Shelfari 50 Book Challenge discussion
Bev's 180 Book Challenge
The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
4 stars
What a lovely story. A tale of two elderly Britons, Axl and Beatrice (or Princess as he calls her) man and wife, who have been devoted to each other all their their married lives...at least as far as they can remember. The breath of the dragon, Querig, has raised a mist that causes everyone to forget their past and so they are unsure. They believe they remember that their son lives in another small town some ways from them and decide to go to visit. Despite their advanced years they embark on a journey where a number of strangers will join them for parts of their trip; a Saxon warrior who intends to slay Querig, a youth who bears a strange wound and a knight who was a friend of King Arthur. As they roam the countryside growing ever closer to rejoining their son, they also grow ever closer to understanding each other and the years of love that they have shared. An epic adventure that retains a misty, magical atmosphere throughout.
All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
4 stars
I have surprised myself 3 or 4 times this year by grudgingly reading a "war" novel and then finding that I really liked it. All Quiet on the Western Front is definitely one of these. The book tells the story of a group of young German men who were all classmates and joined, with naive enthusiasm, the German Army during World War I. The viewpoint is all from one of these young men, Paul Baumer. Although, like any war, the book is overwhelmingly sad and horrifying, there is still a constant vivid ribbon of dedication and brotherhood among these boys that makes you feel like you know them and that affects the reader deeply. A quick read with a powerful message because the nationality of the combatants and the time frame of the battle can be forgotten...these young men who fight for us and each other could be anyone's son, father or husband.
Dance of the Winnebagos by Ann Charles
2 stars
This was a freebie that I thought might be a quick, fun read. It would have been a fairly quick read if I could have gotten into it and really enjoyed it. Claire, our protagonist, is checking up on her grandfather and his cronies who are staying in an RV camp. She ends up with a job helping Ruby (the RV camps owner and operator) with general handy work. Ruby is in danger of losing the camp grounds and is trying to decide whether or not she is going to sell the mines that she owns to pay off her other debts. To help out, Ruby's nephew, Mac, has also come to help with the decision regarding the sale of the mines. He and Claire are immediately an irritant and sexually drawn to one another. Early on the reader finds out that someone in the town is searching for something in the mines that they are willing to kill for. The story line was ok and it could have been cute if it weren't for the continuous off color comments by Claire's grandfather and his friends, the unending variety of cutesy cartoon characters that Claire had on her t-shirts and the author trying to impress us with the number of song lyrics that she is obviously well acquainted with. Oh and did I mention that Claire and Mac alternated every 5 minutes or so with either being on each other's last nerve or dying to fling themselves into the nearest spot big enough to have sex in? I really thought that some of the background the author came up with detailing what had happened in the past was interesting and the story could have been pretty decent but I couldn't make myself care about any of these characters and only finished the book because it satisfied the last piece of a challenge.
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
5 stars
I loved this book in spite of the fact that it's yet another book about World War II and the horrible things that happened at that time. This is the story of 2 French sisters, Viann and Isabelle. When war breaks out, Isabelle is living with her father in Paris and Viann is suddenly alone with her daughter in the country after her husband is sent off to fight in the French army. Isabelle's father decides to send her to help her older sister cope with whatever happens as the war progresses. None of the 3 have any idea how the war will test them, change them and totally alter their family relationships. I thought this was an amazing story. I was so wrapped up in the lives of these incredibly brave people that I could barely listen quickly enough. I don't want to give anything away regarding the story but I will say that I was in tears by the end of it. Polly Stone was the reader and I think she did an incredible job. I would highly recommend this.
Yarn Over Murder by Maggie Sefton
1 star
We read this for one of my current book discussion groups and it really just didn't even warrant a discussion except maybe why was a "yarn over" never mentioned in the Yarn Over Murder? This is #12 in a series and is the first book of the series that I've read so I don't want to discredit them all but this book just was not what I had hoped for. In my opinion, there were way too many specifically named characters which made it difficult to keep everyone straight. The amount of time that the knitting shop and/or knitting at all was minimal, although I will say that several of the ladies involved raised alpacas, for their wool. The majority of the book centered on a run away wild fire that was threatening the ranches in the community and a murder that occurred during the community's reaction to the fire. Just really not my cup of tea.
Best Boy by Eli Gottlieb
4 stars
I was totally surprised by this book. I have to admit I don't even remember why I picked it up to read but I'm so glad that I did. This audio was performed by Bronson Pinchot who did an amazing job. I believe this is the second audio of his that I've listened to and he's right up there with my "favorites". Todd Aaron is a fifty something resident of Payton Living Center. He was sent to Payton when he was eleven and has been there ever since. He knows the routines, he takes his medicine, he does his jobs...he just wants to always be "the best boy" that his mother loved. Todd has one wish, he wants to go home but the one time he spent time with his brother and his wife and children, things did not go well and so his brother keeps putting him off. When a new worker is hired at Payton, Todd has an immediate dislike for him. He tries to tell his brother that he needs to come home to get away from this man who has a look like his father used to before hitting him. Finally, Todd just decides to take off on his own and hike home which is quite a distance. I loved that this entire story is told from Todd's viewpoint. He is labeled "high functioning" and so the story line is easy to follow but his naivety shows through in many ways that are very touching. A great listen.
Purgatory Ridge by William Kent Krueger
4 stars
I have been aware of the Cork O'Connor series for years since Mr. Krueger comes to Magna Cum Murder every year and I own several of the books, yet I have never read one. I did read his stand alone novel and enjoyed it very much. But, thanks to my mystery book club discussion group, I have now remedied that and am so happy that I did. This was a great mystery, it kept my reading to all hours and I was immensely surprised at the resolution. There were parts of the book that I had figured out and it was playing out pretty much like I thought until he slid a zinger in there. My only problem is that this is book number 3 and I hadn't read the first two of the series. I don't like to read out of order but I didn't feel totally lost...so maybe it's OK. I'll get the first 2 read to catch up. I love the setting for this in the boundary waters of northern Minnesota. The reader is given wonderful background information regarding the Anishinaabe Indians (Cork has Anishinaabe heritage) and their traditions. This particular mystery starts our with an explosion at a lumber mill where a night watchman is killed. Someone calling themselves the Eco-Warrior claims they are responsible. But there is more than just ecological resentment festering in this small town and soon it will be difficult to sort out who is out to get what. A great page turner.
We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson
3 stars
Henry Denton is a high school student who has an amazingly convoluted life. He's gay and is regularly abducted by aliens, his father left the family years ago, his grandmother is suffering from dementia, his brother has just dropped out of college and is soon going to be a father and his boyfriend hung himself. With all of this going on his biggest problem is trying to decide whether he's going to save the world or not. He's not sure it's worthwhile for anyone to continue living in such a screwed up environment. Then he meets a new guy at school, one who has his own demons to deal with, and he starts to repair his relationship with his best friend. Maybe if he can just learn to stand up for himself, maybe he can actually punch that button when the time comes.
The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly
4 stars
It took me awhile to get into this audio. The reader did a great job but I just wasn't being drawn into the story at first. Believe me, that changed as I was practically in tears by the end of the performance. David is a 12 year old boy who has recently lost his mother. As you would expect, he is having a difficult time adjusting to this huge change and it doesn't help when his father starts dating again, then marries Rose and tells David he's going to have a new sibling. Rose wants to be accepted and does her best to include David. They have all moved into her home and she gives him the room at the top of the house where all the books are, since she knows David loves to read. David discovers that a 14 year old boy who was related to Rose and his 7 year old cousin disappeared years ago and the books belonged to him. As time passes, he just cannot feel close to either Rose or his new brother Georgie. Through a strange set of circumstances, David finds his way into another world where werewolves and an odd little crooked man are equally dangerous to him. A woodsman helps him along but telling him that the king of the country has a Book of Lost Things and should be able to help David find his way home. After many exhaustive and dangerous adventures getting to the castle, David discovers that the most difficult battle yet is left to fight before he can possibly be reunited with his family. I had a hard time realizing that this book was considered YA because it seemed so bloody and horror filled but then I thought about the Brothers Grimm and thought; well they are a lot alike. Anyway, I really did like the ending and I would recommend this book to teens and any adult who still enjoys reading YA fiction.
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
3 stars
I have wanted to read this for so long and now I wonder why. It's not that I didn't like it at all, it just wasn't what I thought it was going to be and struggling with all those Russian names just wore me out. There were bits and pieces that I really enjoyed and then I'd get bogged down in other parts. Overall, I found it interesting to get glimpses into the lives of these characters, even though some--especially Anna--seemed tormented by issues that I had a difficult time understanding. I'm glad to have this huge book out of the way and ready to start on my next quarterly read.
Enduring Love by Ian McEwan
4 stars
This was a very interesting book. It started out so unexpectedly, with a balloon accident during which a man dies. This horrific accident impacts so many lives in such unexpected ways. Joe and his wife are soon caught up in an unexpected "stalker " situation that each looks at differently and so start growing apart from one another. Joe continues to do the right thing (i.e. try to get the police involved) until a startling confrontation pushes him past his limits. This was very different from Atonement but it certainly held my attention.
The Last September by Elizabeth Bowen
3 stars
I had a difficult time getting through this book. It was just so sad. It's 1920 and Richard Naylor, his wife and family are at their country home in County Cork, Ireland. They are attempting to live a normal life full of socialization mostly by totally ignoring and/or disbelieving what is going on around them. There are tennis parties and visiting with friends and family but all along, Britain's rule in southern Ireland is coming to an end and there are troops marching through the area and homes are occasionally invaded. The young people are still falling in love, worrying about fashion and trying to stretch their wings in the midst of all the political upheaval and impending change of life. Overall, the story was just upsetting to me because I really felt like there was never a satisfactory outcome. None of the characters ever seemed to come to a final realization that what was coming was inevitable.
Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon by Donna Andrews
3 stars
This is the 4th book in the Meg Langslow series and sad to say, this one was a disappointment to me. I really enjoyed the first 3 and I will still go on to the next one and hope that it is better but this was really lacking. In this book, Meg has had an injury and so she cannot do any metal work. She opts to help her brother out by working at his computer gaming company. There's a murder, of course, and solving it involves dealing with the psychiatrists' who share part of their office space, internet porn and a couple of unusual pets. All in all, OK but you could certainly skip it in this series. This was read by Bernadette Dunne who did a great job.
Artful by Peter David
3 stars
When I started this, I was not impressed and was really having a difficult time even figuring out what was going on but it got a little better, especially if you're into vampires. Basically, the Artful Dodger is back for more adventures after he didn't get sent to Australia for his "criminal" exploits. Only now, London is full of vampires and the Artful, along with Bram Van Helsing, must try to save the next queen of England. Along the way we run into characters from Mr. Dickens' Oliver Twist like Fagin, Charley Bates and Oliver himself. All in all, the further I read, the more I liked it but it is certainly a far stretch from what Charles Dickens intended.
A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny
4 stars
I was so excited to read the newest Inspector Gamache book and I was only a little disappointed. The book was read by Robert Bathurst, who always does a remarkable job with this series. The only reason I was disappointed is that it's been a year since I've read about the inspector and the town of Three Pines and although much of the book takes place in town, there is not nearly enough about the continuing characters as I hoped for. The plot revolves around the death of an instructor at the Sûreté du Québec, an academy for new up and coming cadets. Along with the body is a very unusual map that has a strange connection to Three Pines. Among the suspects is a one of the newest cadets, Amelia Choquet, who had been turned down for a spot in the academy and then admitted when Gamache reversed that decision. As usual, there several story lines that eventually merge beautifully into a complex, mesmerizing story.
Parallel by Lauren Miller
4 stars
Another great tale by Lauren Miller. Abby Barnes has planned what she wants to do with her life. She wants to be a journalist and she knows she wants to go to Northwestern. But one morning, there's a change in class choices and she has to pick something out of her comfort range. Her choice to take a drama class shows her that she has talents she never realized and the next thing she knows, she's been picked to star in a movie. The night before her birthday, she is on a date with her co-star and the next morning she wakes up at Yale with a roommate she's never seen. It turns out there's been a cosmic collision of parallel universes (called an earthquake by people who lived through it) and now she's living a new life determined by her parallel self in her senior year of high school. Every new decision then changes Abby's life now. It's a wild ride and I really enjoyed it. I thought the ending was very satisfying and it was not what I expected.
Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty
3 stars
I've had this on my "to be read" list for quite some time--probably ever since it was published last year. When I discovered that it was the One Book One Community for Bowling Green, Kentucky and their Southern Kentucky Book Fest, it gave me another push to get it read. This is written for 8 to 12 year olds but I found it interesting enough to enjoy the read. Serafina is a young girl who lives in the basement of the Biltmore estate along with her father who maintains the house and keeps things running. The Biltmores do not realize that the two live on the premises...in fact, they don't even know of Serafina's existence. Serafina has gotten the idea that her father is ashamed of her since she is somewhat different...her yellowish eyes can see in the dark but this is far from the truth. Suddenly, a dark and evil presence--a man in a midnight black cloak--starts stealing children from the estate and Serafina knows that she must track down this man and save the children if she can. Just a fun read with a mystery driving the action.
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
3 stars
Beautifully written but hauntingly sad. A young black girl whose belief is that if she just had blue eyes she would be beautiful and happy! Unfortunately, she is from a low income family and her life has been an uphill climb from the beginning. Ultimately, she is deceived by one of the very people that should always protect her. Heartbreaking.
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
5 stars
I love all of the Flavia De Luce books!! ADDENDUM: I decided that I wanted to restart this series and read all of them and so had the pleasure of listening to this for the second time. I really enjoy Miss Flavia and her incredible knowledge of anything "science". This first in a series book brings together a dying man whispering the word "valet", a jacksnipe with a stamp stuck on his beak and the tale of an incredible magician. Between her continuing spats with her 2 sisters and her abilities to solve the most convoluted of crimes, the book definitely holds your attention. I really am looking forward to relistening to the second in the series. Wonderfully read by Jayne Entwistle.
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
3 stars
So, even though I've known the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde for years and years, the book was still a surprise to me. I think that part of this was due to having seen the stage play twice and I thought there was actually a "love" element to the book, which would have made the overall impact even more tragic. Overall the basic story was much the way I thought it went but since it's such a short book the impact was stronger than I expected. It really came down to the fact that this poor man just came to a point where he had no choice in which personality took control of his life. I enjoyed the read.
Character, Driven by David Lubar
4 stars
A cleverly written book. I particularly enjoyed the societal references and the word play. I also really liked the way the main character occasionally addressed the reader, as in an aside. Our narrator is Cliff, a young high schooler, whose growth is remarkable, especially considering the truth of his situation--which is revealed very near the end of the book. The book is aptly named and I'm glad I read it.
The Walking Dead, Vol. 5 The Best Defense by Robert Kirkman
4 stars
Continuing to enjoy reading these graphic novels, even though I find more and more differences from the TV series. I have a long way to catch up!!
The Walking Dead, Vol. 6: This Sorrowful Life by Robert Kirkman
4 stars
I'm almost through the contents of the first compendium and really enjoying the read. You would think that reading the graphic novel would be easier than watching the TV show--but even though the TV show is violent (and sometimes disgusting), some of the violence in the graphic novel is even more intense.
Those Girls by Chevy Stevens
2 stars
Oh boy--I listened to this based on a recommendation from Library Reads...really Library Reads? I guess if people enjoy reading about young girls being held hostage, raped and beaten; then by all means they should give this book a shot. Three sisters escape from an abusive father (so we've already read about violence regarding that) and while on the run, they are kidnapped and abused by some guys that offer to help with some vehicle maintenance. When they finally escape that situation, they attempt to build a new life for themselves. Unfortunately, visions of revenge eventually end up bringing them right back into the same kind of dangerous situation. The section of the book dealing with the sisters getting on with their lives is OK but the rest was just entirely too much violence for me to enjoy reading the book.
The Walking Dead, Vol. 7: The Calm Before by Robert Kirkman
4 stars
Moving right along through these graphic novels. I just have one more single volume and then Compendiums 2 and 3. Continuing to enjoy the ride although these have so many distinctions from the TV show.
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
5 stars
This was a reread for me but I was thrilled to be reading it again--it was almost like reading it for the first time. Such a Gothic romance but such a satisfying tale. A young girl is "learning" to be a companion for a wealthy, older woman and in the process meets a wealthy widower who finds her charming. They fall in love, marry and return to his home at Manderley where she is immediately intimidated by the memory of Max's first wife, Rebecca who was beautiful, in charge and loved by seemingly everyone. All is not as it seems though and as the mystery surrounding Rebecca's drowning unfolds, secrets are revealed that will surprise everyone.
The Other Woman by Hank Phillippi Ryan
5 stars
What a great read. I wasn't sure when I started this, it kind of jumps around and is a little hard to follow but once things started falling into place, I loved it. I've actually met Ms. Ryan at Magna Cum Murder a few years ago and she was lovely! I had every intention of trying one her books then but as usual, just never got around to it. So, I was glad when our book club leader decided to give her book a shot. This book is the first in the Jane Ryland series. Jane was a television reporter until she refused to reveal a source. She lost her job and is now working for a newspaper and dealing with fluff work. When 2 women are found dead within hours, both bodies near bridges within the city, the media is already attempting to build a case against the "bridge killer". But Jane and her police friend, Detective Jake Brogan, are hesitant to believe this. As the bodies and the clues build up, it begins to appear that the current senate race may also have some bearing on the case. The story has enough twists and turns to satisfy just about any mystery readers' cravings. One of the things I really loved about Jane's character is that although she's a go-getter, dedicated to getting her story and has great moral character...she's a little bit of a loose cannon. Many times I was thinking....really??? I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
The Island of Doctor Moreau by H. G. Wells
3 stars
I've never seen this movie but have heard about it and still this wasn't exactly what I thought it was going to be. Basically a man is shipwrecked on an island where he finds a number of "monstrosities" created by a Dr. Moreau. Various animals have been combined and resculpted to resemble humans and then taught to live by certain "laws". As you might expect, it is difficult to maintain this transition and the beasts began returning to their more animalistic behaviors. It was OK and I'm sure that in it's time it caused quite the stir. I did find it rather atmospheric, the forested island with the channeled landscape. I kept imagining our narrator traversing the dark landscape, in the fog, hearing the cries of the mutilated beasts. Kind of creepy.
Shipwreck by Maureen Jennings
3 stars
This short story is part of the Good Reads series funded in part by the Government of Canada's Office of Literacy and Essential Skills. The intent is for various authors to write stories with limited vocabulary in order to provide interesting literature for those who are just starting their reading adventures. I just saw Maureen at Magna Cum Murder this last weekend and she screened the last episode of Season 9 of The Murdoch Mysteries for the group and this is based on that episode. I loved the screening and this book, although the main time frame was more current with a flashback being shared as a type of "bedtime" telling, followed one of the main story lines very closely. It is basically the tale of why William Murdoch eventually became a detective. I'm glad I read it.
The Walking Dead, Vol. 8 Made to Suffer by Robert Kirkman
4 stars
Covers the showdown with the Governor at the prison. I continue to be fascinated by the differences between the graphic novels and the TV show. So, although Judith is still sneaking by on TV, she's shot in the fight at the prison at the same time as her mother Lori.
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
4 stars
I feel like I'm one of the last people in the world to have read this book. I was a little leary originally because I had read "Sharp Objects" by Ms. Flynn and it was so dark that I wasn't sure I wanted to go there again. But, this book--although certainly twisted--was not nearly as distressing. A young woman disappears on her anniversary. Her husband is confounded and unable to understand what could have possibly happened. But as the police become involved and start tracking down the clues, it suddenly becomes almost obvious that the husband must have done it and everyone believes that she is dead. I liked the way the book was written, a chapter by the husband and then one by the wife. The changes that the reader goes through--at least I did--as the story unfolds are amazing. I really wish I hadn't seen the movie before reading the book. This audio was read by Julia Whelan and Kirby Heyborne. I thought they both did a great job of representing their parts. If you are hooked on psychological thrillers, I would say this book would be a great one for you.
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
4 stars
While at the Southern Festival of Books, I attended a presentation by Ms. Gyasi. She read a partial chapter from this book. I enjoyed the reading so much, she has a wonderful voice, that I immediately placed the book on hold from my library. I thought the story was amazing. Basically it follows the families of 2 young African girls, half sisters, although neither of the girls knows this. One is captured and sent to America and the other marries one of the white British officers in the regiment stationed near her people. One is living in comfort married to a slave trader while her half sister is being held beneath the castle until they can load her onto the next departing slave ship. The reader then learns how the blood lines carry on through the next 300 years, how differently the lives of each line end up. Woven throughout are the political and racial attitudes that affect every aspect of the following generations. I found this to be a fascinating panorama of information regarding the slave trade and a satisfying read--I really enjoyed the way the book ended.
Knit the SeasonKnit the Season by Kate Jacobs
2 stars
Oh goodness, this was just a little too sugary sweet for me. I have read the first book in this series and this continues the saga of the lovely little knitting shop in downtown New York City. The owner dies of cancer in the first book but the workers and shoppers and her daughter and ex-husband are all still around and still knitting and cooking and carrying on with their lives. Dakota, the young daughter, is trying to decide what to do with the rest of her life and taking a job to further her cooking career right during the holidays may put a huge dent in the family's need to celebrate their last big Christmas in Scotland. Of course, things work out and the holiday is wonderful and includes many heartwarming memories revolving around friends and family. The reader is also treated to several romantic connections that are being tied up in this 3rd book. There are some cute and funny conversations that made me chuckle and there were some teary moments as well but not enough to make me feel like I really cared about these characters.
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
5 stars
I loved this book. It was recommended to me by a friend and I was really expecting it be a story about a haunting or at least something paranormal, since he knows I'm partial to that type of book. I guess in all fairness, it is about something paranormal but it's so much more than that. Ever since Conor's mom started her cancer treatments, he's had horrible nightmares almost every night. When the gigantic twisted monster starts showing up at night while he's still awake, he just assumes he should be terrified. But this monster wants to tell him stories and then make him face up to the deep seated feelings he has about his mother and her illness--something that could be scarier than any nightmare.
The Amazing Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman
4 stars
I love the Mrs. Pollifax series. She never fails to make me laugh. This unassuming "little old lady" kind of stumbled into working for the CIA in the first book and she did so well that in this second tale, she is asked once again to go on assignment. And once again, in spite of the specific directions they give her, she ends up in the middle of a dangerous situation. She has amazing perceptions regarding the inner workings of those around her and an unfailing ability to keep a level head in spite of whatever is going on around her. Being a little old lady myself, I would love to be her friend and/or assistant--I would never be "on the ball" enough to handle things as well as she does. This is just starting out as a great series, I'm really looking forward to reading the next one.
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
5 stars
Here's another book that I feel like I'm the last one in the world to have read. I'm glad I finally got around to it although it wasn't anything like I imagined it would be. This was really a funny read. Don Tillman is, putting it mildly, set in his ways. Although he is successful in his academic life, he is a professor of genetics, his social life is a little lacking--he has never had a second date. After some prodding by a friend he sets out to conduct a "wife project" but he has some pretty high standards. When he meets Rosie, he knows right off she's not the one because she falls short in a number of areas. But Rosie is on her own quest, to discover her real father. Don decides to help her and in the process, he discovers that maybe he can learn to relax a few of his standards in order to change his life forever. Really a great read/listen. This audio was read by Dan O'Grady who did a great job. I hope the second book lives up to this one.
My Brother's Secret by Dan Smith
4 stars
This was an interesting historical fiction written for middle grade/young adult readers. It focuses on the Edelweiss Pirates, who I have never heard of but were active during World War II. Karl Friedman is 12 and lives with his older brother Stefan and his mother. His father has gone off to fight for the Fuhrer. Karl spends his days training to join the Hitler Youth, he can hardly wait to be able to fight for his country. Stefan is totally the opposite but he loves his younger brother and is very protective towards him. When the family is notified that their father has been killed in action, they all go to live with their grandparents and cracks start developing in Karl's beliefs about the Fuhrer and the war. He starts seeing signs painted on walls in his new surroundings that seem to imply the Hitler is really doing much more harm than good and a small white flower is often drawn along with these statements. His brother also is being more secretive than ever. Trying to understand all the implications of his new knowledge leads Karl and his new friend into more and more dangerous situations. I enjoyed reading about a part of history that I knew nothing about and I think it's presented in an understandable way for the targeted age group.
The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley
5 stars
This is another series that I really enjoy!! This is the second time I've listened to this and enjoyed it just as much this second time around. Flavia de Luce, an 11 year old chemistry genius, likes nothing better than jumping feet first into whatever murder happens to occur in her neighborhood. This case involves a young boy who died by hanging and the Gibbet Wood woman, who's not quite all there, who seems to know what happened. I love the way Flavia approaches everything, she always makes me laugh with her incredible sense of humor. Jayne Entwistle, who performs these audio books is an incredible reader and just brings Flavia to life!
A Carrion Death by Michael Stanley
4 stars
The Detective Kubu series is written by Michael Sears and Stanley Trollip. We met the authors last year at Magna Cum Murder and our Mystery Book Discussion leader decided we should try their first book. We had 7 people at group yesterday and everyone really enjoyed the read, two of our members had already started the next one in the series. We were actually able to skype with Stanley who was in South Africa and it was fascinating to hear about their process and their story ideas. I would describe the books as the 1st Ladies Detective Agency (by Alexander McCall Smith) on steroids. You get the same wonderful feel for Botswana and the surrounding countryside--just way less cozy. I've decided that if Precious Ramotswe wasn't already married, she and Kubu would be a great match! There is a lot of murder going on in this book, in fact, the opening scene is a body, mostly devoured by hyenas, being found. The background premise is based on the blood diamond situation in South Africa. Mr. Trollip indicated that each book in the series is based on an actual news worthy story that has occurred in South Africa.
The Walking Dead, Compendium 2 by Robert Kirkman
4 stars
Just one more compendium to go...yeah!!! Of course, they are still doing more episodes so we'll probably end up Compendium 4. This second collection takes us through the first contact with Jesus and the other residents of the Hilltop. I'm still seeing considerable differences between the graphic novel and the television series but enjoy both.
In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware
3 stars
I was a little back and forth on liking this one. I enjoyed the reader, Imogen Church, and thought her voice provided the right tone for the story. It was the story that bothered me. First, the setting. The characters all gather at a glass house out in the middle of nowhere. There is barely more than a footpath to get to the house. I had a difficult time picturing a house like this being built so far from civilization--although if you're living in a glass house you probably don't want a lot of neighbors. The reason for getting everyone together is that Claire is getting married and her best friend has organized a hen party for her. A number of people have arrived, among them Leonora (she used to go by Lee but now prefers to be called Nora) who hasn't seen Claire for years. When Nora finally gets a chance to talk to Claire, she discovers that the reason she was invited was because Claire's intended is James who used to date Nora (when she was called Lee but James always called her Leo) but they were young and had a falling out and haven't been in contact for years. Then the group did some target shooting, then they played with an ouija board, then there were some mysterious footprints outside the house and then someone dies. After all of this sporadic activity is out of the way, the rest of the book starts pulling all the pieces together. At this point, I started enjoying it more. Not my favorite read by a long shot, but I ended up liking it OK.
At Wit's End by Erma Bombeck
2 stars
This took me forever because I just had such a difficult time getting into it. I think the major disconnect was based on the dated material in the book. Back in the day I really thought Erma Bombeck was funny. Unfortunately, I just waited way too long to finally get around to reading this!! There were some redeeming parts in the book, a few places where I actually did get a little laugh but strangely enough...Ms. Bombeck had a few portions of the book where she actually was actually very serious, talking about how precious her children were and how hard she tried to raise them properly so that they would turn out to be productive citizens. This portion of the book really resonated with me and almost brought me to tears. I have several more of her books in my "older than dirt" stacks. I may read another one but it will be a bit.
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
4 stars
I had a difficult time understanding this book as I was reading it but when I was finished and able to think about the story and put it all in order I decided that I really enjoyed it. The book was beautifully written. The words just conveyed such powerful visions even though there were a few scenes that I wished I couldn't imagine. I've always imagined that Indian families are rather loud and boisterous and close to one another and this book just re-enforced that feeling. The story is told in a rather layered fashion but not everything overlaps in a linear way. We learn about the twins, Estha and Rahel, and their cousin Sophie who comes to visit. The twin's mother falls in love with an "untouchable" and the reader learns about the attitudes and ramifications of this type of a relationship. There is also a strong political story line that runs throughout, my least favorite. But, as I said, once I had the entire story, it finally all came together for me. I am anxious to attend my book discussion group for this book. I always come away with an even better understanding when I listen to everyone else's comments.
Candy Corn Murder by Leslie Meier
3 stars
Back in the day when I started this series, they were some of my favorites. I'm not sure if my feelings about this particular offering have been affected by the increased exposure I've had to other writings or if this tale was just not as good. It was cute and there were some funny parts, as usual, but I had a difficult time keeping my concentration on the story. The murder in this book strikes close to home since Lucy's husband, Bill, is the prime suspect. The story around all this is interwoven with Lucy and her husband enjoying a visit from Patrick, their young grandson and getting ready for the town's big Halloween celebration. I loved the idea of underwater pumpkin carving, which I've never heard of, being one of the events. This audio was read by Lisa Larson who did a great job.
Fall, A Collection of Short Stories by Almond Press
3 stars
This was an interesting short story collection which I just happened to have on my Kindle and filled the last spot in a challenge. The stories were all winners of the Almond Press Short Story Contest held in 2012 and each author selected had written a story about a "fall". Obviously there were many different interpretations of the subject--the actual season of fall, a physical fall, falling in love, etc. I enjoyed all of the stories although some were a little more difficult for me to interpret. My favorite was the title story at the very end of the book written by Elizabeth Richards. With a theme of reincarnation, we follow a soul from his being as a slug to his final form.
Embers by Sandor Marai
4 stars
What an interesting read. Two men who grew up as friends, as close as brothers, but haven't seen each other for 41 years. Now they will spend a final night together in a castle in the Carpathian Mountains, hashing out what really happened all those years ago. A third party, someone important to both of them, is no longer able to participate or add anything to the discussion. A multilayered story of "love, friendship, and fidelity, about betrayal, pride, and true nobility".
Envy by Sandra Brown
3 stars
This was a pretty good listen. I thought that Victor Slezak did a great job with the reading on the audio. A publisher, Maris Reed, is anonymously presented with a very small portion of a manuscript. She is intrigued and pursues trying to determine who submitted it. She discovers the source, attempts calling and then travels to meet the author to convince him to complete a novel. At first he is bordering on rude, claiming that he should have never sent the beginning of the story in but eventually he concedes and begins working on the rest of the novel. In the meantime, back home, Maris' husband is attempting to take over their publishing company, leaving Maris and her dad completely out of the loop. As the book continues the reader discovers just how close life and fiction can be. Probably the only reason I gave this book a 3 rather than a 4 was because of the sex. The flow of the story would have been just as good, or for me better, without the descriptive sexual scenes.
Heartless by Marissa Meyer
4 stars
I so looked forward to reading this and I so wanted to love it...I just couldn't. Now, don't get me wrong...I really enjoyed reading this back story which explains the origins of the Queen of Hearts. I love retold fairy tales and I think Marissa Meyer is the best at retelling them. She's a much more readable Gregory Maguire (whom she acknowledges at the end of the book). I love her vivid imagery, fully drawn characters, and wonderful details. What bothered me about the book is that it wasn't in the Lunar Chronicles world. I know, I need to just get over it and realize that the Chronicles are done..but I'm just not ready...especially with the graphic novel coming out the first of the new year which will continue Iko's story, at least. But if you loved Lunar Chronicles, you will enjoy (and maybe even love) Heartless (if you're more mature than I am). It's a great read but with a sadder ending than I had hoped for but should have expected.
Truevine by Beth Macy
4 stars
This was an amazing story that starts out in 1899 with the "kidnapping" of 2 albino children, George and Willie Muse, from the tobacco field where they were squishing the bugs off the leaves of the plants. They were offered candy and went with "the very bad man" and later when they cried for their mother, they were told she was dead. So begins their journey as side show "freaks" with a variety of circuses. It was years later that their mother finally tracked them down and brought them home. The young men soon decided to return to the circus life and their family was finally allotted payment for their services, although over the years their mother would have to continually fight over and over again to maintain that contract. Woven throughout this story is much information regarding the circus side show participants (i.e. the Doll family, the Texan Giant and the acts normally presented) and the day to day attitudes and actions of people in the Jim Crow South--both white and black. This is really fascinating reading, particularly if you are at all interested in the circus and it's history. There are about 30 pages of black and white photos included.
Shelfari 50 Book Challenge
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Six Scary Stories edited by Stephen King
4 stars
This was a quick, fun read. My husband and I spent a lot of time on the bike this weekend and I easily read these 6 short stories. All 6 were chosen by Stephen King out of many that were submitted. According to Mr. King he was pleasantly surprised that he was presented with a number of really good manuscripts that were fun to read and kept his interest. My favorite by far was Wild Swimming by Elodie Harper (I think Mr. King may have considered that one his favorite as well) but all 6 caught my interest and made me feel just a little creeped out.