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

Cyndy’s comments from the 2017 Reading Challenge group.

I read What the Waves Know by Tamara Valentine. A 14 year old narrator that hasn't spoken since she was six. On her sixth birthday her parents fought, she told her dad she hated him and asked him why he didn't just leave. He left. She ran after the car, but couldn't catch him. Some might call this a coming of age, but it is so much more than that. Obviously the little girl is hurting, but she has also blocked her memory of events after her father left. Her mother is hurting as well, both for her husband leaving and her daughter not talking. The writing is wonderful. I'm just a reader, but the writing in this book draws you in and wraps you in the story. I didn't want to put it down and I didn't want it to end. Highly recommended.

I read Awesome Sh*t My Drill Sergeant Said: Wit and Wisdom from America's Finest by Dan Caddy. The biggest problem with this book is, it was too short. The one-liners, the biggest share of the book, were funny, but nothing compared to a few of the stories. The story where the parent sent a care package to the drill sergeant was too much. I needed a quick easy read and this fit the bill.

I read Waging Heavy Peace: A Hippie Dream by Neil Young. I enjoyed this "memoir" / conversation with Neil from 2012. If you expect a tell all book, you will probably be disappointed. This book is insights into Neil from his perspective, someone said from his heart and I would agree. Lionel, Linkvolt, other old cars, his children, that he's nostalgic, materialistic and obsessive. There were a few times where I was confused by time frames, or Neil revisited topics. But as he said, " if you are having trouble reading this, give it to someone else. End of chapter." (p. 174). and "Call me old-fashioned. I make albums and I want the songs to go together to create a feeling. I do those things on purpose. I don’t want people cherry-picking the albums. I like to choose the singles. After all, it’s my shit." (pp. 409-410). "(... If that was too techy for you, then you can just forget I said it, but it’s staying right here in this book where it belongs.)" Young, Neil. Waging Heavy Peace (p. 412). Blue Rider Press. Kindle Edition.

I read Motor City Blue by Loren D. Estleman and originally published in 1980. This was written about a Detroit PI during the 70s - pre cell phones, internet access, and political correctness. So set your mind back in time and meet Amos Walker, a PI that is generally on the wrong end of fists or guns. In this story he is hired to find a young girl, while he is already watching a guy who is potentially committing insurance fraud. While he's watching the possible insurance fraud guy one morning, he sees his company commander from Viet Nam kidnapped. Now he's working three cases - or is he? I will probably read more of the series.

I read Good Behavior by Blake Crouch. I like the TNT television show and decided to read the book sometime after the first season. The book includes three short stories / novellas originally published in magazines. After each, Mr. Crouch discusses how the story or parts of the story were written into the television series. Recommended read, whether or not you have seen the television show. The pictures and gifs didn't work on my paperwhite or my pc. They did work on my phone.

Anne wrote: "Share your challenge books about slavery here.
*Hint - read Underground Railroad by Colton Whitehead if you haven't already. So good."

I totally agree.

I read Yellow Crocus by Laila Ibrahim. This is the story of a southern belle born in 1837, her wet nurse / nanny / dresser, and their lives together. The relationship between them is at times touching and at times difficult. Even though the ending was a little over the top for me, I still highly recommend it.

Amanda wrote: "The Snow Child
I'm not sure if this fits but I just read "The Snow Child" that takes place in the 20's in the Alaska wilderness. It is about a girl that lives alone and is a child o..." It may have moved up on my list, unfortunately no snow where I live though. :-)

I read Skywriting By Word of Mouth by John Lennon, yes, the prolific singer songwriter. I honestly have nothing positive to say about this book. A short example of the odd writing: "He had taken the case with an air of dismay, clouded only by rancid fear, a problem he’d been wrestling with since studying at the Classical Musak College of Inferior Decorating. Having passed the entrance exam with flying hormones, he was never to fulfill his earlier promise due to an oversight on behalf of the Creator." Imagine mixed metaphors, before and after, along with word replacements in practically every sentence. John was a great songwriter and poet, but his skills at writing books probably should have been kept private. Just my two cents.

I read Yuge!: 30 Years of Doonesbury on Trump by G.B. Trudeau. This would be hilarious, if it was just a comic strip. Unfortunately, it's satire based on facts.

I read Topaz by Leon Uris. This book takes place in several places, including two I'd like to visit, France and Cuba. It is a spy novel that takes on the Cuban Missile Crisis and the relationships between the US, Russia, Cuba, and France. It looks into the basics of the relationship between France and the US as impacted by WWII. I plan on reading more by Mr. Uris. Highly recommended.

Tamara wrote: "I love this series. They are funny and Chet is so adorable" I already added the series to my wish list!

I read Murder in Little Egypt by Darcy O'Brien. A doctor was accused and convicted of killing one of his four sons. Little Egypt is an area in southern Illinois. People from the area raised money to defend the doctor. The murder took place in 1984, in Saint Louis, but the jurors were brought in from Kansas City. Doctor, murdered son, and jurors from across the state made this a well known event in the Midwest. The doctor was also suspected of killing another son several years earlier. This reads more like a story than a biography of the incident. It struck me that way, at least - not that I read lots of true crime novels. There is a lot of historical information about the area, as well as about the doctor. How can a father kill his son and possibly two of his sons? I think I sort of understand why the doctor killed his son, but I still don't understand what made the doctor the way he was. Not a page turner or edge of your seat thriller, but an interesting read.

I read Dog on It by Spencer Quinn. I loved it! This is a mystery series told in first person by one of the partners in The Little Agency. The partners are Bernie Little and Chet. This book is told from Chet's perspective. By the way, Chet is the dog!

I read The Senator by Ken Fite that was free on Amazon sometime in early 2017. It's a fast paced easy read for a thriller, with a few little twists along the way. Recommended.

I read The Sins of Séverac Bablon by Sax Rohmer. A fairly quick easy mysterious read. Who is this Severac Bablon? I still don't know and that's probably why I didn't give it more than three stars.

I read Friday the Rabbi Slept Late by Harry Kemelman. I'll read more of this little mystery series. The conversations between the rabbi and the sheriff, while educational about the Jewish faith, are interesting conversations.

I read American on Purpose: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot by Craig Ferguson. I sure miss Craig on the Late Late show. This book is almost like a conversation you might have with him about his life, his issues, and his alcoholism. Nothing earth-shattering - just an interesting read. I would love it if one of the other hosts had a guest host named Craig Ferguson, like Johnny Carson had Joan Rivers. I'm not a fan of the reruns...

I read The Secret Speech by Tom Rob Smith. This is the second book in the Child 44 trilogy. If you are expecting more of the same (serial killing) you might be disappointed. If you are expecting a return of some of the same characters, you might not be. I liked the book, it took Leo in a different direction and even into a reexamination of his life and his Country's past based on Khrushchev's speech denouncing Stalin.

I read The Intercept by Dick Wolf. Mr. Wolf is the creator of Law & Order and his talent didn't end there. This is a terrorist story set mostly in New York City. I can't say much else about the story without including a spoiler or two or three. Suffice it to say that this is a story with twists, some you might see coming and others, you might not. Definitely recommended. I will read the rest of the Jeremy Fisk novels.