When you're not reading a cozy.... Showing 51-100 of 5,946

[Betty]

I read almost anything with cozies in between, sort of like a comfort sandwich. Beth, have you read Carolina de Robertis' "The Invisible Mountain"? I just finished it, a lyrical tale of three generations of women through the 20th century in Uruguay and Argentina. Posted a review: http://nightreader-bookblog.blogspot....

[Lisa]

Dear Dorothy
I couldn't agree with you more!I'm also glad I'm not the only one who just wasn't keen on the Twilight series.

[Melodie]

Lisa wrote: "Dear Dorothy
I couldn't agree with you more!I'm also glad I'm not the only one who just wasn't keen on the Twilight series. "

I think I liked the Twilight books because they spoke to the teenage girl that's still buried inside me and likes to raise her head every now & again just to let me know she's still there.

[Denise]

Lisa wrote: "Dear Dorothy
I couldn't agree with you more!I'm also glad I'm not the only one who just wasn't keen on the Twilight series. "

I'm going to show my age here but to me Dracula is Bella Lugosi and only Bella Lugosi.

[Denise]

I am currently reading 92 Pacific Boulevard.

After I came home from AZ, I went to the library to pick out some books until my books that were on order (but I had put a vacation hold on) came in. My small branch does not have many cozies so I ended picking up mostly non-mysteries. Then yesterday 6 of my reserved books came in and none of them can be renewed. That's bad, I must read, and read quickly so I can get them all read before having to take them back. So besides 92 Pacific Boulevard which by the way is excellent (as all Debbie Macomber books are) I have to zip through:

Mitch Albom's Have a Little Faith The Story of a Last Request

Plum Pudding Murder (yes, a cozy!)

Home by Marilynne Robinson--I have never read any of Robinson's work but in the description of this book it says: "Home is a moving and healing book about families, family secrets, and the passing of generations, about love and death and faith. It is Robinson's greatest work, an unforgettable embodiment of the deepest and morst universal emotions." Wow, sounds like a book everyone should read doesn't it?

I See You Everywhere by Julia Glass. Again not an author that I have read before but the description drew me in, it is about 2 sisters, together and apart, told in their alternating voices over twenty-five years. The end of the description says"...I See You Everywhere is a piercingly candid story of live and death, companionship and sorrow, and the nature of sisterhood itself". Another wow book (or at least I hope it is).

Last but not least I am finally getting around to reading The Time Traveler's Wife.

The other stack of books that I picked up before all the above came in are:

Through a Glass, Deadly. First in a cozy series. A glassblowing mystery. Sounded interesting.

"Out of the Blue" by Janice A. Thompson. (It wasn't in the add book/author).

The Outlander. I don't know if this is the one that gets all the hype but the description sounded good. It is about a girl that flees alone across the west in 1903. At nineteen, Mary Boulton kills her husband and runs with bloodhounds on her tracks as her ruthless brothers-in-law are in pursuit. Sounds good doesn't it?

Webster County Omnibus Going Home/On Her Own/Dear to Me/Allison's Journey by Wanda E. Brunstetter. I love this woman's Amish stories.

And the last two are non-fiction but I really like the early 1900's so when I saw these two books I picked them up and hope they are good.

The 1910s by David Blanke and American Home Life, 1880-1930 A Social History of Spaces and Services by Jessica H. Foy.

Okay, so I'm going to be busy for the next couple weeks.

[Melodie]

Denise wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Dear Dorothy
I couldn't agree with you more!I'm also glad I'm not the only one who just wasn't keen on the Twilight series. "

I'm going to show my age here but to me Dracula is Bel..."

Dracula was always Bela Lugosi to me, too, until the Dracula remake with Frank Langella. Langella was pretty hot back in the day, and I was willing to change my idea of Drac!

[Lisa]

Hi Denise! I can also relate to that as well, I can remember sneaking downstairs to the tv room and watching the original Bela Legosi Dracula late and night and scaring the cr-- out of myself for the rest of the night!

[Kate]

Denise wrote: "The Outlander. I don't know if this is the one that gets all the hype but the description sounded good. "

Nope, this isn't the one that gets all the hype. That one is by Diana Gabaldon.

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Wow, Denise - that's a lot of reading to get through in the next two weeks.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon is an excellent book and series. *sigh* I love Jamie Fraser. I have not heard of the book you mentioned by Adamson, but hope you enjoy it.

[Denise]

I just finished Have a Little Faith The Story of a Last Request by Mitch Albom. I liked For One More Day, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, and Tuesdays with Morrie An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson. I liked all of those but Have a Little Faith The Story of a Last Request not so much. Kind of the same premise as Tuesdays with Morrie An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson but not as good. I was disappointed.

[Heidi]

Denise wrote: "I just finished Have a Little Faith The Story of a Last Request by Mitch Albom. I liked For One More Day, The Five People You Meet in Heaven,..."

I think he should have stopped at Tuesdays.

[Denise]

Denise wrote: "I just finished Have a Little Faith The Story of a Last Request by Mitch Albom. I liked For One More Day, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, and Tuesdays with Morrie An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson. I liked all of those but Have a Little Faith The Story of a Last Request not so much. Kind of the same premise as Tuesdays with Morrie An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson but not as good. I was disappointed."

Heidi wrote: "I think he should have stopped at Tuesdays."

I agree. The concept was good and Tuesdays with Morrie An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson was a wonderful book but to come back and try it again was redundant. Besides that Morrie's story was a better story. Albom needs to move on to another concept for his next book.

[Denise]

I'm currently reading Webster County Omnibus Going Home/On Her Own/Dear to Me/Allison's Journey. As you can see there are four books in this omnibus, over 1000 pages so it might take me "a minute" to get through this. I'm currently 162 pages into it. All four books are Amish stories. "Going Home" is about an Amish girl that ran away when she turned 18 to become an entertainer but when her husband (and manager) is killed she heads home with her little girl. Her intent is to get her daughter settled into the Amish life and then to leave again....

[Denise]

Finished reading Webster County Omnibus Going Home/On Her Own/Dear to Me/Allison's Journey this morning. I enjoyed the stories but one thing that bugs me is that all of Wanda E. Brunstetter's books turn out happily ever after. Rather unrealistic. I guess it wouldn't be so bad if you read one book of hers at a time but in the Omnibus there were four books and all four had the saccharine sweet ending. Left me a little flat.

Now I am starting The Time Traveler's Wife. I'm all of 22 pages into it but so far so good. I have not seen the movie. I try never to see the movie of a book that I want to read (before reading the book).

[Heidi]

Denise wrote: "Finished reading Webster County Omnibus Going Home/On Her Own/Dear to Me/Allison's Journey this morning. I enjoyed the stories but one thing that bugs me is that all of [author:Wand..."

I read Time Travelers Wife. Still not sure about it, but I will say I felt compelled to finish it, so that says something :)

[LynnB]

I just finished the new Sara Paretsky, Hardball. I've read all of the V. I. Warshawski series and this was a good one. I did get a little irritated at her bringing in some national politics when the story revolved around state politics and city police issues. I see a lot of authors doing that these days, like they need to get their 2 cents in somewhere...don't like that, but her comments were just occasional and the story was good, so if you like Paretsky I'd recommend it.

[Lisa]

I'm reading Dan Brown, The Lost Symbol. I enjoy the clues and following a mystery within a mystery so to speak!

[Melodie]

Lynn wrote: "I just finished the new Sara Paretsky, Hardball. I've read all of the V. I. Warshawski series and this was a good one. I did get a little irritated at her bringing in some national..."

HARDBALL is one of my top rated books this year! Loved it! I liked the civil rights back story.

[Mary]

Denise wrote: "Now I am starting The Time Traveler's Wife. I'm all of 22 pages into it but so far so good."

I loved Time Traveler's Wife, though it took me a while to really get into it (all that time change). I'm a little afraid to see the movie. Can't see how they would do it justice.

I just finished "Sacrifice" by S.J. Bolton. A lot of good writing, but I have mixed feelings on it. Anyone else read it?

Mary Ellen
http://www.maryellenhughes.com

[LynnB]

Melodie wrote: "Lynn wrote: "I just finished the new Sara Paretsky, Hardball. I've read all of the V. I. Warshawski series and this was a good one. I did get a little irritated at her bringing in ..."

Yes, the civil rights background was good -- and I learned a few things about Chicago in the 60's! (By the way, when I said national politics, I wasn't talking about issues like civil rights, just little things about current national politics...as a pretty much non-political person, that drives me crazy.) I really like Warshawski books. I hope she keeps the series going!

[Kim]

I'm a fan (and member of the group) of European Royalty. Especially Henry the VIII. But any type of royalty novels are good for me!

[Denise]

Lisa wrote: "I'm reading Dan Brown, The Lost Symbol. I enjoy the clues and following a mystery within a mystery so to speak!"

I have that on reserve at the library but I'm way down on the list (several hundred). That's okay I've got several books to read (ah, like a stack) and I won two books in the giveaways that I'm waiting to receive soooo I actually hope it takes awhile for
The Lost Symbol to get to me. :-)

[Denise]

Mary Ellen wrote: "Denise wrote: "Now I am starting The Time Traveler's Wife. I'm all of 22 pages into it but so far so good."

I loved Time Traveler's Wife, though it took me a while to really get into it (all tha..."

The hopping around in time is very hard to follow--I'm not sure how they would portray that in the movie either. What I have trouble following is the age differences between Clare and Henry--sometimes just a few years apart and other times 20+. But I like the story. Just got to the part where Henry tells Clare about his mother's accident. Poor little guy :-(

[Denise]

I have finished The Time Traveler's Wife. Next book will be a cozy.

[Denise]

Okay, read my cozy, A Charmed Death and then went to a non-cozy, Home. Bad choice. I usually give a book 50 pages and if I don't like it I stop. I gave this book 113 pages and just couldn't read anymore. Boring, couldn't get into the story at all. I finally gave it up. I really tried because the description sounded good, the author is a Pulitzer prize winner. Gave it my best shot but I have too many books that I want to read to continue reading another 112 pages of (for me) boring story. My apologies to the author but I just did not like this book.

Up next is I See You Everywhere. I have never read any Julia Glass. I hope I like her writing better than Marilynne Robinson's.

[Heidi]

I just started The Hunger Games and am listening to The Book Thief on CD.

[Denise]

After I See You Everywhere, which by the way was a really good book, I read The Perfect Christmas. I never thought I would give a Debbie Macomber less than a 5 star but this one will not get 5. It was just so predictable almost from page one that I can't say I really enjoyed reading it. I'm bummed, she can do so much better. Now I'm onto a Native American series called The Spanish Bit series by Don Coldsmith. I had to get this book through interlibrary loan so hope I like it.

[Susan]

I just started The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield.

[Melodie]

Reading . Thought it might put me in a holiday mood!

[Susan]

Melodie I just read that on Saturday in a couple of hours. It was cute!!

[Denise]

I just finished Trail of the Spanish Bit Spanish Bit Saga, Number 1. I wrote a review that can be found in my books. I am just starting another non-cozy, A Quilter's Holiday by Jennifer Chiaverini. I have read all the books in the Elm Creek series and have loved them all (and no, I'm not a quilter). This book seems to be in the present but the series has some books that are in the present and some that go back into history. I have it on a 14 day loan but it is a rather small book so I can't imagine I will take more than a day or two to read it.

[Denise]

As always, Jennifer Chiaverini has another winner with A Quilter's Holiday. Although this appears to be a small book (it is hardback but only about a 6"X9") it is packed with story. This is definitely not just a fluff piece to get out for the holidays (like the Debbie Macomber book The Perfect Christmas).

A Quilter's Holiday gives a lot of backstory to many of the characters of the Elm Creek Quilts series. I suppose this could be enjoyed as a stand alone but I think it will mean much more to readers of the series.

Naturally Chiaverini ended the book with a cliffhanger so I hope I don't have to wait a full year before the next book.

I am on a non-cozy run of books. My next book up to read (this is determined by when the book is due back to the library and if it cannot be renewed) is Closer to the Light by Melvin Morse. This book is about learning from the near-death experiences of children. After that, it looks like I will be reading American Home Life, 1880-1930 A Social History of Spaces and Services. I really love this period of history (perhaps I was living then in a past life?).

[Lisa]

Denise wrote: "As always, Jennifer Chiaverini has another winner with A Quilter's Holiday. Although this appears to be a small book (it is hardback but only about a 6"X9") it is pack..."That book about "A Social History of Spaces... sounds really interesting, can you tell me more about what it covers? Lisa

[Denise]

Just finishing up American Home Life, 1880-1930 A Social History of Spaces and Services. This was an interesting book but it is a history so it isn't a "fast read". It tells about how our housing has changed over the years 1880-1930 as society changed and as we got many new inventions. it discussed the decline of "the parlor", how children in the house changed over the years; I especially liked when it covered the changes due to getting public utilities (including water and sewage--ie when the bathroom moved inside the house).

Now I am reading The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop. This is a memoir of a booklover and a history of his life in books. I love books about books.

[Harvee]

Denise wrote: "Just finishing up American Home Life, 1880-1930 A Social History of Spaces and Services. This was an interesting book but it is a history so it isn't a "fast read". It tells about ho..."

Looking forward to your comments on the Yellow-Lighted Bookshop.

[Melodie]

Currently reading [image error] , and . Of the 3, the latter is the closest to an actual mystery and all 3 are good reads! Denise, I finished and enjoyed it. I gave it a 7 out of 10. It's only the 4th Macomber book I've read.

[Melissa]

Melodie wrote: "Currently reading [image error], and . Of the 3, the latter is the closest to an actual mystery an..."

Melodie ~ I just started reading A Perfect Christmas by Debbie Macomber. Im enjoying it. Ive read about 30 of Debbie Macombers' books and have really liked all of them. :) Especially the Angel series!

[Ellen]

Lisa wrote: "Kate: I noticed that you mentioned books about archeology, I have read a couple of mystery series with felmale heroines that are archeologists and found them fascintaing: Anne Marie Evans and Susan..."

Do you remember any titles? I can't find them.

[Robyn]

When I'm not reading a cozy mytery, I read historical romance and sometimes biographies.

I read Debbie Macomber, Diana Palmer, Linda Lael Miller and some harlequins.

[Lisa]

Ellen wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Kate: I noticed that you mentioned books about archeology, I have read a couple of mystery series with felmale heroines that are archeologists and found them fascintaing: Anne Marie Ev..."Yes I can give you titles:
Mary Anna Evans in order of earliest to latest: 1) Artifacts 2) Relics, 3) Effigies, 4) Findings and there is a new one that just came out I will look it up and give you the name.
Another author: Susan Cummungs Miller Death Assemblage, Detachment Fault, Quarry, Hoodoo. The only one I didn't care for in this series was DEtachment Fault.
Hope that helps!

[Ellen]

Lisa wrote: "Ellen wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Kate: I noticed that you mentioned books about archeology, I have read a couple of mystery series with felmale heroines that are archeologists and found them fascintaing:..."
Thanks Lisa -- I've found them now.

[Denise]

Harvee wrote: Looking forward to your comments on the Yellow-Lighted Bookshop...."


The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop A Memoir, a History was an absolutely wonderful little gem of a book. I would put this book in the category "Books about Books" and I read this genre a lot. This book is by a man who loves books like we all do here on Goodreads and he talks about his favorite books and bookshops but he also gives short histories of books, booksellers, publishing, bookshops. I have several pages of lists of books that I want to read and authors that I want to explore just from reading this book. Lewis Buzbee worked in bookstores for many years and then he worked as a book rep for several more. Now he frequents bookstores almost daily as a reader and buyer of books.

Here is one of the funniest stories he tells in the book. It is on pages 170-171 and is in the chapter about Banned Books. Here is what he says: "When I was a sales rep I took part in a ferocious argument with a children's book buyer. The most embarrassing part of this scene, for both the buyer and myself, was that it took place on the sales floor in the children's section with dozens of customers listening in.
The book under discussion was a picture book, new on the list, and I was showing it to the buyer to see how many copies she'd like. It was a counting book, set in the American Southwest, and the characters were rabbits dressed in the costumes of the region's Indian tribes. I was going through my spiel, pointing out that the book was thoroughly researched, and the costumes and activities depicted were authentic. The book buyer objected. She would never buy this book for her store; she was offended that Indians were being portrayed as animals and felt that the book was dehumanizing. I countered that many, if not most, children's books made animals out of humans. The argument escalated quickly, both of us refining and repeating our positions, a little more loudly with each repetition, until finally I lost my cool, rose to my feet, and found myself yelling in the middle of the children's section, 'They're goddamn bunnies and it's a goddamn kid's book.' After which I stormed out. Eventually this buyer and I became close friends, and later we would talk about how much we had enjoyed this argument, not for argument's sake, but for the passion therin, and the sense that a kid's book, one little book about rabbits, was important enough to lose one's dignity over."

Is that not one of the funniest stories? Buzbee has a very relaxed writing style and the book was a pleasure to read.

[Denise]

After finishing The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop A Memoir, a History, I started Kathleen O'Brien's For the Love of Family. Although this is a Harlequin "Super Romance" it has a really good story. This is in a series of four books called "The Diamond Legacy". Although it is the second book and I haven't read the first one it seems to be a stand-alone within a series. Anyway, it is really good. I should be done with it tonight as I only have 68 pages to go. Then I'm going to read a cozy (Through a Glass, Deadly. It is the first book in a new to me series, a glassblowing mystery.

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Denise - What a great story from Buzbee. I attended a couple sessions at the 2008 Wisconsin Book Festival that he participated in regarding the plight of books and, most especially, bookstores and the roles they play in society, and how current technology impacts books and reading. He is a fascinating speaker.

[Denise]

Heather L wrote: "Denise - What a great story from Buzbee. I attended a couple sessions at the 2008 Wisconsin Book Festival that he participated in regarding the plight of books and, most especially, bookstores and the roles they play in society, and how current technology impacts books and reading. He is a fascinating speaker."

I imagine that he speaks like he writes, very down to earth. I think I would enjoy hearing him speak.

One other thing I can say about The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop A Memoir, a History is that I very seldom bug my Significant Other with the books I read because our reading tastes are miles apart but I found myself reading long passages of this book out loud to him (including the story I shared above) and he laughed out loud with me at the funny stories but I also read parts of the histories to him and some facinating trivia and book facts. This was just a wonderful book about books and one man's love of books. I know that I am going to have to go out and find this book and buy it (the copy I read was from the library). This is a book I would re-read and also go back to just to look things up.

[Lisa]

Ellen wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Ellen wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Kate: I noticed that you mentioned books about archeology, I have read a couple of mystery series with felmale heroines that are archeologists and found them..."Good! Let me know what you think.

[Kate]

Lisa wrote: "Ellen wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Kate: I noticed that you mentioned books about archeology, I have read a couple of mystery series with felmale heroines that are archeologists and found them fascintaing:..."

Thanks Lisa! I was able to locate them using the information you provided. They must be popular -- I'm at the tail end of several long wish lists!

[Kate]

Denise wrote: "Harvee wrote: Looking forward to your comments on the Yellow-Lighted Bookshop.... was an absolutely wonderful little gem of a b..."

Thanks Denise -- it does indeed sound like a wonderful little gem of a book, so of course I put it on my PBS wish list, which is as large as my TBR pile. Will I live long enough to read them all?

[Heidi]

Heidi wrote: "I just started The Hunger Games and am listening to The Book Thief on CD."

I finished both of these books and highly recommened them! Don't be fooled by the YA label - they are for everyone.

[Denise]

After reading The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop, I read For the Love of Family by Kathleen O'Brien which turned out to be the 2nd in a series called The Diamond Legacy but made perfect sense as a stand-a-lone book. This was a romance but not sappy or overly sexual. It had a really good storyline. Then I read a cozy, Through a Glass, Deadly a new series and new author for me. It was good. Then I read a short little book, 84, Charing Cross Road, another little gem of a book. You can read this book in an hour or so. It is a collection of letters from the author to a bookstore in England starting in late 1949 and ending in 1969. It is about books the author wants to read and the bookstore's search for them but is about so much more, it is about friendship and caring, another book that I would read again, and again. Now I am reading a short little paperback called Out Of The Blue by Janice A Thompson. It is about two people who left the Amish faith and meet up 12 years later in the "English" world. Won't say more than that but I am on page 83 (out of 170) and it is a good little story so far.