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

Cyndy’s comments from the 2017 Reading Challenge group.

(#7) I like Quinn Colson, Lillie Virgil, and the characters of Tibbehah County, Mississippi. I'm ready for the next one! I recommend reading these in order, although it's not required.

(#6) An estranged son moves in with his father to take care of him when he goes home from the hospital to die. It's 1978 and the father is a Red Sox fan living in Yankee nation. I was in college at the time and not a fan of the Yankees or the Red Sox, but that dang Bucky Dent was a GREAT short stop, a poor hitter, and adorably cute! I have absolutely no memory of his homer that year. I do remember being at baseball games later hearing people complain when year after ear he was sent to the All Star games. Duh, he was a GREAT shortstop, he really didn't need to be a hitter. There is quite a bit of baseball in the novel (originally intended as a script), but it is more about the father and son connecting. PS - It's not in the book, but in 1984, Bucky Dent wore a Royals uniform. Unfortunately, unlike other big name players that passed through KC, he never played a game in baby blue.

(#5) Ethan, a PC (precious cargo) from 11 years ago comes to Jonathan Grave's attention again. As does the kidnapper that got away when Ethan was rescued. Another great read from Mr. Gilstrap. Recommended for fans of Vince Flynn and Brad Thor.

This was a quick read. Good life lessons for anyone.

Young girl and her mom immigrate from Hong Kong to NY city where the mom's older sister lives. The apartment the aunt rents them has roaches, mice, and no heat. The job the aunt hires the mom for is piece work in a clothing factory in Chinatown. With a sister like that... It's a really good story though and I pretty mch read it in one sitting. You might need some Kleenex handy...

With the Taskforce all but shut down, Pike and Jennifer head to Poland on a legitimate job regarding artifacts from one of the gold trains. Meanwhile, is Putin playing NATO and possibly the US into WW III? If so, will the US figure it out in time? Unfortunately, in today's world, this is a scenario that is believable.

I didn't plan on reading this book and probably wouldn't ever have picked it out to read. It was my neighborhood book club that forced me into this! That said, I recommend this book to anyone that likes a good story . If you are interested in Olympics history or rowing you've probably already read this book. :-) It's not a page turner, but I wanted to know what would happen next. Yes, even though you know the results of one race - the rowing story starts when the oldest boys are freshmen at Washington and the story of Joe Rantz starts much earlier. Now to watch the PBS documentary.

A short journal of a cruise to Antarctica. The pictures are beautiful, but there aren't nearly enough! The journal is interesting and funny in spots. I would recommend this for anyone contemplating a trip south.

Oh, how I miss George Carlin.

I would definitely recommend Little Bee. The book flips back and forth from Bee telling her story to Batman's mom telling her story. (I can't remember the mom's name.) There are parts that are difficult / disturbing to read, but that is the entire basis for the story.

Regine wrote: "Can anybody recommend a book published in 1994?"
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is an excellent book from 1994. I also enjoyed Spencerville by Nelson DeMille and The Chamber by John Grisham.

Teresa wrote: "I am a bit confused, I thought the category was "a classic of the 20th century" that's what I wrote when I first copied the categories. I am still going to make it so, and I will be reading [book:T..."

I loved this book when I read it during high school. I think it will be my reread choice this year. Does that make me a classic?

(#4) Right up there with the first of the series, but this time the girls ride a Greyhound to Alabama to see their Grandma and the rest of the family - the EXTENDED family! Have a box of Kleenex handy! Gotta love these girls and the rest of their family! Highly recommended - the whole series!

(#3) Another great read from Mr. Thor. Although Murphy received several mentions, he really didn't create too many issues.

When reading the description of this book I wasn't sure it would fit fantasy, but Amazon has it listed as #217 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Magical Realism. -- I had some difficulty getting into the storyline, but once that passed, there was a flow. It was sort of the way jazz hits some people, worming it's way into your soul. There is sadness here that almost permeates the air, but since it is Christmas Eve Eve, the sadness doesn't smother you. With Christmas coming, a light snow, and a girl (8 years and 363 days old) that can sing like Billie Holiday, how can there not be a little bit of hope for the future. Maybe there will be a sequel...

1920's Oklahoma - It was a quick read, but I would not describe it as an easy read. Truly poor people living in less than basic accommodations. Likeable characters and a few that are real characters. A finalist for the Pulitzer. Recommended, unless you are offended by young love. Those pages made the novel a little too romance-y for my tastes, but it was still a good book.

A good start. I see the 5 individual shorts are all available or the complete novel will be out later this year. I'm waiting to read the full story (one book rather than five).

I finally read the first of the Theo Boone YA books by John Grisham. Hooked!

I liked this book in the series, but not quite as much as the first. Thinking about it, the first was summertime and this was during the school ear and everyone knows summer is always more fun than school! I am still recommending the series. Loved the cover - girls in bell bottoms while double dutching. It's been years! On to the last in the series...

Creepy. I didn't think it was creepy all the way through, I think that term hit me when the dad meets the principal over the capital punishment essay. I didn't like any of the characters and in my mind that's a good thing. I did want to know what was going to happen. That's what kept me reading. 4 stars because it kept me reading.
This book was translated from Dutch. The setting is Amsterdam, during a dinner with two brothers and their wives.