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2017 Reads and Reviews ~ Anything goes
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Tell the Wolves I'm Home
Carol Rifka Brunt
4/5 stars
This is a coming of age story of fourteen year old June Elbus in 1987. Her favorite person in the whole world was her Uncle Finn, a well-known painter and he too was in love with her. After his death from AIDs, the whole family falls apart. June and her sister Greta are fighting. Her parents are working too much and she has no real friends at school. Toby who was Finn's partner was persona non grata in regards to the family. But one day Toby sends her a gift and she agrees to see him though she is supposed to hate him. They begin a covert friendship but someone else knows about it. This was beautifully written and the angst of lost and heartache was palpable.
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The Lemoncholy Life of Annie Aster
Scott Wilbanks
3.5/5 stars
Lemoncholy means to make the best of a bad situation and that is the philosophy of Annie Aster. In this story we find Elsbeth Grundy living in Kansas in the year 1895. One day she wakes up and finds that in her far backyard stands a home in her wheat field. She writes a letter to the occupant of the home and leaves it in her mailbox and thus begins a correspondence with Annie, a young woman living in a home in San Francisco in the 21th century that faces Elsbeth's home. But this is not a coincidence and they have more in common then they both know. You have to be able to suspend disbelief in this far fetched but exciting tale of the two women who are destined to change their future.
For the Defense, Ellis Rubin and Dary Matera4 stars
This is a pretty exciting ride through some of Ellis Rubin's loopiest, most controversial and most important cases in his criminal-defense career, touching on everything from cases tried in the press and effective jury selection to the one that put the author in jail himself for a while. He also gives us some of his own life story and talks about the obstacles he had to overcome to make it in life. Well-written and entertaining.
A Man Called Ove – Fredrik Backman – 5*****
What a joy this book is! Backman peoples the novel with an assortment of quirky characters, who form a community, and despite himself, Ove joins with them. I laughed aloud so often, and I felt for Ove’s. I also rejoiced at his triumphs, and marveled at his strength of character. I worried about him and cheered him on. I absolutely fell in love with Ove.
LINK to my review
Julie wrote: "Tell the Wolves I'm Home
Carol Rifka Brunt
4/5 stars
This is a coming of age story of fourteen year old June Elbus in ..."
I loved this book!
Feb 6 - Currently ReadingTEXT -
Exodus / Leon UrisAUDIO in the car -
Death Masks / Jim ButcherMP3 Player AUDIO -
Days of Awe / Lauren Fox
The Jesus Cow – Michael Perry – 4****
When a calf is born on Christmas Eve with the distinct face of Jesus on his side, bachelor farmer Harley Jackson knows he’s in for a struggle. Michael Perry is known for his nonfiction essays on life in small-town Wisconsin; this is his first novel. Perry has a gift for describing people and situations; he makes the ridiculous totally believable. I am reminded of Carl Hiaasen, but with more heart. There are a few scenarios that really stretch credulity here, but on the whole I enjoyed the novel and we all need a little light entertainment now and again.
LINK to my review
Crochet Style: Over 30 Trendy, Classic and Sporty Accessories for All Ages by Jennifer Dougherty 4*I crochet a lot and saw this book on Amazon and asked my Library to see if they could get it. It is a very good book with some intricate cable designs for hats. I have started to make some cable accessories but not hats as yet. Some scarfs, cowls and shawls. Like to do more challenging patterns. This book is great since the instructions for sizes is individual listed, from child to adult. Need a little time to work on this but very interesting. This is not for a beginner, you really need some expertise for these patterns. If you like crochet and want a challenge this is for you.
The Snow Empress (Sano Ichiro #12)by Laura Joh Rowland 5*
I started out reading this not knowing it was a series but loved it. Will have to go back and read the others but I don't think it will make a difference to me knowing what is ahead. It takes place in Japan in the 1600's and Sano is the Chamberlain to the Emperor.
His enemy has kidnapped his son and sent him to Ezogashima a dangerous place to the north so Sano must go there to get him back and his wife Reiko insists on coming with him. A woman who was the mistress to Lord Matsumae there has been killed and he won't release his son until he finds out who murdered her. Well written and a wonderful story so I'm sure I'll be reading more from this author.
Death Masks – Jim Butcher – 3.5***
I like this series mostly because I really like Harry. I love his puns and his self-deprecating humor. I like that he’s a decent guy who inflicts violence on the bad guys, and generally behaves like a gentleman. However, as I continue the series I find the plots more and more formulaic, although this installment has a few plot twists and some characters that lend additional interest.
LINK to my review
Abraham Lincoln – Ingri & Edgar Parin d’Aulaire – 4****
This Caldecott-winner is a biography for young children. It follows Lincoln from his birth to the end of the Civil War, though it does not mention his assassination. The d’Aulaires were immigrants to America, and when the book was written the world was anxiously watching the events in Germany that would lead to a world war. They may have erred on the side of hero-worship in their portrayal of Lincoln, but I like that they portrayed a man willing to stand up against injustice.
LINK to my review
Days Of Awe – Lauren Fox – 4****
This is the kind of character-driven novel I really enjoy. As Isabel reflects on past events and her relationships with best friend, daughter, mother, and ex-husband, the reader comes to know her. I felt her confusion, pain, loss, loneliness, but also her joy and hope for the future.
LINK to my review
Just finished I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
by Maya Angelou, 4****sThis is Maya Angelou's story of her childhood up until she turns 17 years old. An inspiring story about an amazing woman.
Exodus – Leon Uris – 3.5***
This is an epic novel covering the history of the Jewish people’s efforts to return to Palestine and form an independent state. I felt that Uris couldn’t make up his mind whether he was writing an epic romance, a war novel or a history of the formation of Israel. It certainly made me think. And I’m glad I finally read this novel.
LINK to my review
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The Lie Tree
Frances Hardinge
4/5 stars
Faith Sunderly's life has been upturned. Her father, a minister, naturalist and geologist has died after uprooting his family to Australia due to a scandal. The villagers think he killed himself but Faith knows something is wrong and decides to investigate her father's death in a time period where girls were to stay at home and mind their place. Award winning YA book.
Too Pretty To Live: The Catfishing Murders of East Tennessee, Dennis Brooks3 stars
This was a mostly-interesting account of a very, very odd murder case. It sort of dragged in the beginning but then picked up steam, and I really wanted to know how it played out in court. This would have been a spoiler-free TC story if the knucklehead who designed the jacket hadn't included a blurb that spoiled almost every single surprise between the covers. The photo section gave nothing away and the author didn't ruin it for you during the introduction. I'm glad I read to the very end, where another revelation was waiting for me. "Grammar Nazis" will hate this book, but for me it was worth the white-knuckle journey through those nutty e-mails. I feel horrible for the jury, who had 207 pages of that stuff to read through! Note to author: if you're going to criticize other people's punctuation and spelling, you need to brush up your own usage and punctuation before going to press.
Feb 18 - Currently ReadingTEXT -
Old Dogs / Donna MooreAUDIO in the car -
The Quiet American / Graham GreeneMP3 Player AUDIO -
The Minor Adjustment Beauty SalonAlexander McCall Smith
One Plus One – Jojo Moyes – 3***
Four different characters tell the story: Jess, Ed, Tanzie (Jess’s daughter) and Nicky (Marty’s son and Jess’s stepson). This resulted in a slow start, while all the characters were introduced and the central conflict developed. The book jacket promises “an irresistible love story.” I don’t know about “irresistible” but it’s an enjoyable contemporary novel.
LINK to my review
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Born Bright: A Young Girl's Journey from Nothing to Something in America
C. Nicole Mason
3.5/5 stars
This is the true story of C. Nicole Mason who as an African American experienced life in poverty in Los Angeles, California during the 60s and 70s. She discusses what it was like to live in poverty, going to schools who did not encourage the academic growth of her race, struggling with moving from home to home and when she was determined to go to college, not knowing how to go through the ropes of applying for college since no one in her family or neighborhood went. She was able to beat the odds and got into Howard University and has made a success of her life. Very eye opening!
The FitzOsbornes in Exile – Michelle Cooper – 3***
This is book two in a series about the royal family of the fictitious island nation of Montmaray. It’s a fast read, an easy young adult novel about the beginning of World War II. The British social class of the late 1930s is described well, including the debutante season. I liked this one better than the first in the series. The characters are better developed, and I enjoy reading about strong, resourceful, intelligent young people.
LINK to my review
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The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom
Christopher Healy
3/5 stars
This is a fun children's book about the unsung heroes of fairy tales, the princes, who are often unnamed or just go by Prince Charming. The bards of the area have all been kidnapped and the princes gather together to rescue them while fighting witches, dragons and more. This is the first in a series of books about the League of Princes. Loved the illustrations.
Nothing To Do But Stay – Carrie Young – 4****
The subtitle is “My Pioneer Mother,” and much of this memoir features Young’s mother Carrine Gafkjen Berg. But this is really the story of a family’s experiences in the early 20th century in North Dakota. Rather than a strictly chronological order, the book is divided into chapters by subject. All are full of wonderful, loving descriptions of life on a settler’s farm, some funny, some touchingly poignant.
LINK to my review
The Quiet American – Graham Greene – 3***
This has been cited as the quintessential book about Vietnam, especially the conflict begun with the French war. I don’t know if I would agree, but it’s definitely a good book about what was happening in the country during the mid-1950s. The reader gets some inkling of the politics of the era, but is more consumed by the personal drama of these two men and the Vietnamese woman they both say they love.
LINK to my review
Old Dogs – Donna Moore – 3***
A pair of seventy-something-year-old ex-hookers turned con-artists scheme to steal two antique be-jeweled Tibetan dog statuettes. But they are not alone in wanting those dogs. This is a comic crime caper that reminds me of Donald E Westlake or Carl Hiaasen. The characters are outrageous, the plot is ridiculous, but the whole package is great fun to read.
LINK to my review
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O Pioneers!
Willa Cather
4/5 stars
Cather follows the lives of Alexandra Bergson, an immigrant, her family and friends who lived in Nebraska working the land as farmers and dealing with the ups and downs of pioneer life, some succeeding, some not. Beautifully written and compelling. Love Cather's writing. Though not biographical, Cather grew up in Nebraska for a period of time and was surely influenced by her time there.
Around the Way Girl: A Memoir by Taraji Henson3 stars
If you are not familiar with this gal, she is best known as Cookie on Empire. She is smart, outspoken, and sassy. This moves along at a fast pace. I think you would like this book if you are familiar with her but if you're not you might not get too excited about it. There's nothing here that is really earth-shattering.
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Rebecca Makkai
3.5/5 stars
Set in Illinois at the Laurelfield estate, the author takes us through the history and drama of the happenings at the estate including housing an art colony, a suicide and a mystery. Told backwards, the author slowly unravels the fascinating story of the lives that inhabited the mansion. If I had more time, I would love to re-read this- I think more would be revealed.
Just started Lizzie Siddal: The Tragedy of a Pre-Raphaelite Supermodel, a library loan. It starts out great -- with a murder.
Lizzie Siddal: The Tragedy of a Pre-Raphaelite Supermodel, Lucinda Hawksley4 stars
If you liked Thing of Beauty, you'll like this one too. There are a lot of parallels between the two stories. The author does a good job of capturing the temper of the times Lizzie Siddall lived in and the group personality of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, who made her a star. While this was basically a blow-by-blow, undramatic recitation of the facts of Lizzie's life, her story was quite moving. I recommend this one.
The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon – Alexander McCall Smith – 3.5***
I rarely get past book four or five in a mystery series, because they become formulaic for me and I lose interest. But this series is a wonderful exception. As in most of the books, there are two cases the Ladies work on in this 14th installment, but the real focus of the series is on the relationships between the characters. Fans of the series will find most of the characters they have come to love present.
LINK to my review
Filthy Rich by James Patterson5 stars
A rare jaunt into nonfiction for this well-known author. Could fall into the category of 'lifestyles of the rich and famous'. The main character thinks he can have whatever he wants, including young, underage girls. I wont give away what happened to him but it will make your jaw drop. Worth the read to read about some famous people connected with this guy, including one former president and one current one, and one English prince. I liked how the book was laid out and moved along quickly with short chapters, which works out good for busy people who like to get to the end of a chapter before they put the book down. A quick read, I read about 20 pages before I went to bed and finished it the next day.
Under the Wide and Starry Sky – Nancy Horan – 2.5**
This work of historical fiction tells the story of the relationship of Fanny Van de Grift Osbourne and Robert Louis Stevenson. Once again Horan turns her attentions to a man who was difficult to live with, and a woman who was conflicted about her life with that man. It should have been interesting, but this book somehow failed to capture me. The best part was their lives in Samoa, only about 100 pages in a nearly 500-page book.
LINK to my review
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The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu: And Their Race to Save the World’s Most Precious Manuscripts by Joshua Hammer
4/5 stars
This is the story of Abdel Kader Haidara, a historical archivist from Timbuktu and his fellow patriots who saved the centuries old, rare manuscripts of Mali twice. Abdel's initial project was to find and store books from his countrymen and build libraries to showcase them in the 1980's. Unfortunately, he would have to do it a second time when Al Qaeda came to Mali and attempted to destroy their books and heritage. I found this a fast and amazing story which also covers the takeover of Mali by Al Qaeda. Hard to put down.
Deeper Than the Dead – Tamy Hoag – 3.5***
Set in a California town a few hours from Los Angeles, in 1985, Hoag’s thriller begins when four children stumble upon the partially buried body of a woman while playing in the woods. Hoag writes a tight, suspenseful tale. The action is fast-paced, and I was completely captivated from beginning to end.
LINK to my review
Death Comes Quickly by Susan Wittig Albert2.5*
I was listening to this as a book on CD since I was taking a trip to see my Grandson. I have read a number of these in the series but haven't keep up but I do like them. This one tho was frustrating. They kept coming up with more answers to questions and yet they didn't see it. Could not understand why these characters were so dense. These characters are smart and yet they just were blind to what was happening. Not the best in the series as far as I'm concerned. Had to give it a 2.5.
Widow's Tears by Susan Wittig Albert5*
This was different from the usual China Bayles mystery, but that was good. This one has Ruby as the main character. She has been asked by a friend to come to her house because she needs help. This is almost a two part story, one set in the now and one set in the past, the 1900 Hurricane in Galveston. It was really interesting with a personal view to what happened to people at that time. I knew what a devastating hurricane that was so adding it to a personal account was really interesting. And this was also the idea for the mystery for now. Really enjoyed it and finished it in one day as a BOCD since I was driving home from my daughters house for my grandson's birthday. Will have to see if the Library has more of these on CD so I can listen in the car going to work. I recommend this.
The Vicious Vet – M.C. Beaton – 3***
Book two in the popular Agatha Raisin cozy mystery series. I was not a fan of the first Agatha Raisin book, but she’s growing on me. One of the review blurbs calls Agatha “a glorious cross between Miss Marple, Auntie Mame, and Lucille Ball, with a tad of pit bull tossed in” (St Petersburg Times). I’m beginning to see that combination here, and I’m starting to appreciate the humor in Agatha’s character.
LINK to my review
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The Bookman’s Tale
Charlie Lovett
4/5 stars
Peter Byerly is a mess. After the death of his beloved wife, he moves to England to mourn his wife and to continue in his job collecting and restoring rare books. Upon finding a painting inside a old book that looked like his wife, he tries to find out who painted the picture and who the woman in the picture was which lead him further into the mystery of who really wrote the plays that are attributed to Shakespeare. Hard to put down!
Station Eleven – Emily St John Mandel – 4****
The snow falling on Toronto gives the city a peaceful look, but the hysteria caused by a spreading plague that kills within days cannot be stopped. Dystopian or postapocalyptic novels are really not my thing, but I found this novel quite interesting. Mandel moves back and forth in time, and from character to character, keeping the reader off balance.
LINK to my review
A Fierce Radiance – Lauren Belfer – 2.5**
Well this sounded much more interesting than it wound up being. I definitely enjoyed some aspects of the novel. I like reading medical histories, and the race to develop a procedure to mass produce penicillin was an important effort in World War II. But, Belfer included a romantic subplot, as well as broken family ties, a murder, and other elements. There is just too much going on between the covers of this book, and I never got caught up in the story.
LINK to my review
The Dog Stars – Peter Heller – 3***
I am not a great fan of post-apocalyptic novels. And yet, here I am reading another one. Heller’s writing is both poetic and spare, with short sentences that come at the reader like staccato gun fire. This gives the novel a feeling of impending danger, of uncertainty and fear. I wanted to rush through it, and yet, I wanted to take my time to understand what was happening and how these characters were dealing with this different world.
LINK to my review
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I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Maya Angelou
5/5 stars
This is the first autobiography of Maya Angelou in which she tells the story of her life from birth to young adulthood and the birth of her son Guy in the early 40's. I was blown away with her writing and her recollection of a severe and difficult life growing up in America as an African American child and young woman. She is an amazing writer and am looking forward to reading more of her books.
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Will Not Attend: Lively Stories of Detachment and Isolation
Adam Resnick
4/5 stars
Comedy writer Adam Resnick who has written for David Letterman and Saturday Night Live now writes about his life in a series of essays that are fabulously funny and yet disturbing. I could not help but laugh through these stories and some hit very close to home. Recommended to those not afraid of dark humor.
Voyager – Diana Gabaldon – 3***
Book three in the popular Outlander series. This isn’t great literature, but the series is fun to read. This installment delves more deeply into the supernatural, which I thought detracted from the central story.
LINK to my review
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That's good considering your tough grading, IIRC.
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It's not a page turner but I found it interesting. I did skip over the letters and there was very little investigation, she was arrested the day of the murder, but the legal maneuvering was intriguing.
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Books mentioned in this topic
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Charles Dickens (other topics)Claire North (other topics)
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Jennifer Keishin Armstrong (other topics)
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Breathing Lessons
– Anne Tyler – 4****
I’ve had this on my TBR for ages, and just never got to it. I wish I hadn’t waited so long, but then again, maybe my..."
I love that you love this one! I enjoy Anne Tyler's stories, her writing style and her characters so much. I have read all of her books. I hope you get a chance to read more of her :)