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2017 Reads and Reviews ~ Anything goes
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The Perks Of Being a Wallflower – Stephen Chbosky – 4****
This is a coming-of-age novel featuring 15-year-old Charlie, who tells the story via letters he writes to an unnamed friend. I like YA fiction like this. Charlie is very real. He is a great observer of teenage and family life. As he describes events and how he reacts to them, he gives the reader a pretty accurate view of high-school dynamics. This is Chbosky’s debut novel. I hope he writes another novel; I would definitely read it.
LINK to my review
Knots And Crosses – Ian Rankin – 3***
This is the first in the Inspector John Rebus mystery series. Edinburgh is plagued by a series of kidnapping/killings of young girls. Rankin writes a fast-paced thriller with several twists and turns in the plot, and a complex lead character. I definitely read more of this series.
LINK to my review
Fuzz, Ed McBain4 stars
A great read. A real page-turner of a police procedural. Well written in a way that carefully balances the cynicism of a noir detective story, the gallows humor that real cops use to keep their heads screwed on straight, and some ugly, ugly crimes. This was the basis of a lame, uninteresting movie that apparently started the worldwide fad of setting homeless people on fire. If I were you I'd stick with the book; it's a gem.
Cops And Robbers – Daniel E Westlake – 3.5***
Tom and Joe are New York City policemen. They are also planning a grand heist that should net them two million dollars. This book doesn’t include the kind of zany antics that Westlake is known for in his comic crime capers, but there’s plenty of action, quite a few surprises and plot twists, and a great sense of time and place.
LINK to my review
Micro, Michael Crichton4 stars
Another great read! This is the loopiest and hardest to believe story I've ever read from this author, but he knows how to make the story compelling and keep me turning the pages. The basic story is well beyond unlikely but the details of coping with super strength, difficulty breaking through the surface tension of water so you can drink it, and the discomforts of being eaten by grubs are quite believable. You can tell the ending was written by postmortem co-author Richard Preston; it was as unlike the author of Jurassic Park as you might expect. But most of the book is vintage Crichton -- a cast of scientists arguing over who knows the most about what as they are chased down by earthworms the size of commuter trains. Great stuff.
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Seinfeldia: How a Show About Nothing Changed Everything
Jennifer Keishin Armstrong
4/5 stars
Armstrong discusses the phenomenon of the continued fan obsession of the Seinfeld show despite having ended in 1998 and its influence on American culture till this very day. The book is definitely geared to Seinfeld fans and from a few reviews that I read of this book, it covers some material already covered in other books on the show of which there are quite a few. I have not read any of the other books but I found this book very interesting and it has inspired me to re-watch the series again.
Jane Steele – Lindsay Faye – 3.5***
Lindsay Faye’s re-telling of Jane Eyre , is an imaginative romp. Readers of the classic will recognize many plot elements, but Faye has let her imagination run wild. The story is still set in the same era as Bronte’s classic novel, but this Jane is a serial killer. If that makes you gasp is horror … well give the book a chance. It’s great fun to read
LINK to my review
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On another note, I'm giving up on Bloodland: A Family Story of Oil, Greed and Murder on the Osage Reservation. I'm half way through and struggling with it.
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I took both Murder and Madness: The Secret Life of Jack the Ripper and Decathlon Of Death with me to the IRS office today. I made the mistake of starting both of them, so I now have 4 books going. Sheesh.
Fishface wrote: "I took both Murder and Madness: The Secret Life of Jack the Ripper and Decathlon Of Death with me to the IRS office today. I made the mistake of starting both of them..."Well I do that all the time. Four going and in different rooms. For me that's normal.
Love Walked In – Marisa de los Santos – 3.5***
Cornelia, the “under-achiever” in her family, is the manager of a café. One day a Cary-Grant-look-alike walks in and her life changes. This is a chick-lit, romance novel with great heart. The novel is told in alternating points of view: Cornelia, and Clare, an eleven-year-old with a chaotic home life. I loved them both, though I was somewhat incredulous at several plot points.
LINK to my review
Something Rotten – Jasper Fforde – 3***
Book four in the Thursday Next fantasy / sci-fi “literary detective” series. What I most enjoy about this series is Fforde’s vivid imagination and all the literary references. The plots are completely unrealistic, but that’s part of the fun.
LINK to my review
I really enjoyed Murder and Madness: The Secret Life of Jack the Ripper, but like any book proving for sure who the Whitechapel killer was, I took it with a whole shaker of salt. The author is a prison psychoanalyst (!) who combines careful examination of the facts of the murders with the documented movements of his 2 suspects. He even manages to match up the description of one of the men with that of the man seen standing over Elizabeth Stride minutes before she was killed. But after building his case with an intriguing point like this, he invariably makes a wild tangent into la-la land, basing his conclusions on outmoded and just-plain-wrong ideas that would make any forensic shrink shake her head in wonder. Does he really think two gay men would work out their sexual hostilities by killing women? Yes, he does. I was far from convinced but sorry when this book ended.
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The Middlesteins
Jami Attenberg
4/5 stars
Set in Chicago and the nearby suburbs, we find a Jewish family that is falling apart. When Edie, an accountant and her husband, Richard Middlestein, a pharmacist, separate the children are appalled and it affects the lives of all including their grandchildren and friends. This was a fascinating, quick read for me and I love the ending which is probably one of the most realistic endings I have read in a while.
The Agony and the Ecstasy – Irving Stone – 4****
Stone’s epic historical novel tells the life story of Michelangelo. Additionally, the novel includes much of the politics of the times, from the Medicis in Florence to the various Popes in Rome, it’s a fascinating history of the era. This was a re-read for me, but my rating reflects my original reaction (circa 1965).
LINK to my review
The Lowland – Jhumpa Lahiri - 4****
This is a dense, complex character-driven story, that explores both the immigrant experience and the relationships between family members. It starts slowly, but the really builds in the last third. Lahiri writes beautifully, and I kept marking passages. I so wish this was a book-club selection, because I long to discuss it with someone.
LINK to my review
The Japanese Lover - Isabel Allende – 3***
This is a sweeping love story that spans decades. Told in alternating time frames, and with alternating points of view, the story unfolds as Irina and Seth discover tidbits of information about Alma’s past. The title alone is a pretty clear indication of what is to come in the novel, and yet I was fascinated to learn the details.
LINK to my review
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So Big
Edna Ferber
4/5 stars
Edna Ferber's So Big though written in 1924 is still a wonderful and relate-able read to modern readers. It follows the story of Selina Peake DeJong, who after losing her father has to make over her life while coping with a change of fortune. She ends up in a farm community teaching their children and falling in love with a young farmer and supporting the artistic talents of a young neighbor. Despite hard times she puts her whole life into her family's farm and raising her son who is her pride and joy but who will make choices he eventually will regret.
The Odds of Loving Grover Cleveland - Rebekah Crane – 1*
Okay, I knew this was a YA novel about a summer camp for at-risk teens, going into it. I knew from the title and cover art that some sort of summer romance would come into play. But I am so over the teen angst phase of my life, that I find it overly dramatic and cliched.
LINK to my review
Tigers in Red Weather - Liza Klaussmann – 2.5**
This is Klaussmann’s debut and I see a nugget of a good novel here. But the execution falters. The dialogue is tortured. And the fractured timeline and changes in point of view do little to help the story arc.
LINK to my review
Eragon - Christopher Paolini – 3***
This is # 1 in the Inheritance series. I am clearly not the target audience for this fantasy novel. However, kudos to Paolini for creating this complex world, with many characters and beings, mythology, history, diverse landscape and complex social structure. I definitely see the appeal for the intended audience, even if it’s not really my cup of tea.
LINK to my review
Saint George And the Dragon – Margaret Hodges
Illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman – 5*****
This is a retelling of the legend of Saint George who slew the dragon. It’s a wonderful tale of courage, dedication, and perseverance. Trina Schart Hyman’s gloriously detailed paintings were awarded the Caldecott Medal.
LINK to my review
Torn in Two, Michael Schumacher4 stars
This is the story of how the "witch of November" took out another cargo ship on the Great Lakes a few years before the 'Mighty Fitz' went down in almost identical circumstances. In this case there was a single unlikely survivor and we hear his story along with that of the sister ship, the same size and design, that shipped out with this one but made it home in one piece. A scary, gripping read.
Hamlet – William Shakespeare – 4****
I’ll dispense with the summary for this classic tragedy by William Shakespeare, but as I’ve said before, I really dislike reading plays. I much prefer to see them performed live by talented actors, the medium for which they are written. There are hundreds of editions of this work, and I recommend that readers get one that is annotated.
LINK to my review
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The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August
Claire North
4/5 stars
Lead character, Harry August is born a kalachakra which is a person who lives multiple but not infinite lives. When he dies, his life is reset and he is reborn to live his life again. Harry does not have a boring life and has encountered a similar kalachakra, Vincent Rankis who is bent on making a quantum mirror which could have devastating results for the Earth. Harry spends each of his lives tracking Vincent down in hopes of preventing a possible catastrophe that could be caused by Rankis with the only means possible of destroying him. Not a perfect book but very intriguing and thought provoking!
Band of Brothers – Stephen E Ambrose – 4****
The subtitle is all the synopsis anyone needs: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest. Ambrose profiles the officers and enlisted men alike. Their personal stories, gleaned from hours of interviews as well as their journals and letters, lend great authenticity to the narrative.
LINK to my review
So You Want to be President? – Judith St George
Illustrated by David Small – 4****
This picture book for young children tells some of the interesting tidbits about the American Presidents, from George Washington to Bill Clinton. David Small’s illustrations earned the Caldecott medal. His near caricatures are fun and engaging, and he includes small details to delight both children and the adults who may be reading aloud. 3*** for the text / 4**** for the drawings.
LINK to my review
The Road to Jonestown: Jim Jones and Peoples Temple, Jeff Guinn5 stars!
This was an excellent read. The author gives a detailed picture of how Jonestown came to be, and how it came to an end, without once dismissing Jim Jones as a crazyman or his followers as glazey-eyed, fanatical cultists. Neither does he make a single statement to the effect that he agrees or disagrees with anything the Peoples Temple did. He clearly lays out the facts and lets you draw your own conclusions, almost as if he expected you to think for yourself while reading! The book answered some of my questions about how it all happened, how some of the people who survived managed to get away, and so forth -- but he didn't answer every question. I read this book with my copy of Who Died on November 18, 1978 in the Jonestown, Guyana Mass Murder-Suicides open in my lap to connect faces to the names, and I'm deeply troubled to tell you that out of all the people he talked about in satisfying detail, almost every single one was white. That was my "Black Lives Matter" moment for this week.
The Gatekeeper – Kathryn Smith – 4****
Subtitle: Missy LeHand, FDR, and the Untold Story of the Partnership That Defined a Presidency. This is a fascinating biography of the woman “beside” the man, who despite her influence at the time, quickly slipped out of the public’s consciousness.
LINK to my review
The Serpents Tale – Ariana Franklin – 3.5***
Book two in the series. There are several things I like about this series, starting with Adelia Aguilar – a strong, independent, resilient, and resourceful heroine. Franklin does a lot of research and it shows in the way she sets the tone and describes the landscape and relationships in 12th century England. The plot is intricate, and had more than one surprise for the reader.
LINK to my review
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Hard Times
Charles Dickens
3/5 stars
The setting is the industrial age in England where money, machinery and materialism off sets relationships, love and respect of all humans. Mr. Thomas Gradgrind is a teacher and has taught his children and his students, the importance of hard work, facts and reality. This leads his daughter into an unfortunate loveless marriage and a son who becomes addicted to gaming. Things come to a head when a man who works at the local factory is eschewed for speaking his mind, forced to leave his job and accused of stealing.
I had a little difficulty with some of the language but there were references in the index for some of the vocabulary and sayings but otherwise I enjoyed the book.
Final Jeopardy – Linda Fairstein – 3***
Linda Fairstein mined her own experience as a top prosecutor in New York’s Sex Crimes Unit for this debut thriller, starring NYC prosecutor Alexandra Cooper. It’s a fast-paced mystery with plenty of suspects, interesting plot twists, a likeable main character, and some complicated relationships. I’ll definitely read more of this series.
LINK to my review
Noah’s Ark – Translated and illustrated by Peter Spier – 5*****
A seventeenth-century Dutch poem by Jacobus Revius is the inspiration for this gloriously detailed picture book, which earned a Caldecott Medal. I poured over the illustrations, noticing the pairs of different animals, and marveling at the minute details he included. What I particularly appreciate about this richly drawn book is that it will allow children to use their imaginations to tell the story of what is happening in each panel. I don’t have any little ones in my life, but I want to go out and buy this book so I can look at the pictures again and again to my heart’s content.
LINK to my review
Into the Beautiful North – Luis Alberto Urrea – 3.5***
This is a quest novel, a coming-of-age story, and a road trip adventure, populated by one of the most eclectic cast of characters in literature. I loved Nayeli, whose smile is like the sunrise. She’s honest, fierce, loyal to her friends, and determined to succeed in her mission. The novel is translated from Spanish to English, but still includes much Spanish and even some “Spanglish.” This may be challenging for readers who don’t speak Spanish.
LINK to my review
The Naughty Book of Eel Recipes: Slippery When Wet, Keith Pepperell4 stars!
This would have been a 5-star read if not for all the Spellchecky errors ("and" used in place of "any," that sort of thing) and missing words in the text -- even missing words in the recipes. Otherwise, it was an exemplary work that does Eels the homage they truly deserve. Most of the recipes look delicious, too. I liked this one so much that I read it, went back to another book for a chapter or two, then went back to it and read it all again. This should give you some good idea about how to fix your own Eels.
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4/5 stars
Alan Bradley writes so beautifully and tenderly of his life in Canada with his mother and sisters after his father leaves the family and they struggle day to day to live. The shoebox bible refers to a box kept by his mother of bible verses that Bradley as a young child discovers. After reading this, I am pretty sure that he used his sisters as models for Falvia's sisters in his Flavia de Luce mystery series. I rarely re-read books but this is one I definitely would.
Malicious Intent – Kathryn Fox – 3.5***
Great debut in a crowded field, starring Sydney’s only female freelance forensic pathologist. Fox writes a tense, compelling mystery thriller with a (mostly) strong female lead. I had identified the culprit pretty quickly, certainly by half-way through the novel, but enjoyed watching the characters figure it out for themselves.
LINK to my review
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Books mentioned in this topic
Malicious Intent (other topics)When the Husband is the Suspect (other topics)
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI (other topics)
The Naughty Book of Eel Recipes: Slippery When Wet (other topics)
Into the Beautiful North (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Charles Dickens (other topics)Claire North (other topics)
Edna Ferber (other topics)
Jami Attenberg (other topics)
Jennifer Keishin Armstrong (other topics)
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Catch-22 – Joseph Heller – 3***
I definitely see why this is on its way to becoming a classic. Heller’s story of one unit fighting in Italy during WW2, could easily be updated to today and still ring true in many respects. It’s funny, irreverent, and disturbing. Still, satire is not my favorite genre. I appreciate it, but don’t necessarily like it.
LINK to my review