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Personal Challenges - 2017
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Debbie's reading of 2017
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Number: 51Book: The Grave's A Fine & Private Place
Author: ALan Bradley
Finished: 24 Sep 2017
Comment: I jumped into Alan Bradley’s series set in England in the 1950’s with the first book. I adore Flavia and her two sisters and many of the minor characters, but Alan Bradley has infused too much chemistry into the story. The earlier books described Flavia’s laboratory and her fascination with poison, but this monstrous motif has ruined many a good story. Of course, Flavia dotes on death. Do you remember her experiments with her dead mother? I have missed a few books of the series, due to deciding never to read another Flavia mystery, but fate bombarded my resolve, and I just finished The Grave’s a Fine and Private Place. The opening chapter presents many changes in the family. Alan Bradley walks into the mind and language of Flavia and her crazy world in another endearing story.
Number: 52Book: Wrong Side of the Paw
Author: Laurie Cass
Finished: 27 Sep 2017
Comment: Market a book as a cat mystery and I will jump at the chance to slink to a cozy place and curl up with a book. This series falls into a lovely shore in Michigan at the beginning of fall. Assistant director and librarian Minnie and her frisky cat, Eddie, win the hearts of the small community with her pleasing manner and her winning personality, but when murder strikes, Minnie is all business. I have not read the previous novels in this series, but I enjoyed this cozy mystery. Laurie Cass follows all the set formulas to present a story rich in the importance of a library. The characters fall a little flat, but a cozy mystery omits psychology and emotions of the killer. The story mentions a little food, no big discussion of food nor fashion. The Bookmobile Cat series becomes a beach read, nothing involving too much thought.
Number: 53Book: Working Stiff
Author: Annelise Ryan
Finished: 29 Sep 2017
Comment: I felt like I ran into a more sophisticated Stephanie Plum with all the eating and mishaps by Mattie Winston. Mattie, a nurse, has joined the medical examiner's team, and the adventures Mattie encounters remind me of Janet Evanovich's writing. Wisconsin replaces New Jersey, and the medical profession replaces bounty hunting in this hilarious series. Annelise Ryan saunters into the autopsy lab with ease and utilitizes expertise in resolving a murder. I love the small kitten, Rubbish, and would love to catch and hug him. Of course, that euphoria could extend to Detective Steve Hurley. This story does not fall 100% under a cozy mystery, but not a hard-core thriller.
Number: 54Book: The Whole Town's Talking
Author: Fannie Flagg
Finished: 08 Oct 2017
Comment: This is not one of the better novels by Fannie Flagg. Flagg's novel spans too many years and reads like the book of Genesis of the Bible. The novel seems to be who begat who, and in the end, the reader has too many characters to remember. Flagg does bring into the novel all the historic events form the 1890's to the 2010's. The majority of the story deals with the town's dead residents talking among themselves that parallels Spoon River Anthology. The story deals with death and how people handle death. The story also centers on love and disappointment, but again too many characters and too long in time. Too many issues remain unresolved.
Number: 55Book: Bittersweet
Author: Susan Wittig Albert
Finished: 10 Oct 2017
Comment: Susan Wittig Albert writes several series and I have enjoyed reading two of them. The China Bayles series contains many recipes and interesting tidbits on spices and herbs. This novel dealt with deer hunting in Texas on preserves where the deer are genetically improved for better hunting. I guess I always thought that these preserves were for big game hunting, and that deer did not fall into this realm. After reading this book, my dislike of deer hunting greatly increased and taste for venison disappeared. Susan W Albert introduces many new characters, such as the adopted daughter of China and her husband. Bittersweet, the ranch of China's mother and step-father, provides a peaceful garden to the frantic deer hunting.
Number: 56Book: The Highwayman
Author: Craig Johnson
Finished: 14 Oct 2017
Comment: The Highwayman by Craig Johnson stands as a spiritual journey for Standing Bear, Walt, and Rosey Wayman. The story ends will little resolution and many questions as to what happened. The story presents a story and asks for the reader to believe the events based on no physical evidence, a parallel to Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny or even God. Bobby Womack, a policeman in Wyoming has been dead decades, but Rosey Wayman believes Bobby contacts her. Standing Bear and Walt meet with Rosey and stand watch for Bobby Womack. Craig Johnson, a master storyteller, weaves other interesting characters into the story. Johnson also provides moments of comic relief with Standing Bear and Walt. The story ends quickly with the reader left to reason the outcome.
Number: 57Book: A Wee Murder in My Shop
Author: Fran Stewart
Finished: 17 Oct 2017
Comment: A Wee Murder in My Shop by Fran Stewart falls under the cozy mystery category, which is nice, but sometimes tiresome. Stewart employs many Scottish words and sayings that the reader does not understand. The fact that a very old ghost stands as one of the main characters fall sadly to oblivion. This is not the tale of The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, but a sad attempt to bring history into the novel. Plus, the main character, Peggy Winn, has relatives everywhere---working for her and as best friends. Peggy also has a twin brother who is paralyzed from the waist to his legs. The story does not begin with a murder, but with a buying trip to Scotland for Peggy, as she owns a Scotland themed shop. The story missed many elements that were exposed in the beginning, but never came to fruition. The series does not interest me.
Number: 58Book: Murder Wears Mittens
Author: Sally Goldenbaum
Finished: 20 Oct 2017
Comment: I thoroughly enjoy the Seaside Knitters Society series withal the food, great friendship, and lovely community values. I would love to go to Nell and Ben's Friday night get-together. The weather and the sea play important roles in each story. The characters present all ages and levels of society. Goldenbaum shows the pitfalls of life such as drug addiction and greed, so all is not rosy. The knitting draws the reader into plans to knit for causes and for special events. Cass and her bountiful fishing show that the fishing life remains a factor in many seaside towns. The story centers on women and has men circling this feminine perimeter and acting as helpmates.
Number: 59Book: Pupcakes
Author: Annie England Noblin
Finished: 20 Oct 2017
Comment: Let me state that I am a cat lover, and barely tolerate dogs. But who can help falling in love with an older pug named Teddy Roosevelt? Many stories deal with women in bad relationships or in the process of leaving a cheating husband. What is going on with these unfaithful men? Brydie Benson divorces her cheating husband and moves into a home that belongs to a lady now living in a retirement center. Brydie must cohabitate the house with the old lady's dog, Teddy Roosevelt. The story begins in fall and escalates to Christmas and all the wonderful and magical events that happen at Christmas. Life displays ups and downs, and a golden future enters very seldom. Brydie, Pauline Neumann, and Nathan Reid represent worthy and enjoyable characters.
Number: 60Book: The Twelve Clues of Christmas
Author: Rhys Bowen
Finished: 25 Oct 2017
Comment: I have enjoyed the beginning of the holiday season by reading many Christmas novels, and The Twelve Clues of Christmas presents a wonderful English country holiday. Lady Georgiana ventures to a quaint village to spend Christmas close to where her mother and Noel Coward are working on a play. Her grandfather and his girlfriend also join the excursion as help for Noel Coward. Unfortunately, death enters the joyous season daily and Georgie and Darcy hasten to find answers. Rhys Bowen does an excellent job in describing the various customs and events of the season, and all the delicious food. The twelve days of Christmas theme briefly appears in the final chapters.
Number: 61Book: Last Kiss
Author: Luanne Rice
Finished: 29 Oct 2017
Comment: As I read stories around the United States, I find some enjoyable reading, and some so-so reading. This mystery set in Connecticut falls under the so-so reading. The story centers on young love and old love with a mushy ending. A young eighteen-year-old boy, Charlie, dies a brutal killing. Charlie's mother old boyfriend arrives to learn what happened. The discovery stuns the reader and the people involved. Luanne Rice weaves witch craft and music into the story, but each does not reach the ultimate goal of entertaining. Not a series that captured my longing for more books.
Number: 62Book: The Girl from Venice
Author: Martin Cruz Smith
Finished: 05 Nov 2017
Comment: An overabundance of WWII stories covers the shelves, still many novels pass muster and entertain the reader. The Girl from Venice twists the story of a Jewish girl adrift in Italy during the last days of WWII. While fishing, Cenzo discovers Giulia. Cenzo must now hide Giulia and find someone to take her to safety as the Germans are herding Jews and killing them. Martin Cruz Smith captures the beauty of the sea, the fish, and the art of fishing in this story of love. Many authors concentrate on the hardships of the war and the terrible events that happen, but Smith glides over all the tragedies. Of course, the jealousy among brothers permeates the story, but in the end, Cenzo follows his heart and conscience.
Number: 63Book: A Crime of Passion Fruit
Author: Ellie Alexander
Finished: 08 Nov 2017
Comment: I seem to gravitate to cozy mysteries. A Crime of Passion Fruit fits that bill. The story does not display a graphic murder scene. Juliet Capshaw and her mother, Helen, run Torte, a bakery in Oregon. In her past life, Jules worked on various cruise ships as a pastry chef. Now her estranged husband, Carlos, has asked for Jules assistance for a few days on the cruise ship he works. As a push to get Jules to agree, Juliet’s mother and her mother’s boyfriend, the Professor, will be given a free cruise. Jules, Helen, and the Professor, all board the ship in hopes of fun and relaxation, but a death of a young woman ends that dream. Ellie Alexander provides a detailed explanation of the life of the employees on a cruise ship. Lavish food and entertainment surround the passengers. The series showcases plenty of amazing recipes.
Number: 64Book: Nothing Gold Can Stay
Author: Ron Rash
Finished: 12 Nov 2017
Comment: In Nothing Gold Can Stay, Ron Rash delivers short stories from after the Civil War to current times in the North Carolina mountains. The stories portray the hardness of life and the many choices that every individual must make in life. The stories portray all different levels of society, but most center on the struggling farmer. The reader sees men with hardened prejudice that only an eye for an eye judgment gives retribution. Ron Rash does not give a clear ending to each story, and the reader can only assume the true course of the ending. Each story vividly describes the people and setting. But as a reader, I am not a fan of the short story which I feel just begins to come to life when the story has ended and leaving the reader stranded in uncertainty.
Number: 65Book: Glass Houses
Author: Louise Penny
Finished: 21 Nov 2017
Comment: Louise Penny tells a moving story with eloquent language and heart-rending emotion. This story deals with conscience for your deeds and people void of any conscience. The village of Three Pines harbors a brutal killer, but the authorities cannot determine a motive. Gamache and his select team rush to complete a sting of the drug lords and find the murderer in Three Pines. Are the two projects connected? Louise Penny creates multi-dimensional characters and a sweeping setting. The story seesaws between the past and the current trial of the murderer, but the reader does not know who sits in the defender's seat until the end of the book. My favorite characters, besides Gamache, are Ruth and Clara. These two women possess the heart of the community.
Number: 66Book: Anne of Green Gables
Author: L M Montgomery
Finished: 10 Dec 2017
Comment: A very delightful story about a young orphan girl in Canada, but what a mouth on that Anne. She never stops talking. The story centers on each season and the beauty of nature in each season with the flowers and animals and weather. Anne flits in and out of adventures, but remains a constant friend to the community. I love all the events that happen in a world without television and Internet. The story contains very few disappointments as Anne never lets life sadden her.
Number: 67Book: In the Bleak Midwinter
Author: Julia Spencer-Fleming
Finished: 10 Dec 2017
Comment: I read one Clare Ferguson book, One Was a Soldier, and did not enjoy the story. This book introduces Clare and Russ, and the story progresses from this meeting. Clare, a minister, finds a baby in the church. While Clare and Russ attempt to find the mother, a young woman has been killed. The suspect list enlarges as the police search for the baby's father. The story plunges into several dysfunctional families and a wealthy couple desperately wanting a baby. The winter's bleakness overshadows the story. Julia Spencer-Fleming inserts many characters into the story, but this does not destroy the story as each character arrives systematically.
Number: 68Book: Phoebe's Light
Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher
Finished: 11 Dec 2017
Comment: The book thoroughly surprised me. I loved the two stories: one in 1658 and one in 1767. The two women are both very complex women. I also enjoyed reading about the different times in history of Nantucket Island. I did not know that in the 1660's in Massachusetts that religious persecution existed. The Quakers faced terrible times and risked their life for their beliefs. The story of a whaling/fishing community opened my eyes. I did not realize that a ship could be at sea for 2 years or longer. The women left behind faced many hazards and learned self-reliance. The characters, especially the women, show strength and endurance. Many of the men are shiftless and brutal.
Number: 69Book: The Night the Lights Went Out
Author: Karen White
Finished: 18 Dec 2017
Comment: A surprising and developed story to delight the reader during the holiday season. Karen White developed many fascinating characters for this Southern yarn. Sugar wins the award as the best Southern character since Scarlett O'Hare. The many settings within Georgia and South Carolina provide wonderful examples of the richness of the South. The neighborhood blog outlines the problems and issues within the small Georgia community where everyone knows everyone's business. Merilee T Dunlap and her children seek to rebuild a life after a divorce, but secrets from Merilee's past invade their security and serenity. The story alternates between Sugar Prescott, a neighbor of over 90, and Merilee's past and present, and ends with resounding clarity.
Book: Today Will Be Different
Author: Maria Semple
Finished: 23 Sep 2017
Comment: Finally---a woman who thinks and acts like me. Eleanor, a highly intelligent and creative woman, has been reduced to a life as a mother amid all the trivial happenings of each day. Eleanor spends her days taking classes and interacting with her son, Timby, and her dog, Yoyo. Then chaos strikes and the whole day goes haywire. As Eleanor struggles through this one day, she reminisces on her family, her jobs, and her unfinished graphic novel. Maria Semple paints a truthful look at a woman balancing work, family, and home, but whose dreams exceed her grasp. As an animal lover, the forgetfulness of Yoyo leaves me speechless. But as Eleanor fights her dragons while lugging Timby, Joe, her husband, plunges into a foray alone. One of these adults needs to circle the ground and land into normalcy. The writing elicits many emotions, but the skipping to Eleanor’s musing becomes a little vague, at times.