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2016 Reads and Reviews(Part 1) ~ Anything goes
If Books Could Kill by Kate Carlisle4*
So far in the series this is the best one yet. My goodness Brooklyn certainly is a magnet for bodies, but this time Derek is on the spot. Someone seems to want to frame Brooklyn for the murders, and if that doesn't work trying to kill her seems to be the next best thing. She is in Edinburgh Scotland for a Book Fair and was really excited since she love Edinburgh and of course books. Couldn't be better she thinks. BUT. Her old friend and lover Kyle McVee after seeing her and telling her about a book he found winds up dead, and the murder weapon is one of her tools. Must say the back and forth dialogue in this book had me laughing out loud. Love these characters, and even Minka Brooklyn's worse enemy is a hoot. It still make me think anyone who would hire her (Minka) must have been on drugs and not too sharp at the time. Love the series
The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend
– Katarina Bivald – 3*** Sara Lindqvist arrives in Broken Wheel IA to visit her pan pal Amy Harris. But Amy has died and the town’s residents invite Sara to stay on in Amy’s house, because that’s what Amy would want. At a loss, Sara decides to open a book shop with Amy’s books, and begins to change how the citizens feel about books, reading themselves and others. A sweet (if simplistic) fairy-tale story with a happy ending.
Full Review HERE
The Boy Kings of Texas
– Domingo Martinez – 2** This is a memoir of growing up in Brownsville Texas, near the border with Mexico, in a poor barrio, with few opportunities and even less hope. There are parts of this memoir that are engaging and funny. But on the whole I felt as disenfranchised from the experiences he relates, as he states he felt. I kept waiting for some insight, and never got it, and I’m left disappointed and dissatisfied. I felt I was reading the rambling notes of a journal his therapist suggested he keep, rather than a cohesive memoir.
Full Review HERE
The Two Family House by Lynda Cohen Coigman, 4****s
This was SO good! It is about two families in 1947 in Brooklyn, NY, that live in the same house, one family upstairs and one family downstairs. The husbands are brothers and are in business together. Both wives become pregnant and are due at the same time. One family already has 4 boys & would like a girl this time, and the other family has 3 girls & would like a boy this time (the husband especially wants a boy & is putting pressure on the wife -- like that's going to do any good!). So on a snowy night in December, when both men are away on a business trip & no traffic is moving, both women go into labor at the same time. Just by luck, there is a midwife nearby, who delivered a baby at a neighbor's house earlier in the day, & because of the weather is unable to go home. So, she is able to come and deliver the two babies: one boy and one girl. And therein, begins the story of what happens to these two families, especially the two women, after this mysterious night. Nothing is said out loud about what happens, but the reader gets a pretty good idea of what is going on. And it is surprising how that night affects the rest of all of their lives.
This is a very well-written book with some excitement & mystery mixed in. I enjoyed it very much and highly recommend it!
Sept 25 – currently readingTEXT –
Help, I Am Being Held Prisoner by Donald E. WestlakeAUDIO in the car –
The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II by Denise KiernanPortable AUDIO –
By the Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder
I feel like a wet noodle, having finished the grim-yet-uplifting The State Boys Rebellion. Gave it 4 stars but I had 3 nights of bad dreams while reading it. It proves you can overcome anything, but honestly, why should anyone have to overcome anything as sick and wrong as this?
Tuesdays With Morrie
– Mitch Albom – 5***** The subtitle is the perfect synopsis: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life’s Greatest Lesson. This little gem of a book is the result of Tuesdays the author spent discussing life, death, family, work, and love with his former professor and mentor, who was dying of ALS. It’s touching and inspiring.
Full Review HERE
Eggsecutive Orders
– Julie Hyzy – 3*** Book number three in the series has Executive Chef Ollie Paras and her staff planning for the annual Easter Egg Roll at the White House. I like this cozy mystery series. Ollie is a strong female lead character – tenacious, hard-working, and intelligent, if given to the occasional emotional outburst. Hyzy includes a variety of potential suspects and enough plot twists to keep the reader guessing right up to the reveal. A fast, enjoyable cozy mystery.
Full Review HERE
Mod
B Is for Beer
Tom Robbins
3/5 stars
This tongue in cheek satire is written like a children's novel but is definitely an adult book. Young Gracie wants to know what the allure of beer is. When she has downed a couple, the beer fairy comes and explains to her how beer is made. Interesting.
The Wright Brothers by David McCullough, 5*****s
Very Good! Very interesting telling of the Wright brothers' invention of the first flying machines. Author also tells of other things happening during that same era -- such a historical time! Highly recommended!
Mod
The Japanese Lover
Isabel Allende
3/5 stars
This is the story of Alma Belasco, a Jewish girl from Poland, sent to live with her aunt and uncle in San Francisco during WWII. While with her relatives, she meets and falls in love with Ichimei Fukado whose family works for her relatives. This is a fast read and very interesting story, however I felt there was almost too many story lines and characters in this book to do justice to all of them.
Julie wrote: "The Japanese Lover
Isabel Allende
3/5 stars
This is the story of Alma Belasco, a Jewish girl from Poland, sent to live with her..."
Thanks for the review. I might try to go ahead and read it sometime but I don't think I'll move it up on the list at this time.
Help, I Am Being Held Prisoner
– Donald E Westlake – 3*** Harry Künt (WITH an umlaut, and pronounced KOONT) finds himself in prison after pulling one practical joke too many. Westlake excelled at writing comic crime capers, where something always goes wrong, but no one is shot or seriously injured. There are plenty of escapades herein and some were laugh-out-loud funny.
Full Review HERE
By the Shores of Silver Lake
– Laura Ingalls Wilder – 4**** Book number five in the Little House Series has the Ingalls family moving to Dakota Territory. Wilder gives the reader a good picture of the joys and sorrows of pioneer life – the harshness of weather, the bounty of a good crop and plenty of game to hunt, the dangers of the wilderness, the joy and comfort of family. These books are just a joy to read.
Full Review HERE
The Girls of Atomic City
– Denise Kiernan – 4**** This is a fascinating micro history of the men and women – many women – who worked to extract the key ingredient that would fuel the bombs the U.S. dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasacki, thereby ending the war. Kiernan did much research and was able to interview a few surviving women to get their personal stories. Using the personal stories of a handful of women made the history personal and engaging.
Full Review HERE
Book Concierge wrote: " The Girls of Atomic City
– Denise Kiernan – 4****
This is a fascinating micro history of the men and women – many women – who worked to extract th..."
Our library book club read this in July, and I was really glad. I thought it was very, very interesting! Glad you enjoyed it also :)
Mod
The Girls of Atomic City
– Denise Kiernan – 4****
This is a fascinating micro history of the men and women – many women – who worked to extract th..."
I read this too and enjoyed it. I think I gave it 4 stars also.
My review here
I am completely absorbed in The Discovery of King Arthur. The author takes a totally new approach, applying historical research methods to -- if not prove that Arthur existed -- then understand why the legends surrounding him have such a hold on us, and finding his approximate place, time and role in in the real history of the British Isles. So far the author is doing a wonderful job of explaining how to read a legend, understand where the fiction is and why it is there, and sift through to find traces of fact.
2* and that's asking alot.I was reading Cruel Beauty a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Now mind you I usually like the retelling's, they are creative and interesting. This one not so much. Couldn't really sympathize with the characters in this book at all. Beauty was full of hate for her family, her circumstances, the 'beast', the castle. There was nothing likeable about either. Seems the beast is a split personality at the moment, so there is one that is cruel, one that is nice. Beauty is falling in love with the nice one but also drawn to the cruel one. But the whole story is kind of a downer. Doesn't matter that the curse is broken, the country is fine, and everybody seems to be happy. I don't care. Would not want to know these people.
Mod
Nutshell
Ian McEwan
5/5 stars
I loved this latest book by McEwen. Told through the viewpoint of a mother's unborn child, the author weaves a tale of betrayal of a husband by his wife and brother. This was so well written it made me think that maybe McEwen remembered his time in the womb.
Hula Done It?
– Maddy Hunter – 1* This is book number four in the Passport to Peril series, starring tour escort Emily Andrew and the group of Iowans she takes on various vacations. The characters are cardboard, the plot is thin, and the dialogue is tortured. Hunter did manage to add a few tidbits of Hawaiian history, but not really enough to give a real sense of the islands. Oh well … it was a fast read, and it satisfied a challenge to read a book set in Hawaii.
Full Review HERE
Julie wrote: " Nutshell
Ian McEwan
5/5 stars
I loved this latest book by McEwen. Told through the viewpoint of a mother's unborn child, the author weav..."
I love McEwan's writing....
by Jim Gaffigan, 4****sThis is a fun look at parenting by a comedian I just love! I watch his show on TV which is about how he and his wife are raising their FIVE children in New York City! It is very good, and while reading the book, I could remember episodes I'd seen on TV. I could also remember how I felt when my son was small, but I only had ONE child to contend with! I really enjoyed this book, and I like that he is a nice, clean comic who kind of seems /acts like a big dumb guy, but is really a good guy who loves his wife and children very much -- which will win me over every time!! ;)
Mod
by Jim Gaffigan, 4****sThis is a fun look at parenting by a comedian I just love! I watch his show on TV which is about how he and his wife are raising their FIVE c..."
I have read a couple of his book. I love his stand up comedy- so funny.
As The Waltz Was Ending
– Emma Macallik Butterworth – 4**** This memoir is written for a young adult audience. It is very interesting to see how the historic events unfold through the eyes of a child, and how seductive the opportunities promised by the Nazis were to the young students they recruited. The book is rated as being for age 12 and older; there are some horrific experiences related here, so it may not be the best book for particularly sensitive youngsters.
Full Review HERE
Life Studies: Stories
– Susan Vreeland – 3*** Vreeland is best known for her historical novels focusing on various artists. This is a collection of short stories that focus on art, but more on the people around the artist, rather than on the artist him/herself. The first half of the book is set in an historical time frame, the second half is contemporary. I really liked some of these stories, and others left me feeling ‘meh.’
Full Review HERE
Mod
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry
Fredrik Backman
4/5 stars
Seven year old Elsa and her grandmother are best friends. Her grandmother weaves wonderful tales of the the Kingdom of Miamas and it helps Elsa who is bullied at school. When something happens to her grandmother, Elsa is to deliver letters to all of her grandmother's friends but first she has to find the letters. Though at times I had a hard time following some of the fairy tale stories, I thought this was a lovely story of the devotion of a grandmother to her granddaughter and how we can't always judge people till we know their whole story. Will be reading more of Backman for sure.
Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut, 2**s
Who knows what this was about -- your guess is as good as mine -- and I just finished reading it! I don't really understand Vonnegut's writing. It's easy to read but I don't usually get the point. I guess I should be in a class where someone explains it all.
In Cat's Cradle, the narrator has decided to write a book about the man who invented the atomic bomb (fictional, but inspired by a real person). Events fit together like a puzzle to lead the narrator to a small island where the inventor's three adult children also arrive, along with some of the atomic matter that their father invented. Well, by accident some of this matter gets out and destroys everything on earth and all the people, except the narrator (who was still able to write this book) and about five other people there. The point? Be careful with atomic matter? Oh well... I got to mark it off several of my lists! ;)
Terris wrote: " Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut, 2**s
Who knows what this was about -- your guess is as good as mine -- and I just finished reading it!"
I learned over time that Vonnegut needs to be digested a while before his meanings come clear -- and it's usually "People are stupid, and because of that the world is going to end, probably soon. Hi ho."
Fishface wrote: "Terris wrote: " Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut, 2**s
Who knows what this was about -- your guess is as good as mine -- and I just finished reading it!"
I learned ove..."
Oh, that's good! Yes, I think you are exactly right!
A Few Fair Days
– Jane Gardam – 4**** Lucy is a young girl living in a small, seaside town in Yorkshire, in the years between the wars. This is a charming collection of stories about childhood, and reminds this reader of our greatest and most valuable plaything – imagination. I loved how they played pirates, explored the abandoned estate next door, or searched the seashore for “treasure.” At least one of their escapades had me laughing aloud. Just a lovely book.
Full Review HERE
Throne of Jade
– Naomi Novik – 4**** In Book two of this series, the Chinese demand the return of the dragon known as Temeraire. Novik does a great job imagining a fantasy scenario where dragons are part of the Air Corps, while also keeping the reader in a (circa) 1801 time frame. The battle scenes are exciting, and the intrigue builds suspense. I really like the growing relationship between Temeraire and Capt Laurence. This is not my preferred genre, but I think I’m hooked on the series.
Full Review HERE
What If by Randall Munroe, 4****s
This was an interesting & fun (& sometimes funny!) book answering absurd questions with highly scientific answers. I enjoyed it even though I didn't understand half of it! I just liked thinking that people were curious enough to think of and ask these far-fetched questions, and that the author cared enough to want to try to answer them with as much precision as possible. What a brain Randall Munroe must have! I'm really impressed!
Caddie Woodlawn
– Carol Ryrie Brink – 4**** This Newbery Award winner tells the story of Caddie Woodlawn, age about 12, in 1864 Wisconsin. Caddie is a courageous, intelligent and resourceful girl. The story reminds me a bit of Laura Ingalls Wilders’ “Little House” books, and that is definitely a good comparison.
Full Review HERE
Mod
What If by Randall Munroe, 4****s
This was an interesting & fun (& sometimes funny!) book answering absurd..."
Adding to my list.
All Good Deeds by Stacy Green, 4****s
Very exciting! Lucy Kendall is a private detective, and formerly worked for Child Protective Services. Her goal in life is to get rid of pedafiles. In this book Lucy gets involved with a case in which a little girl is kidnapped, and she suspects a man who was involved in one of her previous CPS cases. However, as she gets deeper into the case, she finds that several of the major players are connected to each other. Is it a coincidence? The story is woven together in a very fine way and really keeps the reader thinking. It was well-written and was pretty believable. I also liked the ending. I highly recommend this book!
I just finished The Plague by Albert Camus. It was pretty interesting, a little slow, but interesting. It describes how a town, of around 200,000 in the 1940's, deals with being completely shut off from the rest of society while being quarantined for several months. They are not allowed to communicate with loved ones by letter because they don't want to spread the plague through the paper. Also, if anyone happened to be visiting or doing business at the time of the "closing" they had to stay. Although there is not a lot of action, the story really makes you think about how you might act in the same position.
Sit! Stay! Speak!
– Annie England Noblin – 1* Addie Andrews has inherited her Aunt Tilda’s house in tiny Eunice Arkansas, so she moves from Chicago, and the painful memories there, to refurbish the homestead and heal from her wounds. The best part of this novel – and unfortunately it’s a small part – is Felix, the pit bull puppy; and I say that even though I’m not a “dog person.” I knew going in that it was chick lit, and I wasn’t expecting great literature but this was really bad.
Full Review HERE
Death and the Red-Headed Woman by Loretta Ross4.5****
Nice cozy mystery. Must say I did love the characters. Red is an auctioneer and Death Bogart (pronounced Deeth) is a Bounty Hunter, ex Marine. Sounds like the guy is big and kind of stupid? Not so, he is a thoughtful but take no nonsense person, smart, someone I would want to met and be friends with. Starts out with a Naked Dead Guy in a house that the Keystone Auction House is getting ready to process the contents and sell what the Historical Society does not want to keep. Unfortunately the Naked Dead Guy if found by Red and puts a crimp in business for a few days. It is funny but serious at the same time. Bullets flying, kidnapping, secret passages, whats not to love. Going to see if I can get the second book since I really enjoyed this one. Try it for a fun good read.
Mod
Mr. Timothy
Louis Bayard
4/5 stars
Timothy Cratchit is all grown up and despite being helped by his Uncle Ebenezer Scrooge in his early life, is floundering. He ends up living in a brothel, teaching the owner how to read and helping a friend make some money by removing dead bodies from the Thames to turn over to the coroner. On one of these excursions, they find two dead young girls that have been branded. This haunts Timothy and one day he comes across a young girl whom he befriends in the hope she does not become a victim of living on the streets. However, Timothy becomes involved in a much dangerous game than he ever thought possible. Some suspension of disbelief is needed while reading this book but I enjoyed this thriller and had a hard time putting this down.
Mod
4.5****
Nice cozy mystery. Must say I did love the characters. Red is an auctioneer and Death Bogart (pronounced Deeth) is a Bounty Hunter, ex Marine..."
Thanks for the review!
Mod
Louis Bayard
4/5 stars
Timothy Cratchit is all grown up and despite being helped by his Uncle Ebenezer Scrooge in his early ..."
Thanks for the review
Mod
– Annie England Noblin – 1*
Addie Andrews has inherited her Aunt Tilda’s house in tiny Eunice Arkansas, so she moves from Chicago, and ..."
Thanks for the warning!
Pax
– Sara Pennypacker – 4**** Peter is forced to turn his pet fox, Pax, loose in the woods, but then reconsiders and sets out to rescue his beloved pet. This is a wonderful tale of loyalty, love, grief and perseverance. The point of view shifts from from Pax’s story to Peter’s experiences by chapters. Both Peter and Pax have been betrayed and are distrustful as a result. They draw on reserves of strength, courage and perseverance they didn’t know they had to help not only themselves but those around them.
Full Review HERE
Journey to the River Sea
– Eva Ibbotson – 4**** Maia is an orphan in London, in the early 1900s who is sent to live with distant relatives on their rubber plantation in Brazil. What a lovely adventure / coming-of-age story! Maia is a strong female character – intelligent, kind, generous, brave, resourceful and loyal. I did think the Carter family – father, mother, and twins – were rather stereotypical “villains,” but that is a small quibble. This is a children’s book, after all, and I don’t expect the same subtleties that I would in literature written for adults.
Full Review HERE
Invisible Eden by Maria Flook3 stars
I started this book thinking it was a true crime book but its not really. It is more of a biography of the victim. If you are reading it as a biography it is ok. There are very few details of the actual crime. There is a lot of description of the town and surrounding areas, which if you are from the area you might like reading about that. At times the author seems to go off in a direction that doesn't seem to have anything to do with the story or the victim. At 400 pages I thought it might be a better story if it was at least 100 pages shorter. It seems to belabor every point. About half way through there didn't seem to be a lot that was different and I wanted it to move along a little faster
Swim to Me, Betsy Carter5 stars!!!
A wonderful light read about the transformative power of the living mermaid city at Weeki Wachi Springs, Florida. The story never drags for a second. The author makes the unlikely, the impossible and the ridiculous believable while making the humdrum, depressing and grim seem pretty easy to clear up. This one is going to make a great review for my fish blog!!! Well written; well copyedited, for a change; and there are only a couple of small anachronisms in the text, like a character described as having "Farrah Fawcett hair" several years before anyone had heard of Farrah Fawcett.
A Gathering In Hope by Philip Gulley, 4****s
Philip Gulley has done it again -- he has lifted my spirits and made me laugh at the antics of his Quaker congregation! In this "episode"a deceased parishioner has left their Quaker church a million dollars and minister Sam has to try to keep everyone in line as they decide what to do with the money. A few of the group decide that they should build an addition onto the church. But when they apply for a building permit, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) finds that the church attic and surrounding trees are filled with endangered Indiana brown bats. And when someone in the church kills over 100 of the bats and someone else cuts down two of the trees that the bats were living in, the DNR is not happy, and Sam must try to keep his little church together and try to keep them from going to jail!
So funny! And also apropos in the area where I live, as only 30 miles away reconstruction on a fairly large bridge had to be delayed because the endangered Indiana bats cannot be disturbed during their mating season: April 1 - October 1. So work had to be stopped until after October 1st!
This is another good book by Philip Gulley and I highly recommend it! :)
Dracula
– Bram Stoker – 5***** Stoker wrote this as a series of journal or diary entries, letters and newspaper clippings. This gives a certain immediacy to the writing, and builds suspense. The novel is wonderfully atmospheric; from the delights of a new culture as Harker first experiences the loveliness of Eastern Europe, to the creepy, skin-crawling scene with the hordes of rats, and finally to the “pure-white” snow of the mountain blizzard, time and again Stoker puts the reader smack dab in the middle of the scenes. But the novel is more than just a horror story. There are several themes which would be great for book group discussion.
Full Review HERE
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Books mentioned in this topic
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Our Souls at Night (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Roseanne Montillo (other topics)M.R. Carey (other topics)
Paul Beatty (other topics)
Paul Beatty (other topics)
Paul Beatty (other topics)
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5 stars!
I laughed, I cried, I threw up! OK, I didn't throw up, but I did laugh and cry all the way through this autobiography, written by 4 authors, plus a bit after the end by Eric Idle. This one is every bit as bizarre and disjointed as you might expect from the zaniest Python of them all. Full of misleading, repeatedly amended and often denied details of Dr. Chapman's life -- there are at least 3 different birthdates given for the great man in here, just for starters. I finally feel I understand how a Cambridge-trained MD somehow slipped sideways to become one of the best-loved comedy writers ever. After I closed the book I couldn't put it down; knowing more about him now -- much of it clearly incorrect -- I miss him more than I ever did. I immediately popped MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL into the player, watched it while holding the book, and slept with it in my hands. There will never be another one like this man. This is not going to be a good read for people intimidated by new vocabulary words.