Brother Michael's "big bones" or how awful the food was or how much Tyrington spit), and the writing style was a little clunky. This was my first venture into this series, and I'll not revisit.(less)
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