101 Books to Read Before You Die discussion
What are you reading?
Finished
by A.J. Finn-- 5 Stars.I couldn't put this one down!
My Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
An Instance of the Fingerpost by Iain Pearswww.goodreads.com/review/show/2445286301
It is 1663 in Oxford when, amid political intrigue, religious disputes and interpersonal tensions, a prominent member of the Oxford community dies of poisoning. A poor young woman is arrested and hung for the murder. In four separate sections, four distinct stories are told which offer four different answers to the murder. This was a clever murder mystery that demands the reader acknowledge that things are never exactly what they seem. Although it was well written with each story fleshed out in sufficient detail to convince the reader of its veracity, it did start to drag for me.
Rise and Shine by Anna Quindlenhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This was a predictable story of sisterly bonds. One sister is a very wealthy celebrity host of a morning TV talk show, the other is the director of a homeless shelter who, despite her very different professional and economic situation, travels in the same rarified social circles of her more famous sibling. When professional and personal crisis hits, the bonds these women share will help them weather the storm and emerge stronger and happier on the other shore. I can’t complain about the predictability of the novel since this is a hallmark of this genre. However, I can complain about the writing which was heavy-handed and very repetitive. A situation or action was usually described with a string of three identical phrases. Qualities of characters were hammered over and over again until they were flattened into two dimensional stereotypes. Even the setting of affluent Manhattan became a victim of this flattening. If we were told once that people were chauffeured by car services, we were told it 99 times, , like the beer bottles falling off that wall, like drops of water in some ancient Chinese torture, like a swarm of never ending gnats. It was not just that we saw them using this car service, but we were told endlessly how it differed from the experience of the rest of the country again and again. The same was true of the superficiality of social interactions or the contrast between the lives of the rich and the poor or …. I finished this in about 5 hours. If all the repetitions were excised, I wonder if there would be enough words to constitute a short story.
The Nature of the Beast by Louise Pennyhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A huge gun with sinister etchings is found camouflaged in the woods behind Three Pines. A child is murdered in those same woods. And, Inspector Armand Gamache is called on to solve another mystery. Initially, I found the premise too far-fetched to interest me. But, as the novel progressed, many of my issues were explained and the author’s note at the end surprised me by revealing that this plot line was based on true events. Half way through, my resistance was overcome and I ended up enjoying this book. 3.5 stars
Finished two duds
by Alice FeeneyMy Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
by Stephanie Powell WattsMy Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Middle Passage by Charles Johnsonhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Rutherford, only 22 years old and recently emancipated by a kind preacher who treated him with remarkable respect, even providing him with a classic education, signs onto the crew of a slave ship to avoid creditors and the woman who wants to marry him. For the next 200 pages, the reader observes the violence, hardships and dangers of early 19th century life on a boat transporting human cargo. Apparently, Johnson wanted to create a philosophical novel of sweeping scope. Rutherford, the narrator uses a vocabulary conveys a world view and discusses philosophical questions that never match his time, background or context. There are certainly numerous deep questions introduced in this novel. Johnson creates vibrant characters and atmosphere in very few words. But, the contrast between who the characters were and what they said and thought became an insurmountable barrier to my entry into this story. The violence that permeated the pages was often treated in a nearly flippant manner. The ending was a let down for me. I realize that this is an award winning book with technically strong prose, but I did not enjoy it at all.
Accidental Theologians by Elizabeth Dreyer https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Dreyer presents the four Catholic women saints who have been named Doctors of the Church, summarizing their life and an aspect of their writings. Each chapter concludes with a reflection on what that saint might offer the contemporary western world and several questions for discussion. Although I would have brought out different elements at several points then Dreyer chose to present, this was a nice introduction to these four saints that might inspire readers to learn more about their legacy. 3.5 stars
Good Morning Midnight by Lily Brooks-Daltonwww.goodreads.com/review/show/2456942369
Vague rumors of some catastrophic event prompts the immediate evacuation of the scientists at an artic observatory. One elderly man refuses to leave. Always having preferred the celestial bodies to human ones, he would prefer to die alone on the tundra than return to society where he has no connections. But, he soon discovers that a quiet, elusive little girl has also stayed behind. A small group of astronauts are returning to Earth after a four year exploration of the solar system. All gladly left family and friends for the opportunity to study the distant planets. Despite 4 years in close proximity, they know little about one another, preferring data to human interactions. But as they near Earth, they discover that no signal is being transmitted from home. I was surprised to discover that this is not a story of post-apocalyptic survival, but an exploration of human connections. In the impenetrable dark of artic winter, in the fathomless depths of the dark of space, as we stand on the mysterious dark void of our own imminent mortality, the need for human contact, to know and be known, for the warmth of touch awakens each of us with what it means to be human. Although I anticipated the contents of the book’s final pages, I still enjoyed the unfolding of the story. The writing drew me in. In the end, this slim book had the feel of a parable.
Finished
by Brandon McMillanI'm ready to start testing it out!
My Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Last Ballad by Wiley Cashhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This is a fictional account of the months leading up to the murder of Ella May Wiggins, a labor union organizer in 1929 North Carolina. I expected to enjoy this much more than I did. Despite the good reviews, I struggled with the book, particularly with the way it jumped. Each chapter jumped to a new character, setting, even time period. Events in the characters’ lives also felt as if they jumped into place, for example, in a matter of a few hours, Ella May moves from attending her first rally out of curiosity to writing her first song for the union and performing it at the rally, to being hired by the union as a local organizer and their spokesperson, leaving her mill job. I don’t know enough about Ella May Wiggins to know if she really did become an employed leader of the union at her first union event, but, this seems highly unlikely and its narration here did not make it credible. Not knowing enough about this legendary union leader, I can’t review the facts of this novel, but I do know quite a bit about the practices of the Catholic Church. Cash gets some details significantly wrong when he describes a scene in a monastery. If he gets these wrong, I am left wondering what else is incorrect. 2.5 stars
The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson
www.goodreads.com/review/show/2463836325
I am struggling to decide what I think of this book. At times, as I read it, I was certain I would give it 4 stars and at other times I could not figure out why it deserved 4 stars. This is a spoof on family dynamics and the world of performance art and it is a tender portrayal of family dynamics and a questioning of the nature of creativity and what makes art. Caleb and Camille Fang are performance artists engaging in what they call gorilla art, creating disruptive situations in public spaces and filming people’s reactions. Their children are incorporated into these events. Now young adults, Annie Fang makes a living as an actress and Buster Fang as a novelist. When Buster is shot by a potato and Annie is afflicted with bad publicity, both call mom and dad and ask to come home. Part of my problem is that I have an underdeveloped sense of humor; I just did not laugh. The other part of my problem is that I have a limited capacity to hold things in creative tension. Rather than enhancing each other, the tenderness undermind the spoof and visa versa. This was definitely a clever novel and I would read Wilson again.
Cat and mouse and the murder house both by James Patterson Tigers claw dale brown
The Christmas sweater Glenn beck
The stand and bizarre of bad dreams both by Stephen King
Merle's door (lessons from a free thinking dog)
Kiss me Susan brown
Ransom canyon Jodi Thomas
Small Faith Great God by N.T. Wrightwww.goodreads.com/review/show/2466273970
This collection of biblically based reflections on Christian discipleship hit the perfect balance of challenging head and heart. I often buy highly discounted books, read them, then donate them to my parish library. That was my intention with this volume. But, these highly accessible essays are too good to let go of; I will want to read them again and again. This book is an easy 4 stars and then some.
Finished
by Zoje StageI didn't like this one.... mer
My Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A Great Reckoning by Louise Pennyhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This might be my favorite of the series. Sure, there are lots of coincidences, Armand Gamache is too perfect and the endings are too neatly wrapped up. But, the story telling is so captivating that I simply don’t care. I just want to cozy up with the book and forget about life for a while. This series is becoming my guilty reading pleasure.
Bring Me Back by B. A. Parishttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This is a knock-off of Gone Girl. As a knock-off, I did not find it as tightly written nearly as clever nor as plausible as the original.
Dakota: A Spiritual Geography by Kathleen Norrishttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This is a collection of short pieces by an essayist and poet with a spiritual bent. I found many of these pieces rather parochial, so focused on the geographical and social atmosphere of the western plains of South Dakota that I had no finger hold by which to grip them. But others, with more overt spiritual explorations and connections to Benedictine monasticism were more accessible for me. These left me thinking and nodding, sometimes in agreement and sometimes in disagreement, but engaged.
Finished
by Thi Bui - 4 StarsIncredible memoir told via graphic novel.
My Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This is Your Life by Meg Wolitzerhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This supposed exploration of the mother/daughter bond left me flat. Despite privilege, a good relationship with their mother, and affirmation from every corner, both daughters go off the rails. Unfortunately, the author told us everything we needed to know without ever showing us any of it. For example, the older daughter becomes obsessed with her large size, convinced that plus sized women can never have fulfilling lives, meaningful friendships, joy in life. But, we never see how she comes to this conclusion despite her mother’s celebrity as a comedian who is heavy. We don’t watch her being mocked, isolated, or criticized. We don’t see her dieting or exercising. We just listen to her complain and settle for what she sees as the bottom of the barrel. The entire story followed this pattern of inform the reader and move on. This was a very disappointing read.
Illuminae by Amie Kaufmanwww.goodreads.com/review/show/2476877191
To be honest, I am not the right audience for this novel. I dislike young adult books, teen romance, intergalactic space battles and books that have ***** 100 or more times per page. I only read this because it was a book group monthly pick. Told through chat logs, emails, records of radio communications, this format did not work well for my digital audio download which read out every ><, every long string of identifying numerical sequence, every speaker’s name with full rank. The dialogue was cheesy, snarky and juvenile, riddled with clichés. Fitting a young adult adventure novel, teens were the moral, strategic, technical leaders. Our heroine single-handedly fights off an entire space ship of psychopathic killers while conducting nuclear battle with another space ship and simultaneously flirting with the artificial intelligence guiding her ship. There were also numerous details that made no sense to me. For example, a 10 year old child is seen dragging a human heart behind her. Since a human heart is the size of a fist, how could it be dragged behind a child? Another character makes an allusion to an old movie, “The Dead Poet’s Society” which was released in 1989, but the time stamp throughout this novel is 1975. I can’t evaluate this on its merits as a young adult science fiction story; I can only evaluate it on my personal reaction to it which was less than 1 star.
Finished cat and mouse was reading Kinsey and me sue grafton have since finished that and now I am reading Margaret Truman 3 in 1 book murder at the national cathedral and at the Kennedy center and murder in the C.I.A
Laughing Boy: A Navajo Love Story by Oliver La Fargehttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Set in the early 20th century, this is the story of the relationship between two Navajo youth who meet at a communal dance and fall instantly in love. But this marriage is fraught with difficulties as Laughing Boy comes from a traditional Navajo upbringing, but Slim Girl has been westernized during her years at a boarding school and has lost all tribal and family connections. Based on the author’s observations during his time in Navajo country, this book contains interesting descriptions of Navajo customs. Unfortunately, reading it nearly a century after its publication, it had a patronizing feel to much of its portrayal of this society and its values. 3.5 stars
just started The Great Gatsby, I cant believe I've never read it before, but so many great books and so little time
In A Free State by V.S. Naipaulhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This is a collection of short stories that explore the sense of fundamental disorientation by individuals relocated to a dramatically different culture. I appreciated Naipaul’s subtlety.
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christiehttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This has become a classic in the who-done-it genre. Enjoyable and quick moving, it was a fun read. But the solution was a bit too convoluted for me.
Finished
by Alex Dahl Right down the middle on this one
My Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Everything Here Is Beautiful by Mira T. Leehttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Lucia, a young, bright, creative, vivacious, woman who embraces life with gusto, has her first psychotic break in her early 20s. This is the story of her life lived in the shadow of a disease which will periodically cripple her. It is the story of the family and friends who love her and respect her desire to live life to its full while struggling to support her manage a disease that can be hard to manage. We need more stories in which characters living with mental health diagnoses live productive lives as vibrant parts of families and extended communities. We need more stories that depict the ravages of these illnesses despite the love and support of family and friends. I wonder if this novel tried to take on too much. The story is told from several points of view. I suspect that the author wanted the reader to understand this disorder from the vantage of the one diagnosed and from that of those offering support. But that meant that we had less time with each character to fully explore the complicated emotional reactions that surfaced. Each of the characters sounded the same which is a personal pet peeve of mine. The author also introduced themes of cross cultural interactions and various experiences of immigration. Every major character lived in more than one country and spoke more than one language. Various non-English words peppered every page, especially Spanish. I am guessing that the author felt this lent authenticity to each culture, but it was over used and began to feel like a gimmick. 3.5 stars
Finished
by Lily Brooks-DaltonGorgeous writing about two settings that one can only dream about...
My Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Indigo Girl by Natasha Boydhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This is a fictionalized account of the life of Eliza Lucas, a woman I had not heard of prior to reading this book. At the age of 16, Eliza’s father left her in charge of his heavily mortgaged plantations in South Carolina. It is the 1730s and he is off to earn a fortune and political post in Antigua. Having watched slaves in Antigua create die from the indigo plant when growing up in Antigua, Eliza decides this is the secret to saving the family land. Despite many odds, Eliza succeeds in growing the plant in South Carolina and introducing a very lucrative crop to the colony. I found the figure of Eliza fascinating. But I did not think this book did her justice. The author gives us characters that are less than nuanced. All the good folks in this book are very, very good and all the bad ones are horrid. Laughter bubbles up from those who are good, they smile with their eyes and touch tenderly while the others cackle, sneer and grab. Eliza always knows the right and courageous thing to say. She manages the house and farm, teaches the slaves to read and home schools her younger sister, performs all social obligations, teaches herself law and to play the harpsicord, and experiments with the cultivation of and production of indigo die. I just never believed that I was being offered an authentic picture of Eliza’s story. 2.5 stars
The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hintonhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Anthony Ray Hinton has the dubious distinction of the individual to have spent the most time on death row for a crime he did not commit. But, a racist judicial system in Alabama and an underfunded public defender system did not care that there was not a scrap of credible evidence against him and that there was substantial evidence exonerating him. As a result, he spent 30 years locked into a 5 x 7 cell 23 hours a day. In this powerful memoir, he recounts his journey from rage to peace, how he was able to maintain his sense of dignity, the unconditional love of his mother and best friend and the heroic efforts of Brian Stephenson and the Equal Justice Initiative. I highly recommend this book.
Molloy by Samuel Beckettwww.goodreads.com/review/show/2496169456
What the **** did I just read? We get a 90 page paragraph in which a guy rambles on about how many farts he has per hour and his system for rotating sucking stones while rambling along running over an old dog and beating an old man to death. Part 2, a private investigator narrates how he sets out to find the man of the first part while emotionally battering his son, beating some guy’s head in and returning home months later without finding that man, without his son and without his sanity apparently. This was my first encounter with Beckett and I hope it will be my last.
White Teeth by Zadie Smithhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the sly sarcasm and wry humor. The farcical characters also rang with deep humanity. The plot was creative, not a rehash of an over told story. The prose was excellent, strong, luminous enabling the characters and story to shine rather than pointing to the author’s self-identified cleverness.
On The Beach by Nevil Shutehttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
If you knew that you and everyone you knew would be dead in 9 months, how would you spend your time: doing what you loved?, with the people you loved?, in denial?, desperately trying to change fate? A nuclear war between Russia and China has unleashed a deadly level of radioactive cobalt into the atmosphere killing all land animals in the northern hemisphere. The radiation is making its way into the southern hemisphere and will soon reach this coastal Australian community. But, this is not a story of nuclear winter with people struggling against one another for survival. Except for the lack of gasoline, life has not changed much for people in 1963. This was a lovely story of people continuing to act with integrity despite the looming shadow of death. As an American reader, I can’t imagine such calm, such adherence to rules, such unswerving consistency to various social roles, including jobs. But, it is refreshing to find that someone still seems to believe in basic human decency. The story was clearly told with clean precise prose and vivid characters.
Finished
by Téa ObrehtWas recommended this to read before I head to the Balkans
My Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished
by Simone St. James Perfect fall murder mystery with a ghost!
My Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Main Street by Sinclair Lewishttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Set in the second decade of the 20th century, this is a reflection on small town life and an exploration of the restrictions women face. A young, college educated woman who has lived and worked in St. Paul, marries a small town doctor and moves to a provincial town of 3,000 people. Her first impression is that the town is ugly, the people dull and the atmosphere clostrophobic. But with her experience of city life, a college education and a libral upbringing, she sets out to reform and modernize this community. The town regards her efforts as patronizing, her attitude as superior and her vision as threatening their way of life. Lewis captures these people adeptly, from the gossipy card circle to the sanctimonious elderly neighbor, from the spinster school teacher to the critical eye of the handiman who lives on the edge of the town. I am especially surprised at how sensitively Lewis captures the ambitions and frustrations, the desire to fit in and the desire to transform, the marital tension and the power of social standing felt by the female protagonist. Even though this is primarily Carol’s story, the town seen from her perspective, Lewis manages to show the reader the humanity of these small-minded, parochial towns folk also. I was surprised by its relevance and its outstanding character development. Initially, I thought it was going to get bogged down in flowery descriptions, but the lovely picture of turn-of-the-century Midwestern landscapes soon gave way to humorous, tender, ambitious, misunderstood, complex lives.
Janesville by Amy Goldsteinhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Janesville, Wisconsin grew up around a General Motors plant. For nearly a century, GM provided thousands of good paying jobs and supported a number of other businesses that provided parts to GM, retailers that provided goods to its employees and professionals that provided services to their families. In 2008, as part of the Great Recession, the GM plant closed, setting off a cascade of economic decline for the community. Goldstein explores the impact of the Great Recession by following a handful of families in Janesville, some who never fully recovered from the plant closing and some who continued to thrive. She also depicts the social and political divide that formed in the decade after the loss of the primary employer. The writing is clear, the families profiled are compelling and the account of a divided community struggling to find its footing is well explained. This was an engaging book that leaves me with much to ponder.
Finished two:
by Michael FinkelMy Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
by Lucy KnisleyMy Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Glass Houses by Louise Pennyhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I don’t know if I would have enjoyed this story as much if I had not read all the preceding books in this series. It is not that this cannot stand alone; Penny fills in all needed back story for the reader. Rather, it is that I have come under the charm of this idealic village, its quirky residents, its perfect Chief Inspector, and have surrender to the improbable plot line of the investigation. Conscience is the theme of this installment. Does the end justify the means if the stakes are high enough, e.g. in times of war? The drug war is at the heart of this plot and Penny concludes that ends can justify the means if the one making the decision is sufficiently wise and virtuous and if the end is sufficiently valued by those it serves.
I've been reading Friends in High Places by Donna Leon and listening to The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
The Orchardist by Amanda Coplainhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A middle aged bachelor lives a contented solitary life on his farm in rural Washington in the late 19th century. This unremarkable life is altered one day when two pregnant adolescent girls are spied hiding in his orchard, stealing apples. A bit of investigating uncovers their predicament, run-aways from a brutal brothel. When he decides to protect them, rather then reveal their where-abouts for the reward money, he unconsciously makes a commitment to them that will not break despite the ways it is tested. This is a quiet, sweet story of love and loss and resilience. I can see why many readers have enjoyed this book and why it has received recognition from several literary awards. The writing is solid. The story celebrates the best in human nature. But the lack of character complexity led to this falling a bit flat for me. The wise woman consistently dispensed sage advice and provided strength in times of crisis, the steady and faithful man never swerved from his fidelities. The good girl was always kind and obedient. And the wounded animal never stopped running and snapping. As a result, the story felt rather predictable, since without any external force to turn the ship, these characters could only row in one direction. Midway through the novel, as the story included events beyond the orchard, Coplain chose to tell these diverging lines by rapidly moving back and forth between characters. I found this confusing, often uncertain whose story I was hearing.
Finished
by Sara NovićBalkan historical fiction that stole a piece of my heart
My Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Eighty Days: Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland’s History Making Race Around the World by Matthew Goodmanwww.goodreads.com/review/show/2525676224
The title says it all. As a publicity stunt involving two New York tabloids in 1889, two female reporters were sent on a race around the world inspired by the popular novel by Verne. In alternating chapters, the reader follows the progress of each woman. The glimpses into late 19 century life in various parts of the world was interesting. But, as a whole, the book dragged. As often as possible, encyclopedia style summaries of anything and everything remotely connected with the journey was inserted. Since Bly can see the Statue of Liberty from the ocean liner as she starts across the Atlantic, we get a basic history of Lady Liberty. Bisland heads west, crossing the country by train, so the reader is given a 5th grade lesson on the transcontinental railroad and the impact of trains on 19th century society. This constant introduction of information that belonged in a side panel weighed down the narrative with unnecessary padding. Coupled with the numerous repetition of facts about these figures left me bored a quarter of the way in. With a GR rating of 3.7 stars, I see that I am in the minority, so maybe the problem is with me.
Sunburn by Laura Lippmanwww.goodreads.com/review/show/2529138773
This story of deceit, love and betrayal is my definition of a perfect beach read. The author does not tackle profound themes, ask the reader to think deeply, require close attention to details or offer stunning prose. But, the story was entertaining, well paced, solidly written with enough twists to keep things interesting. I won't be thinking about this book next week, but sometimes all a reader wants is a few hours of diversion.
Finished
by Michelle McNamaraI'll never think about a shoeprint the same way again...
My Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
101 Books to Read Before You Die
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This is a version of the classic upstairs-downstairs story line set in El Salvador. Four generations of two wealthy coffee plantation owners an corresponding generations of servants who work in one of their households populate this saga that spans from the 1930s to the 1970s. Although armed uprisings frame this novel, it did not turn out to be nearly as political as I anticipated. Rather, births and deaths, love, friendship and betrayals, new business ventures, cooking meals and loyalty between master and servants dominate the pages. For those who enjoy reading of the rich and those who support their life style, this is the perfect book. Any reader not familiar with the social tension in El Salvador in the 20th century may find this interesting. But if you are looking for clever prose, insightful writing or a unique story line, this will be disappointing.