Alecia's 2013 challenge

[Alecia]

Jan, please explain it to me when you do! And by the way, I got this title from your TBR list!

[JanB]

Alecia wrote: "Jan, please explain it to me when you do! And by the way, I got this title from your TBR list!"

haha...now I'm really intrigued! We'll have to chat when I finish it now that I know how to insert the "spoiler"

[Alecia]

Book # 33 Mistress of My Fate 4/5 stars

I never expected to enjoy this book as much as I did...it was a guilty pleasure. I say that because it is a very well-written romance/historical novel,a la Tom Jones or Moll Flanders. It is the first in a trilogy this author is writing and I look forward to the next one in the series. It is narrated by our heroine, Henrietta Lightfoot, who has already had more than a lifetime of adventures in book one. The narrative is peppered with "dear reader", "friends", etc., to achieve an 18th century immediacy and intimacy with the reader in telling this tale, and I thought the device worked very well.

[Alecia]

Book # 34 The Shining Girls 3/5 stars

This was a situation where I applauded the ingenuity of the plot involvoing a time-traveling psychotic serial killer, but did not love the book. I did enjoy parts of it, but it was all over the place (on purpose). I think the concept of a house or portal that provided time travel (albeit not for killing...the opposite, in fact) was done much better by Stephen King in 11/22/63. I did not get any sense of why this house provided the ability for Harper Curtis, the killer, to travel to different time periods. This ability to travel into the future apparently only went so far as the early 1990's. (And I think a better editing job was needed in this book, as there was no such thing as panty hose in the 1950's). Harper's mission is to brutally kill all the "shining girls", traveling through different time periods and back while he does these awful deeds. He likes to leave an object with the dead girls from the last killing. It is never made clear what constitutes "shining" in Harper's view, although there is apparently some kind of list of names in the house. Kirby is a feisty shining girl who barely survives his attack, and it is she who tries to solve the mystery of who this killer is.

[Alecia]

Book # 35 He's Gone 3/5 stars

I thought this would be a mystery, a kind of who-done-it. In a sense it is that, but it is more a character study of the narrator, Dani Keller, and a deconstruction and analysis of her marriage. Actually her two marriages, as she had an affair with her now-missing husband, Ian, while married to Mark, an abusive first husband. The reader follows Dani's thoughts, recriminations, suspicions and searches for Ian from the morning she wakes up and finds he's missing. Although it was nicely written, I had expected a little more tension and a little less characcter study.

[Alecia]

Book # 36 Sparta: A Novel 4/5 stars

Roxana Robinson writes powerful novels. I remember loving This Is My Daughter, and also thought Cost was quite good. But she hit this one out of the park.

This is a very good, seemingly realistic, nuanced portrayal of Conrad Farrell's painful return from his four years as a Marine in Iraq. His scholarly family were stunned when he announced to them that he was going to join the Marines all those years ago. He was a Classics major in college, and was enthralled with the idea of Sparta from the ancient world, where every citizen doubled as a full-time soldier. When he joined the Marines, Conrad entered full of hope to gain those traits he so admired, honor, courage, and "Semper Fideles".

Upon his arrival home, he knows something is very wrong with him, as he cannot adjust. He suffers black rages, severe headaches and various other troubling symptoms. Trying to reconnect with his loving family, friends, and his girlfriend all prove to be too overwhelming. He doesn't know what is expected of him, cannot explain to them what really happened over there, and is also still very connected to the life he led in Iraq, and to the soldiers who served under him. Post Taumatic Stress Syndrome is very eloquently portrayed here, and this is a very moving and insightful book.

[JanB]

JanB wrote: "Alecia wrote: "Jan, please explain it to me when you do! And by the way, I got this title from your TBR list!"

haha...now I'm really intrigued! We'll have to chat when I finish it now that I know ..."

I finished The Other Typist and I'm confused too! Mulling it over, read the end twice and read an author interview. Still scratching my head!

[Alecia]

I read the end twice also but didn't get it. I was hoping you would explain it to me! What did you think of the book apart from the mysterious ending?

[JanB]

Alecia wrote: "I read the end twice also but didn't get it. I was hoping you would explain it to me! What did you think of the book apart from the mysterious ending?"

I thought it was well-written but it drug a bit in the middle. The foreboding was a little heavy-handed but we learn early that her doctor asked her to write it all down so I forgave that. I have some other thoughts from my mulling it over these last 2 days but I'm posting from a beach chair using my phone so I'll wait till I have access to a computer and use the spoiler.

[Alecia]

Book # 37 Big Brother 3.5/5 stars

I'm giving this a rating of 3.5/5. The very same plot device that made me like it more at the end, was the same plot device that caused me to not enjoy the story as much as I might have. This twist of an ending brought it all together for me, but I had to go throught the whole book to get there. I did appreciate Shriver's thought process, and the novel went much deeper than it appeared to do while I was reading it. Accountability and responsibilty are themes that run through this book.

Pandora picks up Edison, her brother, at the airport after not having seen him for many years. She is stunned at how fat he has gotten, turning from a slim, handsome jazz musician who lived in New York, into a huge, unrecognizable blob of a man. He has fallen on hard times, and his visit turns into a stay of two months. During that time, he takes over the house with his presence, alienating her husband, enticing her stepson to drop out of high school, and generally causing mayhem to the household. Pandora is a successful entrepeneur, and the dynamics of her marriage are put to a test with her brother's visit. What follows this visit comprises the rest of the story. While I enjoy Shriver's writing, parts of this book did not engage me as fully as the two previous novels I enjoyed so much, We Need To Talk About Kevin, and So Much For That. But, at the end, it came together, and I thought it made a good point, and opened up some weighty issues (no pun intended).

[JanB]

I'm back in town with my laptop so these are my (confusing) thoughts on The Other Typist:

(view spoiler)[
After my second reading of the ending I thought maybe Rose had a double personality. But I found this interview with the author:
http://www.redbookmag.com/health-well...

So, there goes the theory that Rose has a multiple personality. But the author doesn’t like “robbing” a reader? I don’t quite understand her thinking. I don’t mind have an either/or ending but this one was so mysterious that I have trouble coming up with an ending that makes sense. Each theory I can think of has holes.

So, are we to understand that it was Rose who was Ginevra since the doctors call her by that name? Or are they humoring her? Although Teddy called Odalia “Ginervra” but since Rose is an unreliable narrator who knows if any of that really happened?

And who killed Teddy? Rose or Odalia? Neither explanation makes sense. The Lieutenant detective tells us in the ending that it was Rose who had the privileged upbringing and the expensive apartment - or did Odalia set her up?

I keep going around and around in circles trying to figure it out and any explanation I come up with has holes.

I do like the author’s writing style. She kept me engaged and flipping the pages. But the ending should have been made clearer and would have made a greater impact. (hide spoiler)]

[Alecia]

Jan,

Thank you for your musings on the ending of The Other Typist. And I just read the interview with the author and that was interesting, although she did not shed any light on the mystery. I'm with you...endings that are too mystifying are just not acceptable. I also liked her writing and characterizations. But that ending just plain annoyed me! (view spoiler)[
I can only presume that Rose was set up by Odalie. I know that doesn't explain who killed Teddy, but it makes no sense any other way. Rose is an unreliable narrator, but, to me, only in the sense of being emotionally unbalanced, and having a skewed sense of personal attachments. (hide spoiler)]

[JanB]

Alecia, OK, that could make sense. But (view spoiler)[ I was hung up on the fact that the police and the doctor couldn't be fooled into thinking Rose was Ginevra and was the one who who had the privileged upbringing since it was Odalia who was so obviously well off in her dress and manner. But maybe Odalia is that good? I think there are still holes in the story. If Rose is a sociopath then her entire story could very well be unreliable...shades of Gone Girl and The Dinner.
Now I'm annoyed with the author again. Maybe she couldn't come up with an ending that made sense and so she just ended the book (hide spoiler)]

[Alecia]

Jan,

I wanted to read your comments, but it appears our spoilers have been removed!

[JanB]

Alecia, are you trying to view it from your phone or your computer? This morning I had trouble clicking on the spoiler link from my iPhone but had no problem when I use my laptop. But I just now tried from both and was able to view them...so I don't know what could be wrong but I'm able to read them?

[Alecia]

Jan, I am trying to read them on my iPad. I also tried my iPhone- same thing. They still say "spoilers removed". I will check tomorrow on my laptop and see if things are any different.

[Alecia]

JanB wrote: "Alecia, are you trying to view it from your phone or your computer? This morning I had trouble clicking on the spoiler link from my iPhone but had no problem when I use my laptop. But I just now tr..."

Alecia wrote: "Jan, I am trying to read them on my iPad. I also tried my iPhone- same thing. They still say "spoilers removed". I will check tomorrow on my laptop and see if things are any different."


OK, I can read the spoilers on my laptop (another mystery, why I could not read them on my iPad). (view spoiler)[ As I said, I think Rose's narration was only unreliable as to how she perceived what was going on around her. I do not think her entire tale was made up, as there was absolutely no indication of that. I still don't know for sure who killed Teddy, but I think it had to be that Odalie set up Rose to appear that she was the well-off one with the hidden past. Then, Odalie disappeared after killing Teddy. But, there are still holes in that version because of Rose's cryptic statement at the end. You are right, she should have produced an ending that made sense, and she most likely didn't have any more ideas. She probably thought this would be very "O'Henry", but it was way too unclear. Too bad. (hide spoiler)]

[JanB]

Alecia, I think I have it figured out! If I access this thread from my iphone or iPad using the goodreads app I get a "spoilers removed" message. But if I click over from my e-mail updates using either of those devices I can read the spoilers. So it looks like it's a glitch with the app!

I think there were some indications that there was more to Rose than met the eye. (view spoiler)[Remember when she slapped Helen in the face with her leather gloves? And when she bit the man who was in for questioning on the murders (sorry, I don't remember his name). She wasn't quite the shy, retiring girl she portrayed to others. And there was some indication that she wasn't a plain jane, as she said she was. At one point she was mistaken for Odalia. I don't think her entire story was made up, but she wasn't entirely truthful either. We're left guessing which parts were true and which she made up.
Here are discussion questions provided by the publisher. I enjoyed reading them although many questions are unanswerable!
http://www.litlovers.com/reading-guid...
You're the only person I know who has read the book yet so I appreciate you taking the time to discuss it with me. You've made me look at things a little differently. Thanks! (hide spoiler)]

[Alecia]

Jan, you have figured out the mystery of "spoilers removed" if not the ending of the novel! It must be a glitch with their app, as you say. I can access the spoilers now when I click on the email updates.

(view spoiler)[You are correct in reminding me about those jarring incidents such as the slap and the bite. I had chalked that behavior up as remnants of her sorry upbringing. But maybe it was more than that. But, if so, it was too opaque for me. I read the questions, but also had no answers. What a puzzle. I, too, enjoyed our discussion. Where's Stewart O 'Nan? (hide spoiler)]

[JanB]

Obviously, the author should have consulted us before writing such an ending! Haha!

You've reminded me that I still have some O'Nan books that I still need to read.

[Alecia]

Yes, Jan I think we need to open up a consulting business for authors ;-)

[Alecia]

Book # 38 The Engagements 3.5/5 stars

This was a tough one for me to rate with stars, and I would give this 3.5/5 stars. I think the parts were greater than the whole here. J. Courtney Sullivan is a very good writer, and this book is comprised of seemingly unrelated threads of stories that jump all over the timeline. The one story that ties the theme (in a way) all together is the story of Frances Gerety. She coined the phrase "A Diamond Is Forever" as a young copywriter in 1947. Her story thread follows her and her career and it appears Frances really existed and her story is based on fact. The other threads are individually very interesting, but I found the back and forth rather jarring, and it always took me a bit to reacclimate myself with the different characters each time the story shifted yet again. The thread that joins these different stories becomes apparent only at the end. I truly enjoyed each story thread, and applaud Sullivan's talent, but wished there was more cohesiveness in my reading experience of this book. The jumping around/different story threads device she used took away continuity for me.

[JanB]

Alecia wrote: "Yes, Jan I think we need to open up a consulting business for authors ;-)"

Absolutely!

[JanB]

Alecia wrote: "Book # 38 The Engagements 3.5/5 stars

This was a tough one for me to rate with stars, and I would give this 3.5/5 stars. I think the parts were greater than the whole here. J. Courtney Sullivan is..."

Alecia, I have this on my tbr list. I became a fan of Sullivan after reading Maine, a book I loved.

[Alecia]

JanB wrote: "Alecia wrote: "Book # 38 The Engagements 3.5/5 stars

This was a tough one for me to rate with stars, and I would give this 3.5/5 stars. I think the parts were greater than the whole here. J. Court..."

I would like to read Maine after having read this book. She's a very good writer! I'm interested to hear what you think when you are finished with The Engagements.

[Alecia]

Book # 39 Joyland 3/5 stars

After reading 11/22/63,which blew me away, I rediscovered Stephen King as a multi-talented author. I will not read everything this prolific guy writes, but I certainly want to include some of his efforts. This slight, sweet story is nicely written, but just serviceable, especially in the mystery department. It is narrated by Devin, a 21 year old who gets a job at Joyland,a carnival, while nursing a broken heart over his first love. It is a coming of age story set in the 1970's with a sprinkling of ghosts and a murder mystery thrown into the mix.

[Alecia]

Book # 40 The Son 4/5 stars

When I first started this long novel, I thought, "this is my 5 star book for this year"! Then, as I kept reading, after about 100 pages or so, I started not enjoying it as much. I kept at it and found the ending quite moving. So, all in all, with all the hills and valleys of reading this, I guess 4 stars would be my final score. It is quite an oeuvre, and I applaud the author's vision writing this grand family saga set against the backdrop of the settling of Texas. I had read Philipp Meyer's previous book, American Rust, and while I did not feel it was completely successful, I did note some very good writing in that book. There is some glorious, poetic prose in this book, interspersed with quite pedantic "instructional" writing describing Commanche customs, sometime in textbook detail.

The timeline and story threads jump back and forth along 4 generations, and there is a generation that is curiously missing, which caused me some confusion. I remember reading Thomas Berger's Little Big Man years ago, which I absolutely loved. I don't think this was as good for a variety of reasons. But the narrative in the beginning, which tells of young Eli McCullough's capture by the Commanches, after the brutal storming of his homestead, is riveting. I thought it was the best part of the book.

[Alecia]

Book # 41 The Why of Things: A Novel 3/5 stars

I found The Why of Things to be an enjoyable read. The Jacobs family is suffering a tragic loss of seventeen year old Sophie, who killed herself by driving into an oncoming train about a year before this story is told. She was a beloved daughter and sister and the family goes to their summer place to search for peace. But soon upon their arrival, a similar tragedy is discovered. One of the surviving daughters, Eve, discovers a pickup truck's tracks leading into the quarry, and soon the police are there. A truck and it's driver are dragged up, and it is another apparent suicide. Eve, however, makes attempting to find out what happened to the driver, 27 year old James Favazza, her obsession. This novel is well-crafted and well-written and explores the dynamics of terrible loss in a family.

[Alecia]

Book # 42 The Execution of Noa P. Singleton by Elizabeth L. Silver 2.5/5 stars

I would rate this a 2.5. The writing was mostly engaging, but I thought the premise was squandered. I also found the plotting and Noa's musings rather meandering and muddled. Whatever twist might have been intended at the end also left me rather weary, confused and let down.

[JanB]

Alecia wrote: "Book # 42 The Execution of Noa P. Singleton by Elizabeth L. Silver 2.5/5 stars

I would rate this a 2.5. The writing was mostly engaging, but I thought the premise was squandered. I also found the..."

Thanks, Crossing this one off my list!

[Alecia]

I just think it could've been so much better. Some people seemed to really like it, though.

[JanB]

Alecia wrote: "I just think it could've been so much better. Some people seemed to really like it, though."

It was a questionable one on my
list anyway so you just confirmed it :)

[Alecia]

Book # 43 Nemesis by Bill Pronzini 3/5 stars

Pronzini's Nameless Detective series brings me the same kind of familiar enjoyment that I used to get reading the Spenser books. This latest one is a fast read, more character studies than mystery. But, if you're a fan, then it's a good, light read.

[Charleen]

Alecia wrote: "Book # 39 Joyland 3/5 stars

After reading 11/22/63,which blew me away, I rediscovered Stephen King as a multi-talented author. I will not read everything this prolific guy writes, but I certainly ..."

I've heard mixed things about this one. Well, not SO mixed. Most people seem to have liked it, but others have absolutely LOVED it. There's so much classic King I haven't read that I'm not in a big hurry to read this one. (Doctor Sleep, on the other hand, comes out in September and I'm already on the library waiting list.)

[Alecia]

You're right, Charlene, this was Stephen King Lite. He's written better than this, but it was entertaining, to a point.

[Alecia]

Book #44 The Unknowns: A Novel 3/5 stars

I liked the writing, but the book started off one way (the story of a geeky guy, Eric, navigating his social world) and ended up another (same geeky guy in a serious romantic relationship navigating some traumatic issues). So, the humor and sort of sly take on the world that makes up the beginning of this book morph into something else. I'm not sure what the whole theme was supposed to be, but the writing was entertaining and smart.

[Alecia]

Book # 45 Blood & Beauty: The Borgias
1/5 stars

I don't know how such intrigue, sex and extreme machinations from the Borgias could be made static and boring, but that is how I found this historical fiction novel. I think writing it in the 3rd person present had a lot to do with my discomfort reading it.I felt so removed from the characters. Perhaps a first person narrative would have drawn me into the times and feeling for the period a little more. I watched a season of The Borgias on Showtime and didn't care for that, either, but for different reasons. Such meaty material warrants a readable, exciting book! I see many people loved it, but it was not for me.

[Alecia]

Book # 46 Visitation Street 2/5 stars

I thought it started out really well. Val and June, two bored fifteen year olds and best friends, decide they want to do something fun one night....like taking a pink raft onto the bay that opens onto the East River in Brooklyn. No good can come of this, the reader knows, and the writing is vividly descriptive of Brooklyn's Red Hook section and paints an intriguing, knowing setting for the girls and the oncoming tragedy. But somehow, the story never delivered for me, and I was disappointed. It was all over the place, with too many characters and a few ghosts thrown in. Although Pochoda's writing was very promising and evocative, I did not enjoy reading this novel.

[Alecia]

Book # 47 The Humans 3.5/5 stars

I would give this 3.5 stars...almost 4, but it gets a little syrupy (for me) at the end. The beginning had me laughing out loud while I read...not easy to elicit so many chuckles from me. It reminded me of the kick I got out of reading A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy so many years ago. A visitor from a much-superior far away planet, where everyone is immortal, is sent to earth on a gruesome task. He is to take the form of a prominent mathematician, Andrew Martin, and kill off everyone this professor might have told about solving "The Rieman Hypothesis". This hypothesis apparently would progress the human race more than these ETs thought was advisable. The visitor inhabiting Andrew Martin's body learns about humans and how to be one, and parts of this are very knowing, smart, and downright hysterical.

[Alecia]

Book # 48 The Husband's Secret 3.5/5 stars

I am giving this a solid 3.5. This is very well-written chick lit, and that genre is not my thing. But this is a good one, so it was quite an enjoyable novel. Liane Moriarity weaves several threads of stories and characters together based on Cecelia's husband's secret. We find out what this secret is about 1/2 way through the book. While it gets a little sudsy at the end, I thought her writing was grounded and gritty at times, making it a cut above. She has a very realistic take on marriage and parenthood, and those parts ring true. A worthy read.

[JanB]

Alecia wrote: "Book # 48 The Husband's Secret 3.5/5 stars

I am giving this a solid 3.5. This is very well-written chick lit, and that genre is not my thing. But this is a good one, so it was quite an enjoyable ..."

I just started listening to this on my walk this morning - great narrator! Glad to see you liked it.

[Alecia]

I thought it was very good, indeed, and enjoyed reading it. I hope you do also.

I am picking up The Silent Wife at the library. I've been reading some mixed reviews on it, so we shall see. I am currently reading Mystery Girl, and I am kind of slogging through it only about 1/2 way into it.

[JanB]

Alecia wrote: "I thought it was very good, indeed, and enjoyed reading it. I hope you do also.

I am picking up The Silent Wife at the library. I've been reading some mixed reviews on it, so we shall see. I am c..."

I've been intrigued by The Silent Wife too and also read mixed reviews so I'll look forward to your thoughts. So far I'm enjoying The Husband's Secret. It's an Australian narrator and I love the accent :)

[Alecia]

The interesting thing to me about the book's setting in Australia, was that I almost completely forgot about the setting while reading it. I actually thought that was a plus as I was able to relate more with the charracters that way. Of course, with an Australian narrator, that might keep reminding you:)

[Alecia]

Book # 49 Mystery Girl: A Novel 2/5 stars

David Gordon can write well, and there are lots of literary allusions here for the well-read reader to enjoy. But I found this book meandered all over the place with plotting, and it lost me.

[Alecia]

Book # 50 The Silent Wife 3/5 stars

Hell hath no fury like a common-law wife/psychologist who is in denial. I actually enjoyed reading this book, which has been touted as another Gone Girl. It is nothing like Gone Girl except that the chapters are titled "Him" and "Her". But, on it's own merits, it is an interesting read. I thought much of it was well-written, and it kept me engaged. The prose is in the 3rd person present, which keeps the reader a bit removed from the characters. But I felt the character of Jodi, the "wife", was fairly well fleshed-out

[Alecia]

Book # 51 Sisterland 3/5 stars

I really loved Curtis Sittenfeld's Prep, and thought American Wife was very successful. Her writing is still very good in Sisterland, and it draws the reader in. But I thought it overlong and rather meandering at times. The dramatic arc in this novel that propels the book along is an earthquake, predicted by Vi, Kate's (born Daisy) twin sister's psychic prediction. Will Vi be correct in her prediction of an earthquake for a specific date, for which she is garnering much publicity?While Kate has chosen a traditional married life with two children, Vi is a lesbian and a rather eccentric practicing psychic. Kate and Vi describe their ability to see some of the future as having "senses". While Kate shuns her ability, Vi embraces hers. If you are a fan of Sittenfeld and want to read more of her writing, then this novel might please you. But I didn't think it was one of her best.

[Alecia]

Book # 52 Lookaway, Lookaway: A Novel 3/5 stars

I was prepared to like this book more than I actually did. Although the writing is very good, it failed to really engage me. The book is divided into chapters, each chapter about a member or person connected to the Johnston family. The setting is Charlotte, NC, and I have read reviews comparing the writing to Tom Wolfe. Although I see where the comparisons come from, I find Tom Wolfe's writing draws me in much more than Barnhardt's did. The only chapter that really resonated with me, and deserved comparison with Wolfe, was the chapter devoted to the reviled matriarch of the clan, Jeanette. Although the characters themselves are mostly interesting, and there certainly is enough juicy baggage attached to all of them, I was somehow left unmoved.

[Alecia]

Book # 53 Cancer Made Me a Shallower Person: A Memoir in Comics 5 stars

This is a "graphic memoir" told in a series of cartoons about one woman's experience with breast cancer. While certainly not a normally hilarious subject, Miriam Engleberg has made it a very human, touching journey, which is by turns hysterically funny, very knowing, and very poignant. I am considering doing a graphic memoir of my own and am looking through a few others to see how different people expressed themselves. Miriam was not a trained artist, but her cartoons are extremely effective and very funny. (view spoiler)[ As this small book progresses, the reader finds that Miriam's cancer has metastisized. She even finds the humor in what she has to go through and her thoughts and emotions, even at this stage. I googled her name and sorrowfully found out she had passed away.(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Alecia]

Book # 54 Brewster 3/5 stars

This is a coming of age story set in Brewster, NY in the late 1960's. Since 16 year old Jon Mosher and his friends are in high school the same time I was, I totally identified with the culture and what was going on around them. I read that some reviewers are putting it in the same slot as A Separate Peace and Catcher in the Rye. I really did not find it that momentous, although the writing is good, and very good in parts. But it is a sad story, with little or no humor to break it up. The fact that it has been done before does not matter as much as I think it's been done better.