Lorie’s Comments (group member since Dec 09, 2009)

Lorie’s comments from the Olathe Public Library- GoodReads Branch group.

I am a fan of mystery writer James Lee Burke and in particular his Dave Robicheaux series, especially the audios read by actor Will Patton. Patton's reading is a perfect match for this series, with its gothic, noir feel. If you haven't tried it, I highly recommend it.
I do believe The Glass Rainbow is among the best in the series, which is set in New Iberia near New Orleans, LA. Dave and his buddy Clete Purcell are in classic form: Dave with his yearning for peace and background in violence, Clete with his down-and-out appearance but knight-in-shining-armor attitude toward righting injustice.
Burke is a master at evoking a sense of the bayou country of Louisiana, with its rain and storms, moss-draped live oaks, greasy spoon gumbo joints and rich history. He is also a master at the dialects used by people of the region, and Will Patton does a superb job with his audio interpretation of the text.

This one came in to me as a hold, and I couldn't remember where I heard about it...thought maybe it was from you! LOL! Yes, it is very good, well written and good for a sleepless night with the lights on! :)

Spent some late nights with A Good and Happy Child by Justin Evans. It is a thriller/horror novel, but don't shy away if you don't usually read horror. All that is required is that you are willing to put up with a good scare. The primary character begins as an adult in psychotherapy, revisiting some traumas of his childhood, presented to us as flashbacks.
Very spooky with a plot somewhat along the lines of The Exorcist, or Donna Tartt's The Secret History.
A page turner for sure, well written and no "cheap" thrills. The characters are well drawn and sympathetic, the plot not so outlandish as to be unbelievable.
But you might want to leave the lights on after closing the book for the night...

Rachel wrote: "I'm not really much of a writer so this is a short re..."

Thanks Rachel! The Fred Harvey story has always been fascintating to me too. I grew up in a railroad family...my grandfather worked for the Santa Fe when my home town of Wellington, KS., was a busy rail town. I seem to remember seeing a relatively recent book about the "Harvey Girls" too...those young
women recruited to work in Harvey's restaurants.

The movie is getting raves...haven't seen it yet, but read the book a couple of years ago. It's one of those that sticks with you long after the final page.
Not terribly long either, so might make a good summer read?

Well, plowed through all 29 discs in the audio version of this over the weekend. It is a story on an epic scale, and would be excellent for those who liked Stephen King's The Stand, but also those who like the new trend in "apocalyptic" fiction....ie: The Road by Cormac McCarthy; 2012: The War for Souls by Whitley Strieber; One Second After by William R. Forstchen; Genesis by Bernard Beckett; and of course Tim LaHaye's Left Behind series.

Tina wrote: "
After losing his young wife to cancer, an American scientest sets off (with the assistance of the U.S. military) to the jungles of South America in search of a fa..."

Sounds like a lot of fun! A family-road-trip listen?

Thanks Tina! I am listing to the audio of this right now. There has been such tremendous buzz about this one, I'm not sure it is living up to my admittedly high expections, but I am certainly enjoying it. I have the print book at home too. It reminds me a bit of some other horror type novels I have read in the past year, but can't recall exactly which ones. A good pick for Stephen King fans tho!

Ralph wrote: " I once applied for Molly Ivins's old job, co-editor of the Texas Observer, so somehow I feel a little closer to Molly, as her thousands of readers call..."

I miss her too Ralph. She can't be replaced....but who steps in to fill the gap in American political writing?

I can't say enough good things about Nancy Pickard's new book, "The Scent of Rain and Lightning." Like her previous mystery, the setting is Kansas - this time the stark landscape of Gove County in the northwest. She writes of Kansas as only someone intimately familiar with the state could. Pickard is a Johnson County resident, but her heart seems to be with the wide open spaces of the western reachs of the state. Like "Virgin of Small Plains," this newest book is marketed as a mystery but it is the sense of place as well as the depth of the characters that keep the pages turning. In this case the mystery was also quite a tasty one indeed. I can almost promise you that you will think you have it figured out at halfway, but take my word for it...you don't.

I'm also recommending "Bloodroot" by Amy Greene. The setting is Appalacia and the story takes us inside the lives of those who have called the mountains and "hollers" home for generations. I listened to this one on CD and the full cast presentation...a different reader for each character...was exceptional.

Arghh Ralph. Don't know that I can make myself read this one.

I am trying so hard to reduce my carb consumption...will have to put this one on hold for myself.

Madison wrote: "No, I got too wrapped up in wedding stuff and had to return it. I plan on trying it again later in the summer."

O sheesh...forgot about the wedding! I guess you are a little preoccupied!

Hey Madison, have your read this one yet?

Granted, I listened to the audio versions of both these books. Even the audio version of these massive novels is intimidating, particularly for "Under the Dome" by Stephen King - 30 discs!
King fans aren't likely to be disappointed, although I wouldn't put this one on the classics list with books like "The Stand." The premise is intriguing...a entire town mysteriously trapped under a transparent dome, not unlike insects trapped in a jar for observation. Besides the climatic effects, the residents must deal with the evil that dwells among them. I would have liked more on the origins of the dome, but the drama was enough to keep me intrigued to the end. As with other King novels, expect a certain amount of gore and graphic violence. But then, Stephen King isn't an author likely to appeal to the squeamish.
A much gentler but more conflicted approach is "The Swan Thieves" by Elizabeth Kostova. Kostova had a best seller with her previous novel, "This Historian," another hefty read. This one is similar in length, and includes the fine characterizations and good writing of "The Historian," but no vampires this time around. Instead an acclaimed American artist struggling with an obsession, and the cast of characters around him who help tell his story. My favorite elements were there details of the painterly life of artists. It truly made me want to go buy brushes and paints and pursue my muse. "The Swan Thieves" would be a good one to recommend to those with an interest in art and art history.

Tina wrote: "Hi Orrin,

Believe it or not, Simmons' actually wrote a fairly short book a few years ago--Song of Kali. I love horror and this one still sends chills down my spine just thinking about it. Very atm..."

Hmm. Have to check that one out. He does seem to be particularly good at "atmospheric." Both "The Terror" and "Drood" were just dripping with atmosphere....

"The Terror" was one of my favorites from 2009...or was it '08? Anyway, well worth the slog of getting through it, although I thought the ending was perhaps just a tad weak.

Welcome aboard Orrin! We would really like to get some good discussion threads going here, so feel free to post. Have you read the new horror book by Dan Simmons, "Black Hill?" I started it but it just didn't hold my interest...and its really long! LOL

Rachel wrote: "[image error]

What a fun read! I loved the concept of Abraham Lincoln fighting vampires in his spare time. If you are looking for an entertaining read this ..."

Hey Rachel, so glad you had fun with this book! We have lots of books on Lincoln and on events surrounding his presidency. Seems like we add several new ones to the collection every year. Not all are straight biographies...a lot of them can be found on the shelves at Dewey Decimal number 973.7. If you need help just ask at the reference desk the next time you are in the library.

Donna Jo wrote: "I am probably the last person on earth to read a Tom Clancy book. But I just finished The Hunt for Red October , and I must admit I enjoyed i..."
The movie is terrific! Of course, anything with Sean Connery.....