What I'm Reading - Nov & Dec 2017

[Mary]

Jasper Fforde’s THE WELL OF LOST PLOTS, the 3rd in the Thursday Next series. I enjoy the Thursday Next character and I think Jasper Fforde is amazingly creative. Sometimes, however, a book in a series fails to rise to the level of excellence the author has previously reached. Such is the case with this one. It’s good but not great. In some ways I felt Mr. Fforde was trying too hard to be clever and didn’t spend enough time developing a tight, cohesive plot.

[Book Concierge]

Hillbilly Elegy – J.D. Vance – 4****
Subtitle: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis. Vance is a former Marine, a graduate of Ohio State and Yale Law School. But getting to his current place in life was a struggle, given his family upbringing. He is brutally honest looking at his life and at the culture of the working poor. He reviews government policies, and offers insight into how the working poor, themselves, might take steps to give the next generation a fighting chance. This memoir is both brutally honest, and movingly tender.
LINK to my review

[Book Concierge]

Queen of the Air – Dean Jensen – 4****
Subtitle: A True Story of Love & Tragedy at the Circus. This is a love story, a tragedy to rival Shakespeare, a history of early twentieth century America, and a thrilling adventure. Lillian Leitzel and Alfredo Codona were the biggest stars in the early twentieth century Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. I was completed engaged and enthralled by their story.
LINK to my review

[Sherry, Doyenne]

Two Moons by Thomas Mallon
Much of this book was quite interesting, but as a whole I found it confusing. I never did understand what Hugh Allison was trying to accomplish by beaming an image of himself up into the sky. I liked that Cynthia May was a fierce independent woman, and the bits about politics were informative. But all the parts, the astronomy, the astrology, the politics, the boarding rooms, didn't add up to a very satisfying read. It seems as if Mallon had done lots of research and didn't want to waste any of it.

[Mary]

Ellis Peters’ DEAD MAN’S RANSOM, the 9th in her Cadfael series. Started in 2017 but counted towards my 2018 challenge because I finished it on New Year’s Day. Posted here because January/February thread not available yet. Mystery, suspense, and star-crossed love stories made for an engaging tale I enjoyed reading.

[Mary Anne]

All, move this discussion over to our new thread.