What are You Reading / Reviews - February 2016

[Terris]

You know, I don't think so. I looked but didn't see it. But I had only read "Our Town" by Wilder & wanted to read another one of his & it's only 150 pgs! I didn't like the writing style as mych as I wanted to, so it was just OK for me.

[Beverly]

Terris wrote: "You know, I don't think so. I looked but didn't see it. But I had only read "Our Town" by Wilder & wanted to read another one of his & it's only 150 pgs! I didn't like the writing style as mych as ..."

Doesn't really matter, I think i'd like to give it a try anyway. I've never read anything by him--maybe I can find the audio! :)

[Terris]

Yes, you should give it a try :)

[Linda C]

The Blue Goose Is Dead (An Allison Aldridge mystery, #1) - Helen Goodman (4 stars) 2/28/16

When her fellow teacher, Catherine, invites her along on her visit to the family lodge on Lake Lucia, NC, Allison Aldridge accepts looking forward to some relaxing and swimming. Unfortunately she finds herself observing a family feud. Four cousins, heirs to Aunt Bess, owner of the lodge, have been summoned to hear of her plans for the lodge. Each assumes they will inherit one quarter, but Aunt Bess surprises them all with plans that oppose what each has planned. When Aunt Bess is murdered the night before she puts her plans in action the list of suspects is not very long. Allison finds herself at first privy to much of the investigation and assists Detective Fred Sawyer with her intuitive observations, but then becomes a target herself.

I really liked this low key mystery. The heroine is a mid-forties, short, average looking, athletic, middle school gym teacher, divorced with 2 children in college. Detective is early fifties, slightly paunchy, short, average looking long-time bachelor considering retirement. They have a kindred interest in solving the case. I look forward to the next volume to see how this long distance connection might continue. Well done. First of a series.

[Linda C]

Valley Of Death (An Allison Aldridge mystery, #2) - Helen Goodman (4 stars) 2/29/16

First Allison Aldridge's classroom and then her home are broken into, but nothing seems to be missing. Then her neighbor disappears leaving her heart medication behind, not a likely happening. The detective who comes is a former student who doesn't object to Allison helping in the investigation. Her long distance boyfriend, Fred, is also a detective and throws in his thoughts as well. When her neighbor's husband dies in a work accident and Allison is attacked in her home things pick up steam. More people hit the suspect list and counterfeiting is added to the equation.

This is not a difficult puzzle to solve but an enjoyable mystery. I like the characters and look forward to the third volume.

[SouthWestZippy]

5 stars
Not a easy book to read because of the intense feelings it summons up or to review because of all the reviews already written.
Chester Nez shares some his life stories while living on the Navajo reservation and some of the horror he witness while in boarding school. The stories about how the Code Talkers started and their work were fascinating. Chester Nez also shares a little about his life after the war. The book reads more like a memoir than it does a history book which I find more engaging, is was like peeking into someones diary. Highly recommend.

[Book Concierge]

Anna and the French Kiss – Stephanie Perkins
3***

From the book jacket: Anna was looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and ac rush on the verge of becoming more. So she’s less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris – until she meets Etienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Etienne has it all ... including a serious girlfriend. But in the city of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with the long-awaited French kiss?

My reactions
This was a pretty entertaining high-school romance, set in Paris. I’m way past the teen angst stage, but I was rather charmed by Anna and this teen drama. I did get pretty tired of Anna’s constantly putting herself down. I know that is a stage most young women go through (been there, done that), but I don’t like reading it so much. One or two references would have been enough. It was a fast read with characters right out of central casting, but it held my attention. I can certainly see the appeal for the YA crowd at which it is aimed.

[Terris]

Book Concierge wrote: "

Anna and the French Kiss
– Stephanie Perkins
3***

From the book jacket: Anna was looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a gre..."

Nice review. I've seen this one around & put it on my list but wasn't sure if I really wanted to read it. But it looks like there is sufficient entertainment value to give it a try, and I like to keep up with some of the YA novels that are out. Thanks!

[Book Concierge]

Just Shy of Harmony – Philip Gulley
3***

From the book jacket: Master storyteller Philip Gulley returns to the winsome ways of Harmony, Indiana, … [and] follows the happenings of an eventful year spanning two Easters, in which Quaker pastor Sam Gardner and the members of his flock discover surprising answers to life’s challenging mysteries.

My reactions
This is book 2 in the Harmony Series, and I just love them. They are gentle stories with a good sprinkling of humor, and a few life lessons learned, but without being preachy. I have to admit that Dale Hinshaw does tax my patience … but his schemes for bringing THE WORD to heathens are ever entertaining.

[Book Concierge]

Dream When You’re Feeling Blue – Elizabeth Berg
Book on CD read by the author.
2.5 **

From the book jacket: Berg takes us to Chicago at the time of World War II in this story about three sisters, their lively Irish family, and the men they love. As the novel opens, Kitty and Louise Heaney say good-bye to their boyfriends Julian and Michael, who are going to fight overseas. On the domestic front … the Heaney sisters sit at their kitchen table every evening to write letters – Louise to her fiancé, Kitty to the man she wishes fervently would propose, and [youngest sister] Tish to an ever changing group of men she meets at USO dances. In the letters the sisters send and receive are intimate glimpses of life both on the battlefront and at home. … The lifelong consequences of the choices the sisters make are at the heart of this suprb novel about the power of love and the enduring strength of family.

My reactions
It started out okay, got very interesting in the middle and then completely lost credulity in the last two chapters. Lost a whole star there.

I have to say that what I most enjoyed about this novel was the look at everyday life on the domestic front during this very trying time in history. I especially liked the way Berg painted Kitty’s own awakening to her true ambitions and goals in life, and how she talked about the way that the roles of women in America were forever being changed by the requirements of war. I also really enjoyed the strong family dynamics in the Heaney family – mother Margaret, father Frank, and younger brothers all added layers of nuance to the central story of the three Heaney sisters.

Berg narrated the audio version herself. She does a credible job, but she should really let a professional voice artist read her books.

[Monica]

Leah wrote: "

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doeer
530 pages

★★★★
This is one of those books that I don't know how to really review it. It has rave rev..."

I just got a copy of this book. Can't wait to read it ...

[Terris]

Book Concierge wrote: "

Just Shy of Harmony
– Philip Gulley
3***

From the book jacket: Master storyteller Philip Gulley returns to the winsome ways of Harmony, Indiana, … [and..."

I know, I love this series, especially when I need something light and fun! I can't remember if I told you that I met Philip Gulley recently, and he was just as entertaining and humorous in person as he writes in his books. A lot of the situations and characters in his books come from his real life, and I asked him if the wife in the book is anything like his wife and he said "She's a dead ringer!" It was so funny!

[Terris]

Monica wrote: "Leah wrote: "

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doeer
530 pages

★★★★
This is one of those books that I don't know how to really review it. It ..."

Let me know what you think. I just finished it about a half hour ago, and I thought it was just OK. I think I must have set my sights too high after hearing all the hype. I've read several books that are very similar.

[Book Concierge]

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