Cozy Mysteries discussion
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When you're not reading a cozy....
Shannon wrote: "I am reading 
It started out very good. I was hooked almost immediately."This series is crazy, but addictive.
Okay, I finished The Kitchen House byKathleen Grissom and I gave it 3 stars. I would have given it less except the middle section saved the book for me. I really thought the ending was rushed and left way too many open questions. And I have never been a fan of dividing a story (either between 2 characters or flashback) because most of the time the story suffers from that kind of storytelling and this was definitely one of those times. And considering the main character was from Ireland...where was her accent?? It's the little details like this that make a story fall apart for me. I know others may see this as petty and nitpicking, but small details in story telling can really make all of the difference in a book.I was going to read Confessions of a Prairie Bitch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated by Alison Arngrim next, but decided to save that one until I start a new cozy series (to me anyway!), Million Dollar Baby: A Marjorie McClelland Mystery by Amy Patricia Meade. Looks promising.
Just started The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet. I haven't read anything by the author, but I love historical novels and this one is set in Japan.
I'm currently reading a biography of Marie Antoinette and will be starting The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins soon.
Shay wrote: "Just started The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet. I haven't read anything by the author, but I love historical novels and this one is set in Japan."Please, let us know what you think of this one, Shay. I've read some promising reviews of it and I really like books set in Asia. Enjoy!
Currently reading
,
and
. I love Christopher Moore!
Welcome Annie!I'm reading The Scent of Rain and Lightning and Thin, Rich, Pretty - loving both of these!
Cool, Melissa! I was reading Marie Antoinette too! I also am reading (almost finished) a book about the Johnstown flood - tremendously gripping!I don't guess one would call the Spenser series
cozies and I've loved all them. I'm glad there's still another one (or maybe more) to be coming out even though he died. If anyone else enjoys Spenser, I'm cleaning house and just put a bunch of "like new" hardbacks of his up for swap. : )
I finished The Witch Doctor's Wife. I would give it a 4 1/2 stars (if there were such a thing). I really hope this is going to be a series, I would definitely read more. I sent Tamar an email and asked if in fact this is the 1st of a new series, I'll let everyone know if she answers. Still not sure this is a cozy (that's why I'm talking about it in this thread) but it was a good story. Next up is Animal Spirit Guides: An Easy-to-Use Handbook for Identifying and Understanding Your Power Animals and Animal Spirit Helpers by Steven D. Farmer. This book has a really cool cover--
. Since several people have expressed interest in totem animals I will let you know how this book compares to Ted Andrews' book
(which in MHO is the best I have read to date).
I am reading/listening to several YA books right now.
,
,
, and
.
Caroline wrote: "Cool, Melissa! I was reading Marie Antoinette too! I also am reading (almost finished) a book about the Johnstown flood - tremendously gripping!I don't guess one would call the Spenser series..."
Love Spencer, too. There are at least three more scheduled to be released within the next 12 months, including a Christmas Spencer novel.
Mod
Denise: Will look forward to hearing what you think of both of these!
I received an email back from Tamar Myers regarding The Witch Doctor's Wife. It is indeed going to be a series and the sequal she is working on is called "The Headhunter's Daughter" and she said she is hoping for a January 2011 release date. I am looking forward to it.
Finished Living with the Passive-Aggressive Man. Rather boring after the first 50 pages. Very repetitive. Started Animal Spirit Guides: An Easy-to-Use Handbook for Identifying and Understanding Your Power Animals and Animal Spirit Helpers by Steven D. Farmer. Won't say that it is better than Animal Speak: The Spiritual & Magical Powers of Creatures Great & Small but I would recommend this as a companion book to Ted's book. The difference is that Ted describes the animal and behavior and a brief one or two lines about what it would mean if this animal was a totem animal of yours. In Farmer's book there is no description of the animal. What you get is 3 things for each animal listed 1) if the animal shows up in your life what does it mean (or what could it mean) 2) when to call on this animal and 3) what it means if the animal is your totem or power animal. One thing I like about Farmer's book is that it is alphabetical by animal starting with Aardvark and going through to Zebra. Ted's book is divided up by type of animal (ie birds, animals, insects, reptiles) so that animals are a little harder to find. The other nice feature of Farmer's book is that each animal's page starts with a picture of the animal. In Ted's book there are drawings not actual pictures. I think that anyone interested in animal totems would benefit from using Steven D. Farmer's book in your research.
Kate wrote: "Oh thanks Lisa! I love archaeological mysteries -- read all the Tony Hillermans, and the Amelia Peabodys too. I'll certainly check out Anne Marie Evans & Susan Miller Cummings. Oh boy, I can't w..."Have you ever read any of James Doss books? He works with Ute Indians and their Legends. It's a hoot too!
Sara Paretsky's Body Work was terrific, I had a hard time putting that one down. Now I'm on to 
A little slow going but it's good
Kaye wrote: "Sara Paretsky's Body Work was terrific, I had a hard time putting that one down. Now I'm on to A little slow going but it's good"
Agree on BODY WORK. One of the best I've read this year.
I just finished Broken. Karin Slaughter is one of my favorite authors. Although as someone said recently about another of her books...you feel emotionally tired after reading her. The only bad thing about finishing the book is that I know I'll have to wait a year for the next one!
I just finished
on my way to work. My husband bought it several months ago because it was yellow. Yup. Yellow.It's absurd, but hilarious. I really enjoyed it.
I'm also starting
later today as my U selection for the summer challenge.
Cozies first but... I read lots of UF and a little paranormal romance. I like horror (books with monster monsters rather than human monsters) and I read a lot of non-fiction for research. These are my main diversions but I read in all genres-- a good book is a good book.
Erin wrote: "I just finished on my way to work. My husband bought it several months ago because it was yellow. Yup. Yellow.It's absurd, but hilarious. I really enjoyed it.
I'm..."
A.Lee Martinez is definitely off the wall. Have you read
? It's a hoot!
I'm almost done with
and
. Am also reading
. It's a YA UF. The Moore & Marrone books are my M books for the Summer Challenge.
I'm reading An Open Book by Michael Dirda. Dirda is the winner of the Pulitzer Prize. This is a "book about books" as Dirda tells the story of how he came to read and what he read as he grew up. I love this kind of book. I'm thoroughly enjoying it.
Just about to start The Last Will of Moira Leahy: A Novel by Therese Walsh. Any thoughts on this one?
Kelley wrote: "Just about to start The Last Will of Moira Leahy: A Novel by Therese Walsh. Any thoughts on this one?" i'd be interested in opinions too, as I have this one languishing on the shelf.
I've just started reading The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements by Sam Kean and Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother and Other Botanical Atrocities by Amy Stewart. Both look really interesting so far, but I'm a bit of a geek. :)
Finished
A really good easy to read cozy and am now starting
For some reason, anything set in Russian intrigues me but this one is also set in Boston. Promises to be a wonderful read.
I'm not a huge fan of romance, but I am loving
probably because it's not a typical romance. Lots of laudanum and despair and men behaving very badly, although all ends well, of course. Lush and intriguing and quite funny at times (note -- I'm reading it for review purposes, so it's not officially out yet, but it is a bombastic way to spend some time in Regency London).
I recently finished reading the four books (to date) in Ariana Franklin's Mistress of the Art of Death series. If you like historical mysteries, I highly recommend them. They take place during the time of Henry II and are both fascinating stories and very well researched.
Lois Winston
www.loiswinston.com
Can't seem to get through
so I think I will give Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfulsa try.
I have The first Mistress of Death book in a pile so I'll be reading it shortly
Kaye wrote: "Shay wrote: "Just started The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet. I haven't read anything by the author, but I love historical novels and this one is set in Japan."Please, let us ..."
Kaye, it was a great book. Usually when I read books written by a white man about Asia or Hawaii, it's so bad I get physically uncomfortable reading it. (Like Molokai) It was an amazing book, I'm going to read everything the author has ever written.
Leslie wrote: "I just finished Broken. Karin Slaughter is one of my favorite authors. Although as someone said recently about another of her books...you feel emotionally tired after reading her. ..."I am a big fan of her books. I have yet to get my hands on this one-glad to know that it was so good!
Lois wrote: "I recently finished reading the four books (to date) in Ariana Franklin's Mistress of the Art of Death series. If you like historical mysteries, I hi..."
I just looked at your page and the book coming out looks like it will be a good one. I will have to try it out!
Shay wrote: "Kaye wrote: "Shay wrote: "Just started The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet. I haven't read anything by the author, but I love historical novels and this one is set in Japan."Plea..."
Thanks for your thoughts, Shay. This one is definitely going on my list.
Just started Lonesome Dove. People kept mentioning this book and even though I don't read, or even like Westerns, it sounded fascinating.
Shay wrote: "Just started Lonesome Dove. People kept mentioning this book and even though I don't read, or even like Westerns, it sounded fascinating."It is a really good book and I don't care for Westerns either. I loved TV mini-series. Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones were wonderful as Gus & Woodrow.
Right now I'm reading In the Heart of the Amazon
I'm reading The Royals by Kitty Kelley and listening to The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson. I always have to have a history or biography going. When I finish The Royals, I plan to move on to Shelby Foote's The Civil War: Fort Sumter to Perryville, Vol. 1
If you like American Civil War fiction based on a lot of research, Killer Angels by Michael Shaara is terrific. And I don't generally read much of anything set during the Civil War. I tend to enjoy NF books on earth science or books about knitting or beading.
Thanks, Sandra. I'll add it to my ridiculously long tbr list! The Civil War (American) is one of my favorite periods to read about. I want to get some reading done this year as am planning a trip to Gettysburg next year ... either spring or fall.
Sandra J wrote: "If you like American Civil War fiction based on a lot of research, Killer Angels by Michael Shaara is terrific. And I don't generally read much of anything set during the Civil War. I tend to enj..."My husband doesn't read a lot, but he did read KILLER ANGELS a few years back and he really liked it.
I checked it out & see it's the 2nd book in a trilogy so I added all of them. I think my husband would like them, too.
If you're going to Gettysburg, you have to read Killer Angels because the whole book is the Battle of Gettysburg told from the different points of views of some of the commanders. And there's a movie called Gettysburg based on Killer Angels. I saw it a long time ago, and if I remember correctly it's really long-about four hours-but very good. These were the only books I read about the Civil War which is generally so not my preferred reading; but as you can tell, I got sucked right in.
We watched it last summer & plan to watch it again before we go. I can identify with getting sucked in. My sons all love fantasy type stories & finally, after years, convinced me to read the Dritz trilogy ... Ice Wind, I think. Definitely NOT my type of book, but I couldn't put it down until I finished all 3 of them. R. A. Salvatore is a great writer. I haven't read any more of his only because there are so many books to read & I have so little time! LOL Thanks for the recommendation. I will definitely check these out.
Oops! It was the Dark Elf Trilogy by R. A. Salvatore. Awesome books!!
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I finally finished An Open Book: Coming of Age in the Heartland. This started out so good but then I became intimidated by the books this guy was reading at an early age and by the time he got to college I just couldn't relate at all. Only gave the book 3 stars and I'm thinking that may be too high.Next up is Hanta Yo: An American Saga by Ruth Beebe Hill. Here's part of what the inside fly leaf says about it: "This is the story of an original people, a multigenerational saga which reveals for the first time an American Indian culture from the inside. Based on a document recorded on tanned hide by a member of the Mahto band of the Teton Sioux, Hanta Yo takes us into the lives of two families of this band and describes their world as it was from the late 1700s to the 1830s, before the white man came onto the red man's territory, before any influencing contact with traders and missionaries."
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Cozy Mysteries
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I am new :)
My most satisying non-cozy reads are:
-Not Buying it: My Year Without Shopping by Judith Levine
-It's All Too Much: Living a richer life with less stuff
Am currently reading: A Perfect Mess: The Hidden Benefits of Disorder
Usually love Agatha Christie (nearly read all 70!), Linwood Barclay (didn't like his last two, his first ones were exceptional) and have recently discovered the Kurt Wallander series by Henkell Manning.
Annie :)