Cyndy’s Comments (group member since Jun 27, 2015)

Cyndy’s comments from the 2017 Reading Challenge group.

I read Use of Force by Brad Thor. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the latest Brad Thor. I will admit thinking part way through, Scot always "gets his man" - but the twist in getting his man was - well I can't say without adding a spoiler. The additional thread of things happening back in the US has me ready for the next Harvath thriller.

I read Summer House with Swimming Pool by Herman Koch This will probably stick with me for a while. Marc, a doctor and the main character, is not a "likeable" character and I hope I haven't and won't ever encounter a doctor that thinks the way he does. I didn't find him humorous - the scene where he follows a camper to the restrooms was creepy (borderline psycho) - if you are so disgusted by someone, why follow them anywhere. Maybe his wife knows what he's like, maybe not. We don't know and won't, because Marc is the narrator. There is a lot of stuff to think about in this book, and it would definitely make for some great book club discussions. If The Dinner made you wonder what you would do to protect your children, read this. What would you do to protect society from someone you know is capable of horrendous things? Recommended, even though, after finishing the book I still don't like Marc.

I read Final Target by John Gilstrap Another hit by Mr. Gilstrap. Another Digger and Boxers rescue PC tale. Oh, the twists and turns this one takes. I can't wait to see which of the new characters return in the next novel!

I read Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly Highly recommended for WWII historical fiction fans. I found it a little irritating to switch between the three main characters throughout the book, just when you get to something good, but I got over it! Thank goodness the chapter titles let you know! Three females, German, Polish, and American, and how their lives are affected by the war and each other. Parts were difficult to read - German prison camp for women - but no truly gory details.

I read The Almost Sisters by Joshilyn Jackson. Truly the only thing wrong with this book was that it ended. I wanted to know more - what happens next! This is an excellent example of Ms. Jackson's work. I can't recommend her books enough.

I read Camino Island by John Grisham Definitely different. If you are looking for a legal thriller, this isn't the Grisham for you. The main character is a bookstore owner and a rare book dealer on Camino Island. I liked the book, but was a little disappointed in the ending - I won't say more as I might mention a spoiler. It was an easy read - on the romance mystery end of the spectrum.

I read The Fix by David Baldacci This is the first time I waited to purchase a book by Mr. Baldacci. I don’t know why, other than the price for Kindle versions of most bestsellers is hitting the same price of hardbacks. It seems crazy to me that this occurs since a Kindle version can’t be loaned or sold and a hardback can. UGH! Anyway, it’s another winner by Mr. Baldacci. The same story line with lots of twists – good guys catch the bad guys, sort of…! I like Amos Decker and Melvin Mars. You don’t have to read this series in order, but I recommend reading them in order. I have no idea why some readers don’t like this novel, I did. The Decker series isn’t my favorite series of Mr. Baldacci’s, but I still recommend reading any and all of Mr. Baldacci’s books.

I read Dirt by S. L. Dwyer At times a gut wrenching story, at times a total tear jerker, and at other times both. I whole heartedly recommend this Oklahoma dust bowl tale.

I read The Black Echo by Michael Connelly. No favorite quote from this book. I like Bosch (Amazon video), so I decided to start at the beginning. Highly recommended for Mystery and Police Procedural fans.

I read Bailey's Cafe by Gloria Naylor. "Go out the door, make a right, and when you see the garden—if you see the garden—you’re there." (Kindle Locations 1140-1141) --- These are the directions to Eve's place, just down from Bailey's Cafe. "If they can’t figure out that we’re only here when they need us, they don’t need to figure it out." Naylor, Gloria. Bailey's Cafe: A Novel (Kindle Locations 425-427). Open Road Media. Kindle Edition. --- "Bailey" tells about the customers that come into the cafe and here and there we get a glimpse of what the cafe is about --- it's definitely something that might cause you to wonder what (and where) is this place. This was at times difficult to read and at times inspiring. Odd and yet beautifully written.

I read The Play of Death by Oliver Pötzsch translated from German. "Perhaps all books have something magical about them, she thought. Just letters on a page that turn into images, scenes, and conversations in our minds." Pötzsch, Oliver. The Play of Death (US Edition) (A Hangman's Daughter Tale Book 6) (Kindle Locations 7426-7427). Amazon Crossing. Kindle Edition. I am taken by the Hangman's Daughter series. They take place in the late 1600s and there is always at least one unexplained death. They are definitely not your run of the mill mystery, highly recommended.

I read Cottonwood Whispers by Jennifer Erin Valent. "… You read a good book or somethin’. And make sure it’s a book about people who ain’t got no troubles.” Valent, Jennifer Erin. Cottonwood Whispers (p. 203). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition. Excellent advice. Another tale of Gemma and Jessilyn, still getting into trouble beyond their years. Another great read about interracial friendship in the 1930s south by Ms. Valent. Highly recommended.

I read The Secret Piano: From Mao's Labor Camps to Bach's Goldberg Variations by Zhu Xiao-Mei. "Montesquieu wrote: “I have never known any distress that an hour of reading did not relieve.” If one substituted the word music for reading, the exact same dictum applied to me." Xiao-Mei, Zhu. The Secret Piano: From Mao's Labor Camps to Bach's Goldberg Variations (p. 137). AmazonEncore. Kindle Edition. The author went through a lot growing up in China during the cultural revolution and being jailed in a labor camp for several years. This memoir is good and worth reading, but it lacked emotional pull when there were clearly areas of triumph and despair in this story. Things the author mentioned in the book implied this was probably cultural.

I read The Innocent by Vincent Zandri. Originally published under the title As Catch Can. A prison warden is accused of allowing an escape. He thinks the local police don't intend to investigate further and that his boss, the state commissioner of Corrections, intends to force him out of his job. He decides he's the scapegoat and intends to find the escapee. He becomes the investigator he needs to clear his name. How many bodies will appear in the process and why? Recommended read!

I read Sail Upon the Land by Josa (Keyes) Young. "Melissa caught a wistful look on her mother’s face as they walked in the grounds, where top-heavy trees were turning to gold, and great oblong brown cattle like chests of drawers grazed in the park beyond the ha ha." Young, Josa. Sail Upon the Land (pp. 84-85). Keyes Ink. Kindle Edition. No typo in the sentence, I had never heard of a ha-ha before. According to Wikipedia, "A ha-ha is a recessed landscape design element that creates a vertical barrier while preserving an uninterrupted view of the landscape beyond." An enjoyable read about Sarah, her daughter Melissa, and her granddaughter Damson. The beginning of the book is difficult for Damson and it impacts her and how she lives her life. It wasn't a novel that I couldn't put down. I'm not sure why I wasn't drawn in more by the book, but I would still recommend it.

I read .Beartown by Fredrik Backman for this category. It was at times a tear jerker, but definitely one of the best books I have read so far this year. "If you are honest, people may deceive you. Be honest anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfishness. Be kind anyway. All the good you do today will be forgotten by others tomorrow. Do good anyway." Backman, Fredrik. Beartown: A Novel (Kindle Locations 64-67). Atria Books. Kindle Edition. "“Hockey,” he says. “Do you ever think about what a strange sport it is, Ramona? The rules, the rink . . . Who on earth would come up with something like that?” “Someone who needed to give drunk men with rifles a less dangerous hobby?” the aged landlady suggests." Backman, Fredrik. Beartown: A Novel (Kindle Locations 1571-1573). Atria Books. Kindle Edition.

I think it really touched me, how she pulled herself out of her family situation, I read Half Broke Horses and gave it 5 stars as well. The Silver Star rated only 4 stars for me.

Hannah wrote: "I read The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. It wasn't the easiest to get through and I only ended up giving this book 3 stars, but in case anyone is struggling for sugg..."
I liked this book a lot. I wasn't writing reviews, so I don't recall the specifics of why.

Nancy from NJ wrote: "Cindy - if you read and enjoyed Topaz I would suggest you read Mila 18 and Exodus by Leon Uris. These are two of my favorite books."
They are on my list. Thanks!

Kathy wrote: "I also read Good Behavior for this category. I have not seen the TV show, but I would love to read more stories centered around this character."
I think I like her TV character better, but that may be because I had watched two seasons before reading the book.