Cozy Mysteries discussion
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When you're not reading a cozy....
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Sandie
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May 30, 2010 02:00PM
Me too. Keep waiting for the powers that be in Hollywood to "discover" Jeffrey Donovan and his sidekick Bruce Campbell. Maybe they could be Elvis Cole and Joe Pike.....or maybe Donovan could be Jack Reacher. Ya think????
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Also liked the first couple seasons of LEVERAGE. Have you seen that one???
I'm now reading Stieg Larsson's THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET'S NEST. I'm about two-thirds of the way through it, and loving it!
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Sniff...I miss having cable.
I finished The House on Mango Street before bed last night. Couldn't get much farther than that than the book I started this afternoon, Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris. Have not got very far into it yet, but hey - it's a three-day weekend! Guess what I'll be doing tomorrow? *grin*
Sandie wrote: "Also liked the first couple seasons of LEVERAGE. Have you seen that one???"Leverage is great! And no one I know seems to have heard of it.
Sheila wrote: "I'm now reading Stieg Larsson's THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET'S NEST. I'm about two-thirds of the way through it, and loving it!"I am jealous! I listened to the first two on audio (which I recommend), so I am waiting for my library to get the audio.
Sandie wrote: "Also liked the first couple seasons of LEVERAGE. Have you seen that one???"At the time it started I decided not to start any new shows, so I have skipped it, but I think Netflix has the seasons streaming for free, so I may check it out :) p.s. My decision not to watch anymore new shows has been a complete failure!
Finished THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET'S NEST. A thrilling and complex read, with a most satisfying conclusion!
BookWorm wrote: "I'm glad to hear Dead in the Family is a little slower. I enjoy action-packed novels too, but there's gotta be more than just a little action to suit my tastes.Kaye, that's an awesome pick. I hop..."
I'm only about 1/3 of the way through and it is good so far. I do love Tolstoy but Anna Karenina is still my all time fave. I'm reading other books along with W&P. Don't think I could take a steady diet of it with no other distractions. Have a good week, everybody!
Janet wrote: "I love anything by Dorothea Benton Frank"I'm with you, kiddo! I can't wait for her new one Lowcountry Summer. It either comes out this month or next.
After taking several days to finish Whose Body?, a mere 212 pages--I should have been able to read that in one day but I kept putting it down. (Slow and boring) Anyway, I think I need a cozy break, so I went to my library account to see if anything I have checked out can't be renewed and Parting Gifts was the only one so I guess that is my next read. I started it a few weeks ago, got to page 12 and started reading something else. As I remember (which isn't much) the first few pages did not "pull me in". I am going to re-read those pages and if I still am not getting into it the book is going back to the library. The premise of the book is that Kyra Latimer our protagonist loses her husband to a freak accident and she can't absorb the fact of his being gone and doesn't feel that she will be able to move into the future without him. On the day of his burial a young woman with a small boy shows up claiming to be the child Kyra gave up for adoption 20+ years ago. Kyra refuses to believe this is her daughter however the woman, Jennifer, insists on leaving her three-year-old son with his grandmother. If Kyra won't take the boy, Jennifer is going to turn him over the Children's Services. Kyra takes the child. It turns out that the child is not "ordinary" (not explained on inside cover), the story unfolds from there.
Wed. morning: I am 54 pages into Parting Gifts and this go-round I got right into it. I'm curious to see what happens.
I am currently reading The Mountain Reader (Nature Conservancy Books) by John A. Murray, and enjoying it very much!
When not reading a cozy, I tend toward the classics and historical fiction, and fiction with an Asian theme. Some of my fave authors are Joanne Harris, Daphne Du Maurier, Louisa May Alcott, Jane Austen, Kim Edwards, Jasper Fforde, Lisa See, Anchee Min, and Alice Hoffman.
I have finished Parting Gifts. It is a 5 star +. I will have to tell you though, if you cry easily this is a toughie to get through. I had to put it down several times I was crying so hard I couldn't breathe (and that puts me into a panic attack which isn't a good thing). I don't know where I have been all these years but I have never heard of Charlotte Vale Allen and this woman has written bunches of books. I looked to see if there was a sequal to Parting Gifts because I could have kept reading this story to see where it would go. If you are going to read a non-cozy please pick this book up and read it. If you go back to message 572 you can read what the story is about. I will tell you there is a twist at the almost end of the book that I didn't see coming, it was a WOW factor. If you can't tell, I LOVED THIS BOOK. I have read some really good books this year but I think Parting Gifts has leaped into my #1 slot for the year.
Just finished THE SECRET OF RAIN AND LIGHTENING by Nancy Picard. This is a great read and would be an excellent choice for book clubs. Lots of fodder for discussion.
Mod
I have finished Naked in Cyberspace: How to Find Personal Information Online. This is an excellent resource for anyone doing a little research. There are large sections on adoptees searching for their biological families and also a nice section on genealogy research. I am currently reading another non-cozy but this is a work of fiction. I'm pretty sure that I saw it referred to here. It is called The Irresistible Henry House. It is an interesting story based on a real program in home economics run by several colleges/universities in the early 1900s. In these home ec courses they would get a baby from a local orphanage and keep them for two years. The home economics students would rotate taking care of the baby. This book is a fictional story of one of those babies lives.
I read Henry House a month or so ago. I would be interested in discovering what you thought of Henry (the character). You can check out my review after you've finished to see if we agree.
Sandie wrote: "I read Henry House a month or so ago. I would be interested in discovering what you thought of Henry (the character). You can check out my review after you've finished to see if we agree."Sandie: Although I thought The Irresistible Henry House to be an interesting story I really didn't warm up to Henry as a character. In fact, I thought he was an insufferable ass for most of his adult life. I can understand his character trait of not wanting to pick favorites or letting the person he was with at the moment think she was his favorite but his total lack of feeling for anyone except himself really turned me off to him as a person (ie character). Little bits of humanity came through periodically like when he spoke at Emem's funeral but overall Henry was a self-centered jerk.
The whole concept of the home economics program discussed in this book was odd to me. I am adopted and I know that infants are the most sought after children for adoption. I would think keeping a baby in this program until they were two would make these babies now toddlers less desirable candidates for adoption. I also think that (like Henry) these now toddlers would have a hard time accepting a single mother especially one they've never met before. I can see the confusion for the child but I think Henry's character took it to the extreme.
So, overall I thought the subject of the book interesting but I didn't particularly like the story as written.
I just finished reading Arabella by Georgette Heyer. My goodness! Why have I never come across her before?! I L-O-V-E Regency romances, but was getting sick of all the typical ones I was finding lately. Heyer's like a breath of fresh air. There's an actual plot, and the characters are realistic and likeable, even when you're pulling your hair out at their silliness!Kaye, that's a really smart thing you're doing by reading other books while reading W&P. I think I might borrow your strategy to get through Middlemarch and Vanity Fair. My goal is to finish those two by the end of this year. I finished the first book in both novels, but I haven't touched them since, and I really think I ought to.
BookWorm wrote: "I just finished reading Arabella by Georgette Heyer. My goodness! Why have I never come across her before?! I L-O-V-E Regency romances, but was getting sick of all the typical ones I was finding la..."I remember trying a Georgette Heyer book years ago, must have been 11 or 12. I couldn't get into regency type books then either. She was very popular with a couple of my friends back then, tho.
Denise wrote: "Sandie wrote: "I read Henry House a month or so ago. I would be interested in discovering what you thought of Henry (the character). You can check out my review after you've finished to see if we ..."Was happy to see that someone else felt about Henry as I did. What an ass.
Do you really think that a child of two is less desirable than an infant? I can understand people not wanting to adopt children between 7 and 13 (when they go through the stage where they are perceived as not being "cute and cuddly) but I would think a two year old would be great. I am not familiar with the adoption process but doesn't it take a year or more for all the appropriate paperwork and background checks,etc. to be completed. (Unless it is a private adoption or the mother is a surrogate). Don't really know, just wondering.
So far I've enjoyed Georgette Heyer's THESE OLD SHADES and DEVIL'S CUB, and am planning to read more. I have THE GRAND SOPHY and FREDERICA on hand, also a couple of her mysteries.
I just started the audio version of Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin. When I was in college I was a big chick lit fan. It all started with the Shopaholic series. I've enjoyed Giffin's books so far. They're nothing super outstanding, but they hold my interest enough to pick up all her new releases.
Sheila wrote: "So far I've enjoyed Georgette Heyer's THESE OLD SHADES and DEVIL'S CUB, and am planning to read more. I have THE GRAND SOPHY and FREDERICA on hand, also a couple of her mysteries."I like Heyer's mysteries. Two I read this year are and
Death in the Stocks
I finished The Kitchen House last night, a 5 star read. The book takes place in the pre-civil war years so of course it covers slavery but with a twist. Not only does it cover black slaves but also the main character, Lavinia, is a white slave--an indentured servant. This is an excellent book, I would highly recommend it, just make sure you have your tissues handy.After The Kitchen House, I tried to get into The Friendly Jane Austen. I made it through 35 pages and then gave it up. I guess I have to admit that I'm just not a Jane Austen fan (or Charles Dickens either).
Next up I am going to read Homer's Odyssey: a Fearless Feline Tale, or How I Learned About Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat. Someone recommended it earlier in this thread and since it is about a cat I put it on reserve. I picked it up yesterday and despite the fact I have at least 16 other library books sitting around that's what I want to read next.
Homer's Odyssey: a Fearless Feline Tale, or How I Learned About Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat is a very interesting read. The poor little abandoned kitty had an eye infection and had to have both of his eyes removed. The author, Gwen Cooper, adopted the little guy. This is his story.
Denise wrote: "Homer's Odyssey: a Fearless Feline Tale, or How I Learned About Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat is a very interesting read. The poor little abandoned kitty had an eye infection..."I liked this book when I read it a couple of months ago. I think I was the one who mentioned it earlier in the thread. The writer's story wasn't quite as interesting to me as Homer's was.
Melodie wrote: "I liked this book when I read it a couple of months ago. I think I was the one who mentioned it earlier in the thread. The writer's story wasn't quite as interesting to me as Homer's was..."I agree, Melodie. I am on page 70 of the book and it is "all about the kitty" that is the draw of the story.
Mod
I have looked over my library stack and I don't have a mystery in the bunch. Guess I will be writing in this thread a lot!
I'm also reading Nowhere to Run, Dru. As well as Junkyard Dogs by Craig Johnson. Some of the non-fiction books I've read and loved include
, Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl and
Still slogging away at War & Peace and just finished Nancy Thayer's new book, Beachcombers and enjoyed it tremendously. Thayer can really make her characters come alive and of course the Nantucket setting couldn't be better. Loved it! Just before that I finished Revenge Served Cold. Arrrgh!
I finished up
I have the next one waiting for me on my eReader, but for now I'm reading
that my sister in law loaned to me on the weekend so Anne gets a break for now :)
Denise wrote: "I have finished Parting Gifts. It is a 5 star +. I will have to tell you though, if you cry easily this is a toughie to get through. I had to put it down several times I was crying so..."Denise
My daughter's middle name is Denise (after a teen age friend of mine). I just ordered Parting Gifts to read a book so highly recommended.
Melodie, if you think you'd like reading a Regency book, I'd highly recommend Georgette Heyer to you. I can see how she's an author that would be appealing to 11 and 12 year olds, but that's not to say that it's not "high" enough for adults like us to read. Actually, I think I appreciated Jane Austen and other good romance novels more as I grew older than I did when I was younger.Sheila, I was thinking about picking up Frederica and Devil's Cub as well. Well, I was thinking about Devil's Cub more than Frederica, but I'm sure they're all really good.
Kaye, I wanted to pick up a mystery from Heyer, but my library didn't have any available, so I tried her Regency classic. I'd be interested in seeing how she writes murder, though. :-) And good luck with War & Peace! I am seriously inspired to go back and try reading some of my old classics with the Kaye method. #1 on my list is Oliver Twist.
Erin, how are you liking A Thousand Splendid Suns? I have that and The Kite Runner waiting for me, but for some strange reason, I can't find it within me to pick them up and start reading. I don't know why.
I'm still waiting for my copy of Fellowship of Fear from the library, so I just finished reading Excellent Women by Barbara Pym. It was a good read, not too long, but it left me feeling a little melancholy/depressed.
I'm about to start The Blue Castle by Lucy Maud Montgomery today. Woo hoo!
I love all of the regency romance novels by Marion Chesney's (aka M.C. Beaton). I like the humor mixed in them, and that they are not too smutty.
Heidi wrote: "I love all of the regency romance novels by Marion Chesney's (aka M.C. Beaton). I like the humor mixed in them, and that they are not too smutty."There you go......I'm lost without my smut!! ;-)
Erin, I'm also taking a break from Anne. I'm thinking I'll read Anne's House of Dreams sometime in July. I've read both The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns. I thought they were both excellent books. They're definitely not fluff though. Parts of them were really hard (emotionally) to read. If you like them, you might also try I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced. It didn't have quite the same power for me, but it's along similar lines.
I just started a romance today. I'm reading Nobody's Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. It's part of her Chicago Stars series. I've got this one and one more to complete the series. For some reason, I have a tendency to put off reading these. I always end up enjoying them once I get into them. I just have a hard time starting them. It takes some motivation.
Melodie wrote: "There you go......I'm lost with..."Ha! I would still highly recommend them Melodie :)
Courtney wrote: "Erin, I'm also taking a break from Anne. I'm thinking I'll read Anne's House of Dreams sometime in July. I've read both The Kite Runner and [book:A Thousand Splendid S..."Wow you are in for some heavy reading!
A Thousand Splendid Suns was fantastic. I couldn't put it down at all, it was so fascinating for me. It is really heavy reading though so be prepared for that. I was VERY emotional when I finished it. It's probably one of the few books I would consider "beautiful." Very sad, but beautiful at the same time.So now I'm following it up with Stardust which my husband describes as funny and beautiful - an odd description for him.
I started a new audiobook this morning. I'm listening to The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. I've been putting this one off for awhile.
I finished Homer's Odyssey: a Fearless Feline Tale, or How I Learned About Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat last night. This was a very good read. Even if you aren't a cat lover (like I am) you will be touched by this scrappy little guy who lost his eyes when just a couple weeks old but is not handicapped in the least. I have to admit though I needed kleenex to get through it in at least two sections. I would highly recommend.Although you might think what I'm reading now is odd,
Antique Trader Collectible Cookbooks Price Guide, I am enjoying it. I have quite a few cookbooks and wanted to see if any were listed. This is not only a price guide but also gives you info on collecting cookbooks and talks about some of the premier cookbook authors over the years. I'm almost done with it as it is a quick read.
I am also reading Super Searchers Make It On Their Own: Top Independent Information Professionals Share Their Secrets for Starting and Running a Research Business. This is a "business read" but pretty interesting. The author, Suzanne Sabroski, interviews some of the top independent information professionals and they talk about how they started their business, what websites they find most helpful, etc. It is a good read for someone that does internet research.
The next "story book" up for me is I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced. I saw this featured here on Goodreads in an ad and had to read it. I was married (the first time) at 16, divorced at 19. The book is a true story about a 10 year old girl in Yemen that was married in an arranged marriage to a man 3 times her age who was abusive. Nujood was the first child bride in Yemen to ever win a divorce. I will probably start it later today.
Courtney wrote: "I started a new audiobook this morning. I'm listening to The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. I've been putting this one off for awhile."I plan to listen to this on audio soon too :)
Erin I like Neil Gaimen and I liked the movie Stardust with Claire Danes.
Denise, I recently finished I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced. Have you read A Thousand Splendid Suns?
Heidi, I'll have to try some M.C. Beaton. But I also like some smut in my romance. Not all of them, mind, but some of them. :-)I'm always scared of EMOTIONAL books. There are days when my life is emotional enough, so I don't need to supplement that with a book that makes me feel worse. But I really do want to read The Kite Runner. I know I just need to sit down and do it one day.
That's also probably why I can't read books about animals (i.e. Marley, Homer's Odyssey).
Courtney, I read The Lost Symbol. I didn't like it as much as The Da Vinci Code but it's still fairly interesting. I actually did some research on the concepts presented in the book, and I've gotta say, it's really intriguing.
Need to add Stardust to my TBR pile.
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Cozy Mysteries
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