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What Are You Reading - Part Deux
message 4601:
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Shelley
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May 07, 2018 04:48PM
Present over Perfect Shauna Niequist
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I finished Wolf Boys: Two American Teenagers and Mexico's Most Dangerous Drug CartelReview: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A Thread Of Grace – Mary Doria Russell – 5*****
Russell’s third novel focuses on WW2 and the Italian citizens who saved the lives of thousands of Jews. What a story! Based on true incidents, Russell’s tale draws the reader into the lives of these people. I fell in love with these characters. Russell doesn’t sugarcoat the sacrifices and dangers they faced, nor does she make them saints. This is a war story, so I knew there would be death and destruction. Russell tempers the sadness and horror with moments of great tenderness and even humor.
LINK to my review
Read and enjoyed debut mystery The Ruin by Irish (now Aussie) author Dervla McTiernan. Cold, wet, mysterious Galway, Ireland. It's Cormac Reilly #1, so more are coming!
4★ https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Every Breath You Take – Judith McNaught – 2**
A typical romance novel – with stereotypical characters and full of clichés. Still, it was a fast read and I was entertained.
LINK to my review
In her first-ever book, published almost a century ago, Agatha Christie introduced one of the world's best-loved characters, the inimitable M. Hercule Poirot with his very active 'little grey cells'. The Mysterious Affair at Styles is the first of the many classic "it must be one of us" Christie mysteries.
4★ https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Rainwater – Sandra Brown – 3***
In 1934 in central Texas, Ella Barron runs a boardinghouse. A new boarder, Mr Rainwater, quickly becomes a leader in the community, and stirs her feelings as well. This is an interesting look at small town prejudice and bullying in tough times. Brown is best known as a romance writer, but it is more of an historical fiction work than a traditional romance. Brown does a credible job of exploring some important issues, though she does tend to rely on some of the romance tropes and stereotypical characters.
LINK to my review
I finished, & loved, The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne.Today I'm going to start reading To the Bright Edge of the World by Eowyn Ivey.
I finished Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca SolnitReview: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I've finished Love and Ruin which was much more about Marty Gellhorn and how she survived Hemingway. She was a truly strong woman. Now I'm about to start an ARC of Tiffany Blues.
The Rooster Bar – John Grisham – 3***
Three third-year law students are stunned when their friend and fellow student commits suicide. Grisham knows how to write a thrilling adventure tale. Mark, Todd and Zola are reasonably bright, motivated, and quick on their feet. I found their friendship and loyalty to one another and to the memory of Gordy touching and genuine. I did think that Grisham wrote himself into a hole and was struggling to get out. There’s a significant side plot focusing on one student’s parents. For most of the book I thought this was an unnecessary distraction, then Grisham uses it as the key to the resolution. Kind of a cheap trick, in my opinion.
LINK to my review
It is amazing what 13-year-old girls are capable of. Girls At Play is a short story by Celeste Ng and was shortlisted for an award> I'm not surprised. Girls can be scary creatures. My review (and links to read the story yourself) are here.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Fish-Boy is a gorgeously illustrated Inuit folktale for children, with glossary and explanations by Vanita Oelschlager. More than a picture book (but the pictures are wonderful). My review with a couple of illustrations:
5★ Link to my review
Jackie wrote: "I finished, & loved, The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne.Today I'm going to start reading To the Bright Edge of the World by Eowyn Ivey."
What a terrific pair of books, Jackie!
I sprained my ankle, so I have not had the chance to do much reading. I am still reading Zeno of Bruges (The Abyss).
Vanita Oelschlager's book Knees: The mixed up world of a boy with dyslexia uses simple cartoons and rhyming humour to show kids that dyslexia didn't stop lots of famous people from doing great things! 
4★ https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Good Nurse – Charles Graeber – 3***
Charles Cullen was a registered nurse who worked in a number of New Jersey hospitals; when he worked at a hospital the death rates skyrocketed. This true crime nonfiction is interesting, but not as gripping as some others. Still, it’s evident that Graeber did extensive research.
LINK to my review
Popular Aussie news journalist (among other things) Tony Jones has successfully added thriller writer to his "among other things" with a great read, The Twentieth Man. It's based on true Aussie events, but there's plenty of artistic licence making for an exciting novel. Loved it!
4.5★ https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I am about 150 pages into "Ahab's Wife" and love the novel. Beautiful writing. The kind of book I want to spend a whole day reading--wish I had the time!
Hi I'm currently reading 'The Good Soldier S'vejk' by Jaroslav Hasek. Set during World War I in the Austro-Hungarian Empire we follow the antics and adventures of Svejk a certified idiot as he tries to make his way to the front. This is a very interesting look at the futility and petty beurocracy of war. It is in a similar vein to catch 22 except featuring some one in favour of fighting instead of a coward. An fun book to read I'm about a third of the way through and enjoying it immensely
I'm reading
. I won it from Amazon to read and review.
I am reading Hyperion and Journey to the Centre of the Earth today. I'm also reviewing a book for Max Hudson. Who knows what I'll be reading tomorrow.
I finished Red Notice by Bill Browder. It is non-fiction but reads like a spy novel. And it ties into current events. Bill Browder is behind the Magnitsky Act, the subject of the famous Trump Tower meeting.
Joseph Coelho's gorgeous children's picture book If All the World is about a young child and Granddad and . . . remembering Granddad. A new favourite!
5★++ I've included some illustrations here:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just finished Mick Herron’s London Rules, his latest visit to the Slow Horses of Slough House. Still an entertaining bunch of demoted (“demented”?) spooks.
4★ My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Origin – Dan Brown – 3***
Brown certainly knows how to keep the reader in suspense and turning pages, guessing right up to the reveal. But … I’m tired of Robert Langdon and his lectures on symbology. I also felt that Brown wrote himself into a corner and took an easy out.
LINK to my review
Adding to my recent political interests...Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House" by Michael Wolff
I'm reading Blackfish City by Sam J Miller. Blackfish CityI'm not a big scifi/dystopian fan but I got caught up in the cover and I like Miller's storytelling style.
Finished:
by Gabrielle ZevinI dare any book lover NOT to fall in love with this book!
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I learned something myself from a couple of vividly illustrated, picture book biographies for young kids. I expect more than a few parents and teachers could benefit from these. I included a few pictures so you can see what they're like.Bonyo Bonyo by Vanita Oelschlager is the true story of a poor Kenyan village boy with dreams of becoming a doctor.
Link to review of Bonyo Bonyo
Harriet Tubman by Isabel Sanchez Vegara is the story of a young girl who escaped slavery and joined the Underground Railroad. (And we're still waiting to see if she'll be on a new $20 bill!)
Link to review of Harriet Tubman
Recently finished reading Of Wolves and Men by Barry López (will write review soon) and currently reading Love in the Ruins by Walker Percy. Very different books but both illuminating.
I recently read:The Chalk Man
The Girl With All the Gifts
Noir
The Call of Cthulhu
Now I'm reading The Outsider.
So, I was going to start reading Tiffany Blues but first I got distracted by Agatha Raisin and the Busy Body then I read Tiffany Blues and then read As the Pig Turns. Now I'm reading Friday the Rabbi Slept Late. Guess I'm not over my mystery craving yet.
I finished Little Big Love. 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I'm just about to start The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. It has a great rating on here, I hope it lives up to it 😀
Today I returned to a series I started this year, Sunshine at the Comfort Food Café. Currently this is the last book in the series. Sweet, light, a little romance and a fast read. Sometimes that is exactly what you need.
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