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What Are You Reading - Part Deux
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Jackie
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Jul 04, 2016 04:09PM
Thanks Karen. That's a cute pic you have there!
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Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands by Chris Bohjalian – 3.5*** Emily Shepard is a troubled teen. Totally understandable, given that she’s been orphaned by a nuclear plant disaster where both her parents worked, she’s homeless, and she’s one of the most reviled people in Vermont, if not all of America. The novel is told as a series of journal entries, and Emily’s recollections are not linear. Often, I was irritated with her, but I grew to like her and root for her. She was intelligent, resilient, tried to be responsible, and very vulnerable. Grace Blewer does a fine job narrating the audio version. Blewer is Bohjalian’s daughter, and she helped him with the slang and cadence of speech so that he could write in a more-believably-teen-aged voice.
Full Review HERE
Jackie wrote: "Thanks Karen. That's a cute pic you have there!"My two great nieces. The redhead was 3 and the baby was 3 mths old. Taken about 3 mths ago.
Finally wrote my review of The Giveness of Things - Essays by Marilynne RobinsonMy review here: 4 of 5 stars
Just started last nightBlessed Are the Dead
by Malla Nunn. This is the second book of the South African author that I have read and I really enjoy it.
Pamela wrote: "Just started last nightBlessed Are the Dead by Malla Nunn. This is the second book of the South African author that I have ..."this looks really good. I look forward to reading your review, Pamela.
4:50 From Paddington by Agatha Christie – 3.5*** The story begins when Mrs McGillicuddy witnessed a murder on a passing train. She reports it to the authorities, but as there has been no body found, and no woman reported missing, they dismiss her story as active imagination. This is a great cozy mystery, featuring a fine cast of suspects and amateur sleuths. Miss Marple employs the assistance of the very capable Lucy Eyelesbarrow, a young woman who is smart and steadfast. Together, they are a force to be reckoned with. Joan Hickson - the marvelous actress who played Miss Marple in the television series – is absolutely pitch perfect narrating the audio book.
Full Review HERE
The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker – 3*** The novel – a combination of historical fiction and fantasy – tells the story of two supernatural creatures who appear mysteriously in 1899 New York. In general, I like fantasy, and I love magical realism, so I really wanted to like this book. But it never really captured my attention, and I found it tedious to read in places. I was not swept away. Still, there are passages that were riveting and I never felt like I should just give up on the book. Final verdict: a decent but uneven debut, and I won’t be in any hurry to read the planned sequel.
Full Review HERE
Momentarily off my mystery binge (sure I'll be back at it some point this summer) with Rule Britannia. Very ironic consider this book was published in 1973/74 when I brought but never read it until now. The irony part is the subject of the book is the withdrawal of GB from Europe! Post apocalyptic written 40 years ago, wow!
The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier – 2.5** In 1850, Honor Bright accompanies her sister to America, hoping for a new start. But the “frontier” of Ohio is very different from the long-established English community Honor left, and she feels adrift and unwelcomed. I’ve been a fan of Chevalier’s for a long time. I like the way she puts the reader into the time and place of her historical novels, and this is no exception. But I didn’t really believe in Honor. It seemed to me that Chevalier got herself into a corner and didn’t know how to get out, so she used the most convenient way to end things. It was so dissatisfying, to me, that I dropped half a star.
Full Review HERE
I've made a start on We Are Called to Rise by Laura McBride and am enjoying it so far.
Jackie wrote: "I've made a start on We Are Called to Rise by Laura McBride and am enjoying it so far."I loved that book and was entirely taken by surprise by how good it was. Hope you enjoy it.
84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff– 5***** In October 1949 Helene Hanff, a single woman living and working in her small New York apartment, responded to an ad placed in the Saturday Review of Literature by Marks & Co, a bookshop in London that specialized in used books. Thus began a two-decade long correspondence and friendship between the reserved bookseller and the irrepressible Miss Hanff. What a delight it is to be allowed to watch this growing relationship, fueled by a shared love of books, and an ability to laugh at oneself and one’s follies. It’s the kind of book I’ll read over and over just for the sheer joy of it.
Full Review HERE
Book Concierge wrote: " 84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff– 5***** In October 1949 Helene Hanff, a single woman living and working in her small New York apartment, responded ..."
One of my own favorite re-reads. Last time was a few years ago but the first time was when I was in my early twenties.
I am about to start reading Women of the Silk.
.
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman – 4**** Subtitle: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures. This is a fascinating medical mystery, and a balanced exploration of two very different points of view. I thought the book could have used more editing; Fadiman tends to repeat her message. Still, I was really caught up in the story, and appreciated learning more about the Hmong culture.
Full Review HERE
Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan – 3*** This was a fascinating memoir – drawn partly from interviews with friends, relations, colleagues and medical personnel, her journal writings during the period, and her medical records – of a time period when Cahalan was nearly completely lost. Her training as a journalist is evident here. She includes much background information on the research into the disorder – anti-NDMA-receptor encephalitis. I was engaged and interested from beginning to end, though I did feel it was a bit repetitive. Heather Henderson does a fabulous job reading the audio book. Her performance really brought to life the deterioration Cahalan experienced, as well as how anxious and confused she felt.
Full Review HERE
Book Concierge wrote: " The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier – 2.5** In 1850, Honor Bright accompanies her sister to America, hoping for a new start. But the “frontier” of Ohio is ver..."
Good heads up. This is in my stack of "to read" books. I'm working on Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
by Doris Kearns Goodwin. Its very good so far but its taking a long time to read (especially as I'm taking notes and trying to read it after work!). I've started another book — a mystery — as light reading when I get tired of Lincoln and 'his rivals' political developments towards the run for the presidency.
Every once in a while I read a book or series that I never got around to reading when I was a kid. The Anne of Green Gables series of books is a good example. So, I am currently reading The Bad Beginning which is the first book in the series by Lemony Snicket.
Death of a Kitchen Diva by Lee Hollis – ZERO stars This cozy mystery is the first in the Hayley Powell Food & Cocktails Mystery series. There’s a decent idea for a cozy here. But the execution is terrible. The characters are cardboard cutouts, the plot (thin as it is) is completely ridiculous, and the dialogue is tortured. I kept reading only because it fulfilled several challenges. At least it was a fast read.
Full Review HERE
Book Concierge wrote: "Death of a Kitchen Diva Death of a Kitchen Diva by Lee Hollis – ZERO stars This cozy mystery is the first in the Hayley Powell Food & Cocktails Mystery series. There’s a decen..."
Wow, no stars. And I felt bad for giving a book one star this morning. :-\
Later tonight I'm going to be starting Midwives by Chris Bohjalian.
Finished The Bad Beginning and have started one that takes place during WWII which is one of my favorite genres.Tasa's Song
A Cold-Blooded Business by Dana Stabenow – 3.5*** After one too many drug-related deaths at the site, former DA Investigator Kate Shugak is asked to go undercover to the Prudhoe Bay oil fields to find out who is dealing drugs. I had read the first book in this series a couple of years ago and I was not impressed, but I’m glad I gave the series another chance. I like that Shugak is a strong woman, smart, resourceful, dedicated, committed and independent. I also like her strong sense of integrity. I did find some of the characters thinly drawn, however.
Full Review HERE
The Book Thief and Nathan Coulter: A NovelReally, really enjoying Book Thief. Saw the Movie been pining to read the book for some time.
and
One's because I have literally been eyeing it in Barnes and Noble for months and the other is my summer reading book for my "History of Jazz" class.
Lunch in Paris by Elizabeth Bard – 3.5***When Bard was a graduate student in England (art history), she took a weekend trip to Paris, where she met and had lunch with a Frenchman. And the rest, as they say, is history. This is a charming memoir where Bard explores the many differences between French and American culture. I loved her descriptions of the many meals she enjoyed, and was inspired by several of the recipes she includes.
Full Review HERE
I'm going to start reading Restless by William Boyd today.Finished Midwives by Chris Bohjalian. Just an average read for me. Found it to be a little slow and repetitive. Definitely not his best, imo.
A Killer Plot by Ellery Adams – 3*** This is a pretty interesting cozy mystery, featuring a group of aspiring authors who together try to solve the murder of one of their group. I like Olivia Limoges, and especially like that her faithful dog – a standard poodle named Captain Haviland – is a DOG, not a character who helps solve the crime. I thought Adams did a good job of setting the scene; I really got the sense of a small sea-side community. It held my attention, it had a good pace and I enjoyed trying to figure out who-done-it. I’ll definitely read another in the series.
Full Review HERE
Book Concierge wrote: "A Killer Plot A Killer Plot by Ellery Adams – 3*** This is a pretty interesting cozy mystery, featuring a group of aspiring authors who together try to solve the murder of one ..."
One of my favorite cozy series -- glad you liked it!
and
Some Non fiction - Both seem very interesting and hopefully will touch the limits my understanding.
The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George – 3*** I really wanted to love this book. Several people whose opinions I trust have recommended it, and there’s much here to like. But … I never understood why Manon acted as she did. She is such an important part of this book, and yet I feel that I don’t really know her, and never cared about her. And as a result I couldn’t understand why Perdu cared so much. Still, it’s Paris, it’s a love story, it’s about reading. And I did like the “literary prescriptions” at the end.
Full Review HERE
Finished Restless by William Boyd. Definitely found myself a new (to me) good author.Going to start White Dog Fell From the Sky by Eleanor Morse today.
Ghost Soldiers by Hampton Sides – 4**** Sides crafts a story that is gripping, informative, horrifying and inspiring; the forgotten tale of an “impossible” mission to rescue hundreds of American and British POWs from a Japanese camp in the Philippines. I was captured from page one and mesmerized throughout. I felt that I really got to know the men involved – prisoners and rescuers. This is a history that will appeal to fans of Laura Hillenbrand’s Unbroken or Doug Stanton’s In Harm’s Way.
Full Review HERE
The Diva Runs Out of Thyme by Krista Davis – 3*** I love cozy mysteries – they are my reading comfort food. This has a pretty good premise, and I liked the rivalry between Sophie and Natasha. The story was filled with more suspects than you could shake a turkey leg at, and plenty of plot twists to keep the reader guessing. However, the central murder mystery plot was pretty thin, and the big reveal stretched credulity a little too far. Still, it’s a satisfying, fast read, and I’ll continue the series.
Full Review HERE
I'm starting Blue Monday by Nicci French.
Yesterday I started a book that I received in a giveaway/First Reads, Baby Doll by Hollie Overton. Such a good book so far.
Die Job by Lila Dare – 2.5** I read cozies for the atmosphere – especially when they are set in a small Southern town – and for the quirky cast of characters. BUT, I do expect a reasonable murder mystery, and that where this particular book fell short. This is book three in the series, though it’s the first one I’ve read, and perhaps the author is running out of ideas. Still, it’s a fast read and I might pick up another if it’s fulfills several challenges (as this one did).
Full Review HERE
The Luck of the Bodkins by PG Wodehouse 4 starsThis was one of the funniest books I've read this year; the humour still works.
my review is here
I'm reading ''NIGHT'' by ELIE WIESEL,it is the story of a young boy and his family during one of the most painful part of human history the Nazi concentration camps .
Beloved – Toni Morrison– 4****
This is a challenging book to read (and to listen to) because Morrison uses multiple narrators, switches time frames without notice, and dribbles out clues to what really happened in a way that keeps the reader off balance and unsure where the story is headed. I did think the “atmospheric” writing sometimes got in the way of the storyline. Still, I loved Morrison’s use of language; I felt immersed in the story, the timeframe, the magic, the brutal reality.
Full Review HERE
I'm currently reading "The girl on the train" by Paula Hawkins. Around pg 65 I think? I'm not sure where this will go but it's oddly addicting.
Taking a break from
and started reading
. I thought it would be short and funny because the author is M.C. Beaton and I've enjoyed her other series.... but this one is indeed a bit painful. I'll finish -- heck I'm halfway through -- but I don't expect it to radically improve!
Louis D. Brandeis: American ProphetFantastic - Learned a great deal about much that I didn't know before.
My review Here
Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson
Finshed a quick read of Islam and the Future of Tolerance: A Dialogue I felt I walked away with a little more understanding. Glad I read it. My Review
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