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2019 Reads and Reviews ~ Anything goes
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The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers
Maxwell King
4/5 stars
This was an enjoyable and interesting biography of the wonderful Fred Rogers. The author takes us through his life discussing his family and his work on Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. He also discusses his strong religious faith and his unwavering sense of the belief that children should be valued and heard.
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The Instructions
Adam Levin
1/5 stars
This is the story of ten year old Gurion and his feeling/belief that he was going to be a/the Messiah. This 1000 page book has wonderful reviews but it was just too long and the story line is repetitive at times. Also I just didn't get most of it- but I did finish it. I did like the characters and would have loved to hear more about his parents who I thought were more interesting than Gurion.
The Vintage Caper – Peter Mayle – 3.5***
This is book #1 in the Sam Levitt series. Mayle has given the reader a crime caper with a plausible (if fantastic) plot, a wonderful cast of characters, and mouth-watering descriptions of food and wine. Mayle’s love of France shines through; I could practically smell the aromas from a restaurant’s kitchen and feel the sun on my face. And I love that twisty ending! A fast, fun, delicious read.
LINK to my review
Not Quite Nice – Celia Imrie – 3.5***
In her debut novel, Imrie has given us a sort of “coming of old age” story featuring a group of British expats living in a small town on the French Riviera. I thought it was an enjoyable, fast novel. Perfect for a vacation read. The bad guys get what’s coming to them, and everyone learns a lesson or two. It’s not exactly a happily-ever-after ending, but it gives me hope for the future of these characters. There are two more books in the series (thus far), and I look forward to reading them.
LINK to my review
The Ravenmaster – Christopher Skaife – 3***
Subtitle: My Life With the Ravens at the Tower of London. This memoir details Skaife’s career path to what has become his life’s work: the Ravenmaster at the Tower of London. His dedication to his position as Ravenmaster is evident, as is his great love for the birds. But there were times when I felt the book dragged as he overwhelmed me with scientific detail. Final verdict: interesting but not gripping.
LINK to my review
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They Called Us Enemy
George Takei
4/5 stars
Wonderful graphic novel/biography about the trials of George Takei (Star Trek's Sulu) and his family when they were forced to leave their home after the Pearl Harbor attack and go into a internment camp simply because they were Japanese. Well written! I had read of his interment in one of his previous books but I feel this provided a little more information.
Summer Hours At the Robbers Library – Sue Halpern – 3.5***
Three people running from their past (or present) find the help they need at the library. The novel is told in alternating viewpoints as each of the three central characters reveals his or her back story and experiences in current time. The first time there was a “flashback” it caught me off guard, but I quickly grew used to the style. Halpern gives us a wonderful cast of supporting characters as well. There are moments of humor to balance the heartache and disasters. I’d love a sequel to find out how they cope in the future.
LINK to my review
I Always Loved You – Robin Oliveira – 3***
The subtitle – A Story of Mary Cassatt and Edgar Degas – is all the synopsis anyone needs. This immediately drew my attention as I love art, the Impressionists in particular, and I love reading historical fiction about artists. I had previously been content to merely gaze with astonishment and admiration at the works of art they created. But while I appreciate now having learned all the details of their complicated relationships, and while these period elements added color to the story, the book failed to really move me.
LINK to my review
Newly Wed and Slightly Dead 4**** Danielle Garrett
First book in A Touch of Magic Mysteries. It takes place in the Seattle Haven, part of the Beechwood Harbor universe where Anastasia, this book's main character, has previously appeared. It can be enjoyed without reading the other books in the universe. Danielle Garrett's books are paranormal cozy mysteries with romance in them so I like them for multiple reasons. Narrator Amanda Ronconi once again does excellent job voicing characters in this universe.
I gave this 4**** despite event planning being a cozy theme I normally avoid because I don't find it interesting.
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Summer Hours At the Robbers Library
– Sue Halpern – 3.5***
Three people running from their past (or present) find the help they need at..."
I enjoyed that book!
Uncommon Criminals – Ally Carter – 2.5**
Katarina Bishop is back with her crew of teen-aged thieves. This time they are after the Cleopatra emerald, despite legend that it carries a curse. There are a lot of twists and turns in this plot, and more than one intricate theft taking place. Not to mention cons and contra-cons. It's a fast read, and I like a lead female who is smart, determined and generally self-sufficient. But I didn't think it was as good as the first book, Heist Society. Still, I see the appeal for the target YA audience.
LINK to my review
Quentins – Maeve Binchy – 3.5***
I came late to the Binchy fan club, but better late than never. I really like her style of every-day drama – the kinds of ups and downs we all experience in life. Many of her books feature the same ensemble cast of characters, but they don’t have to be read in any particular order. This book starts with Ella Brady and her lover Don Richardson, but quickly encompasses Brenda and Patrick who run the upscale restaurant Quentins and all the many patrons and trades people who support it. Reading a Binchy novel is a bit like visiting with old friends.
My full review HERE
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Marching Powder: A True Story of Friendship, Cocaine, and South America's Strangest Jail
Rusty Young
3.5/5 stars
This is the true story of Thomas MacFadden, who on a trip to South American got caught by the police with drugs at the airport in Bolivia. He is sentenced and sent to the San Pedro jail in Peru. McFadden is confounded by the prison set-up. To get a room to live in, you have to buy a cell of your own. Families live with their relative who is a prisoner in their prison cell and businesses are run by the prisoners in the jail. Drugs are prevalent also in the prison and are a main source of revenue to buy items and bribe the guards and judges. Fast and interesting read!
Design For Murder – Carolyn G Hart – 3***
Book # 2 in the Death on Demand series, featuring mystery bookstore owner Annie Laurance. Hart writes a fast-paced cozy mystery with a great central cast of characters and a wonderful premise. I love the mystery bookstore, though I did get a little irritated by how often an author / book was mentioned. I very much liked the Mystery Night puzzle going on at the same time that a real murder was being investigated.
My full review HERE
Ban This Book – Alan Gratz – 4****
Fourth-grader Amy Anne Ollinger is stunned to discover that her favorite book has been removed from the school library because another student’s parent has complained it’s “inappropriate.” I loved Amy Anne; she starts out a quiet, shy girl who virtually never voices her concerns out loud, but who takes action to right a wrong. Perfect read to celebrate Banned Books Week!
My full review HERE
Indict and Convict. Crime and Law Enforcement in California: An Inside Story., Bill Davidson3 stars
This was a good read about the daily workings of a California District Attorney's office. Well written & moves right along. My only advice is that you read it over a weekend or some time when you will not have a lot of interruptions. There was so much going on at once that when I came back to the book after a day's work I discovered I had totally lost track of the proceedings. There were so many people coming on and off the stage that it was tough to keep everyone straight. I even managed to miss the fact that the main suspect in the murder case that proved to be the centerpiece of the book was one of the department's own prosecutors. I finally found that out more than halfway in. Once we got into court with that case the author handled it excellently, taking the reader from one moment of high drama to the next and summarizing the more boring stuff in between. All of the cases were super interesting and unusual, not to say weird. Worth your time.
The Curse of the Pharaohs – Elizabeth Peters – 2.5**
Book two in the Amelia Peabody series, featuring the intrepid Victorian lady Egyptologist. I read the first book in the series a few years back and was not a fan. Much of what irritated me in the first book happened again. But … I’m beginning to see the humor and satire in Peters’ style. I’m starting to appreciate Peabody’s manner and her relationships with the other characters. This is a strong, independent-minded, intelligent woman who does not suffer fools gladly.
My full review HERE
Clock Dance – Anne Tyler – 3.5***
The novel follows Willa Drake, her hopes, dreams, disappointments and joys – over 5 decades, from 1967 to 2017. I like the way that Tyler explores the everyday drama of life. Not much happens – as far as a plot to carry the reader along – and yet much happens in terms of the character’s life. Willa frustrated me for much of this book. She was so passive that I wanted to shake her. I’m glad that by the end she is finally beginning to assert herself, to look at what SHE wants from life and to dare to try to achieve it.
My full review HERE
Things You Save In a Fire – Katherine Center - 2.5**
Going into this I knew I was getting a “chick-lit” romance, with a flawed heroine hiding from her feelings due to an earlier trauma. Cassie is a (mostly) strong woman, working in a “man’s” job – even excelling at it. It was a fast read and I was pulled into the story quickly. But I thought the past trauma was handled poorly, and Cassie’s weak-at-the-knees, head-over-heels, hit-by-a-truck reaction just doesn’t ring true to me. Despite its flaws, Center’s novel kept me turning pages, but it’s not a book I’d save in a fire.
My full review HERE
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Bunny Lake is Missing
Evelyn Piper
4/5 stars
A young woman and her daughter are starting over in a new town. Blanche, the single mother drops off her daughter at her new school but on her return no one remembers a new girl at school and she is not there. This sends Blanche into a panic. No one, especially the police, believe that she has a daughter who is now missing. Suspenseful! This was made into a film by Otto Preminger though the plot was radically changed.
Murder in the Heartland, William Phelps3.5 stars
A really good read about one of the sickest crimes ever. The author breaks a large, complex story into bite-sized pieces so it worked out to be a quick read despite the thickness of the book. I was a little thrown by the photo section, which had a single, blurry snapshot of one of the victims, then 2 of a survivor of the crime followed by 13 -- count 'em, 13 -- photos of the criminal as if she were the most fascinating creature alive. I wish the book had included the outcome of the proposed changes to the law resulting from this nightmare scenario but you can't have everything. Well written by today's standards. I recommend this one.
Kay Finch's Bad Luck Cat Mystery series. The books were from library and are on overdrive or hoopla. The series holds up fairly well though I thought books 3 and 4 had a couple of problems. Popular trope of small town law enforcement needing amateur help is not a favorite of mine but one with which I can live. Author Kay Finch is a qualified paralegal in Texas and worked for a criminal defense attorney.
Black Cat Crossing4****Enjoyed the book and the narration by Amy Rubinate. The title cat is a large black cat that roams the area and that some residents believe has been there over 30 years. Sabrina quit her job as a paralegal to help her aunt who has a broken leg. This gives her the chance to work on her dream of writing mysteries. She lives in one of her aunt's vacation cottages. She bakes in the middle of night when she has insomnia. Sabrina adopts the black cat and names him Hitchcock. Sabrina's best friend Ty owns book store with two cats and is able to help her make her writing dream come true.
The Black Cat Knocks on Wood4**** Sabrina's ex-boss comes to town, creating more stress for Sabrina who is trying to work on writing. She doesn't want to get involved in another murder investigation and resists even though a suspect is her aunt's friend but she can't resist when best friend Ty's child asks her to help.
The Black Cat Sees His Shadow 4**** The Pumpkin Festival fills the vacation cabins with vendors as guests and Sabrina's mother has come to the area for a visit. Hectic situation leaves little time for Sabrina to write. Add a vendor that looks like a younger Sabrina, a murder, a kitchen too full to bake in and more. I had one problem with this one. One of the vendors is diabetic and one evening drinks a lot of alcohol. That would be very risky for a diabetic.
The Black Cat Steps on a Crack 4****Not available in audio. Another entertaining book. Annoying new characters served a purpose and while a little goes a long way with me when it comes to annoying or silly characters, I think most readers will be entertained by their antics. Like book 3 this one had what I consider a glitch due to lack of research. Usually what qualifies one as a librarian in Texas is MLS from ALA-accredited program. If library job didn't require degree I would have liked it to be mentioned, preferably with an explanation. The kindle book has dessert recipes. There were no recipes in the audiobooks but the things Sabrina baked sounded delicious.
Ways To Hide In Winter – Sarah St.Vincent – 4****
This is a tightly written, marvelous psychological / political thriller. The characters are skittish, guarded, and yet reveal themselves by their actions. Kathleen and Daniil recognize in one another a certain similarity – both are running from the truth, both profess to need solitude even a way to hide away, and yet both want desperately to confide and reveal their pain and their hopes. This short novel includes some major issues The landscape is practically a character, and adds to the feeling of isolation, loneliness and imminent danger. The reader is kept in suspense to the very end.
My full review HERE
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Robin
Dave Itzkoff
4.5/5 stars
This is the biography of actor and comedian Robin Williams. Itzhoff follows Robin from his very beginnings to the sad ending of his life. I thought this was a really well written biography and I just flew through it. If you are fan of his, this is a must read!
After You – Jojo Moyes – 3***
A sequel to her runaway hit Me Before You, this brings the reader up to date on Louisa and her efforts to heal from the events in the earlier novel. I can’t say much more because that would spoil the first book. There are no easy, straightforward answers for Louisa, Sam or Lily. Or, for that matter the supporting characters. While the scenarios these characters are dealing with are not situations I have personally dealt with, their emotions ARE familiar to me. I did think that the plot got a little too complicated. Still, this was a very enjoyable sequel to the first book and I’m glad to have read it.
My full review HERE
Before I Die – Candy Chang – 3.5***
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Change noticed the many abandoned, boarded up homes in New Orleans. One such house was in her neighborhood – a daily reminder of damage, devastation, shattered hopes and despair. She was inspired to do something and got permission from the owner and the city to create a piece of public art. Her project brought her neighborhood together as people wrote, read, and discussed the responses, and drew national and international attention. This book chronicles the efforts of people in 40+ countries on six continents to create similar works of art.
My full review HERE
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The State Boys Rebellion
Michael D'Antonio
4/5 stars
This is the true story of a group of boys and girls from the 1940’s in Massachusetts who were imprisoned in asylums during the time of the rising theories of eugenics. Entry into these schools was not equal and some of these children should not even have been in there. These children were abused, made into laborers, poorly educated and experimented on until they rebelled. Unfortunately, after release some did not do well and had trouble adjusting to outside life but they felt fortunate to be free. The book also talked about the influence that Pearl Buck and Dale Rogers had on opening up the institutions. They kept their developmentally disabled children at home which influenced families of the disabled to do the same thing. This is a shocking book and though I was familiar with the time period, I never realized the extent of the abuse at these homes. Well written!
Love And Ghost Letters – Chantal Acevedo – 3.5*** rounded UP
Acevedo gives us a wonderful exploration of Cuba from 1933 to 1969. Over the course of the novel Acevedo explores love in its many forms: passionate, within marriage or outside of it, as a teenager, during old age, parental and among friends. The upheaval within the relationships is contrasted nicely against the revolutions and political changes in the country during this time frame.
My full review HERE
All the Stars In the Heavens – Adriana Trigiani – 3.5***
Historical fiction based on real-life Hollywood drama: the love affair between Loretta Young and Clark Gable that resulted in a love child. I like Trigiani’s writing. I like the way she draws the reader in and moves the story forward. I really liked the secondary story of Alda and Luca – their steady love story is a direct contrast to the multiple relationships / marriages / breakups / divorces of the Hollywood stars
My full review HERE
Briar Patch: The Murder That Would Not Die, Donald G. Shomette3 baffled stars
A puzzling book. The author, whose surname is the same as that of one of the Northwest Branch Park murder victims this book is based on, produced what may be a novel or a very-thinly-disguised true story of the aftermath of a cold case. What started out as true crime with the names changed turned into the gruelling story of a surviving relative's struggle with failing health and unresolved grief. The first half seems very true to life and the second half would seem to be an incredibly long tangent if it weren't also true. I came away not knowing what to make of this one. I'm not sorry I read it, but far from clear on what Shomette was trying to tell me...
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William Pack
4/5 stars
Author, William Pack has written a captivating biography of the life of Houdini. The book is short (about a 130 pages) and covers the very interesting highlights of his life and career. I found out about this book when the author came to our library and did this wonderful program on Houdini. He even demonstrated Houdini's escape from a strait jacket.
Passing – Nella Larsen – 4****
Larsen was part of the Harlem Renaissance and this book is a marvel of social commentary. In this slim volume Larsen explores issues of black/white identity, of the desire to get ahead and the societal obstacles to that path, of male/female relationships, and female-female rivalries. There is tension, fear, anger, joy, desire and hope. We get a wonderful glimpse of middle-class Black culture in 1920s Harlem.
My full review HERE
Is there a "perfect" book for library lovers? .....
The Library Book – Susan Orelan – 4****
On April 29, 1986, there was a disastrous fire in the Los Angeles Public Library. The conflagration reached 2000°F and burned for more than seven hours. It was the single biggest library fire in U.S. history, consuming 400,000 books and damaging 700,000 more. This is the story of the fire, the investigation, and the building / rebuilding of the library. fire, scientists and fire marshals, and family members of the primary suspect. The result is a comprehensive story, not just of the fire, but of libraries in general, and the LAPL in particular.
My full review HERE
Empty Mansions – Bill Dedman and Paul Clark Newell Jr – 4****
Subtitle: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune. I remember the news coverage when Ms Clark was “discovered” living in a hospital room while her several mansions stood empty. I found this book completely fascinating. And yet … This story made me so very sad for this woman who, for all her wealth, lived such a lonely and limited life.
My full review HERE
Grace Among Thieves – Julie Hyzy – 3***
Book three in the Manor House Mystery series, starring Grace Wheaton, curator and manager of the estate / museum in the North Carolina mountains. As cozy mysteries go, this is a pretty good series. I like Grace, who is generally calm in a crisis, and obviously competent at her job. She does seem to have a blind spot where romance is concerned but she helps the police find the culprit, further securing her future at Manor House.
My full review HERE
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Into the Water
Paula Hawkins
2.5/5 stars
A writer comes to town to do research on a book about a death at a lake and is found dead in the same location. I am not sure how to review this book. I had a hard time with this book though at times I really enjoyed the writing and I felt like I was understanding what was going on and then another narrator is introduced and another side to the story and I just got discombobulated. However, I had to see who the killer(s) were and so I finished it. According to Wikipedia, there were 11 narrators or narratives in this story and it seemed like it. I would read another Hawkins book because I loved her first book but this one not so much.
Mod
I never read Rashomon so I am not sure!
The same story is told several times from different perspectives. By the end you're not at all sure who's the most correct.The movie version of Rashomon is one of the all-time classics, BTW.
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The movie version of Rashomon is one of the all-time cla..."
Interesting!
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The Lion in the Living Room: How House Cats Tamed Us and Took Over the World
Abigail Tucker
3.5/5 stars
This is the fascinating history and evolution of the rise of cats and their dominance in the animal world. Tucker talks about their popularity as pets and the extremes humans will do to take care of them. Definitely for cat people but others who love animals will also enjoy this book.
Summer At Little Beach Street Bakery – Jenny Colgan – 3***
Book two in the Little Beach Street Bakery series, this is an enjoyable chick-lit romance with food. There’s the usual drama one expects from new-adult relationships, life choices, career moves, etc. Wonderful cast of supporting characters. It’s a fun, fast, light read. Perfect for a vacation read, or anytime you want something entertaining.
My full review HERE
The Prisoner Of Heaven – Carlos Ruiz Zafón – 3***
Book three in the Cemetery of Forgotten Books series. Oh, I love Zafón’s writing! The book is very atmospheric; I can feel the chill of a wintery wind, smell the candlewax and dust, practically taste the delicacies offered at 7 Portes restaurant. There are twists and turns and changes in timeline that confuse, obfuscate, tease the reader and illuminate the plot.
My full review HERE
Today, over a BLT, I started reading White American Youth: My Descent into America's Most Violent Hate Movement—and How I Got Out. It's very, very well-written.
Mod
Requiem for a Wren
Nevil Shute
4/5 stars
On return to his parents’ home in Australia after the years following WWII, Alan Duncan finds the family and staff quite upset. Their former maid, Jessie, who was very good with her job had been found dead, possibly by suicide. The family was very fond of her and could not understand why she killed herself; they also can find nothing of her possessions. Alan searches the house and finds hidden in the attic, her suitcase and passport. When Alan sees the name on the passport, he realizes that the maid had used a different name and it was someone he knew personally. But why did she do it? Shute weaves a tale of love and loss and the effects of war on the women and men who served.
There are two titles for this book. The one I listed was the English version but the American version is titled The Breaking Wave.
Julie wrote: "Requiem for a Wren
Nevil Shute
4/5 stars
On return to his parents’ home in Australia after the years following WWII, Alan Duncan..."
Sounds interesting. I've read two books by Shute and loved them both. I guess I should read more of his works....
I’d Kill For That – Gayle Lynds, et al – 1*
This is a cooperative / team effort among thirteen women mystery writers, each one writing a different chapter. I would have abandoned it but it satisfied a couple of challenges. At least it was a fast read.
My full review HERE
The Game of Silence – Louise Erdrich – 4****
Book two in the Birchbark House series which is about an Ojibwa tribe’s life on their island in Lake Superior. Omakayas is the young girl who narrates this book, which chronicles a year on the island that is today known as Madeline Island. I love how Erdrich depicts these people and their way of life. Not everything is pleasant or easy, but there is room for joy and happiness, for children to explore and learn. I will continue reading this series.
My full review HERE
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Requiem for a Wren
Nevil Shute
4/5 stars
On return to his parents’ home in Australia after the years following WWI..."
I really enjoy Shute. I have read two others and plan to read more!
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Love, Lies and Spies – Cindy Anstey – 3***
Anstey has written a young-adult, mystery/romance set in Regency England. I really enjoyed this fun, fast read. I could definitely hear the echo of Jane Austen. I liked Julianna’s spunk and intelligence. I also appreciated the slow-burn pace of the central romance. I did figure out the master spy / traitor ahead of the reveal, but not by much. Nicely done!
LINK to my review