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What Are You Reading....The Third
Odds Against – Dick Francis – 3.5***
I’ve read a couple of Dick Francis mysteries, but this is the first in a series, starring Sid Halley. I really liked how Francis gave us Halley’s background and set up potential continuing relationships for future books in the series. I’d classify this as more thriller than mystery. Halley (and the reader) know pretty quickly who’s behind the nefarious doings at the track, though there’s a bit of a question as to why and how. Halley is tenacious, intelligent, a quick-thinker, and a realist. I like the way he thinks.
My full review HERE
An Echo In the Bone – Diana Gabaldon – 3.5***
Book # 7 in the incredibly addictive Outlander series, continues the saga of Claire Randall and Jamie Fraser as the American Revolution gears up. I really enjoy the historical inferences in these books. I’ve been to Fort Ticonderoga, and reading those chapters were intensely vivid for me. On the other hand, I was not a great fan of Brianna’s chapters. And Gabaldon ends the book with several plot threads hanging. Pet peeve … please trust your readers to want to read the next book, don’t “force” us to do so by using cliff-hangers.” Lost half a star there.
My full review HERE
A highly enjoyable mystery set in the wilds of northern Canada.In the Barren Ground by Loreth Anne White
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
An intriguing thriller, with the main character having multiple personalities.All of Us by A.F. Carter
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just finished:
Unspeakable Acts: True Tales of Crime, Murder, Deceit, and Obsession
by: Sarah Weinman
An interesting collection that somehow falls short of its goals. My full review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Art of Travel – Alain de Botton – 4****
Any travel guide will tell us where we should travel and what we should see when we get there. Alain de Botton tries to tell us WHY we should travel. In various chapters he expounds on what it is that travel offers us. He waxes poetic on the anticipation of arriving at a new location, the marvels of modes of transportation, on “country” vs “city,” on finding beauty – in the familiar as well as the exotic. I think he has opened my eyes and I will feel more open about all experiences henceforth, whether just the comfort of my own bedroom, or the excitement of a location that is completely new to me.
My full review HERE
Just finished:
The Night Swim
by: Megan Goldin
Well-done thriller with timely topics. My full review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
An enjoyable, if somewhat predictable, horse racing novel.Cactus Jack: A Novel by Brad Smith
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Tyrannosaur Canyon – Douglas Preston – 4****
This was one wild ride of a thriller! I was all set to follow independently wealth veterinarian Tom Broadbent, and then wanna-be monk and ex-CIA operative Wyman Ford steals the show. Plenty of action, more villains that you can shake a stick at, twists and turns and danger to keep the reader turning pages and trying (in vain, in my case at least) to guess where this is going. And I loved that the T-rex gets a few chapters of her own to “narrate.” Also, Preston’s female characters are really strong women!
My full review HERE
The Mockingbird Next Door – Marja Mills – 3.5***
Chicago Tribune journalist Marja Mills was sent to Monroeville Alabama on an assignment to gather background information for a piece about To Kill a Mockingbird . She met Alice Lee and her younger sister, Nelle Harper Lee, and over years became friends with them. This is her memoir of her time in Monroeville and the lessons she learned from the sisters – about the South, about family, about justice.
My full review HERE
The Woman Who Walked In Sunshine – Alexander McCall Smith – 4****
Book sixteen in the immensely popular – and equally enjoyable – series starring Mma Precious Ramotswe and other residents of Gabaron, Botswana. I love this series for the gentle “mysteries of daily life” and for the wonderful way that Precious arrives at the truth and solves her cases. There are no gristly murders here, though there are mysteries of human behavior. Spending time with the characters of these novels is like enjoying an afternoon libation on a patio in the sunshine.
My full review HERE
Just finished:
Invisible Girl
by: Lisa Jewell
Lisa Jewell fans will delight in her new release coming this fall. My full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The best in the DI Nick Dixon series so far.Swansong by Damien Boyd
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Auntie Mame – Patrick Dennis – 4****
Oh, what an absolute delight! I love Mame … she’s outrageous, convivial, adventurous, kind, a bon vivant, prone to exaggeration, unable to resist, unabashedly lacking in marketable skills, and yet full of confidence. This novel “memoir” is funny and tender, horrifying and enthralling.
My full review HERE
The Hideaway – Lauren K Denton – 2.5**
I wasn’t expecting great literature, and I didn’t get it. The writing is simple. The plot is rather predictable. The cast of characters, typically eccentric. There are secrets to be unearthed and solved. There’s also the ubiquitous dual timeline, with present-day Sara unearthing bits and pieces of her grandmother’s story. It was a fast read and moderately entertaining. But I’ve already forgotten it.
My full review HERE
I'm reading
. Just started and think I am going to like it.
Meet Me Halfway: Milwaukee Stories – Jennifer Morales – 4****
An urban neighborhood must find ways to bridge divisions between black and white, gay and straight, old and young. I love short stories and was expecting that format. But this is really a novel told from nine different viewpoints. It’s an engaging and interesting look at an urban struggle that is all too familiar. I look forward to my F2F book club discussion about this very timely novel.
My full review HERE
Hi all, I am new to goodreads and this group, happy to meet you all :D I am currently reading My Own Words
and listening to (if that counts :) ) A Suitable Boy
The Women In the Castle – Jessica Shattuck – 3***
Three German widows are brought together shortly after World War II ends. I liked the idea of this novel’s story more than I liked the actual book. There are some interesting and thought-provoking themes presented, but I’m probably just overloaded on WWII. On the whole, I found the novel forgettable.
My full review HERE
Madhu wrote: "Hi all, I am new to goodreads and this group, happy to meet you all :D I am currently reading My Own Words
and listening to (if that counts :) ) A Suitable Boy"
Listening definitely counts, Madhu ... or I'd have only about 1/3 of the books on my list of "read"!
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek – Kim Michelle Richardson – 4****
I love reading historical fiction, particularly when it focuses on an element of history about which I know little. This covers two such elements: the Pack-Horse Librarians and the “blue people” of Kentucky. Cussy Mary Carter is a marvelous lead characters – kind, compassionate, determined and tenacious. The author’s use of vernacular dialect helped transport me to a different time and place.
My full review HERE
O Pioneers! – Willa Cather – 4****
Cather’s first novel follows one family over decades as they settle the great plains of Nebraska. The heroine is Alexandra Bergson, who takes charge of the family farm after her father dies, and ensures the family’s prosperity despite setbacks. This is a strong woman! Her love of the land is evident, but she is no romantic. The story encompasses tragedy as well as triumph.
My full review HERE
Just finished:
Deprivation
by: Roy Freirich
Excessively florid prose distracts from an interesting take on the effects of mass hysteria and epidemics.
My full review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Peach Pies And Alibis – Ellery Adams – 3***
Book two in the Charmed Pie Shoppe series, starring Ella Mae LeFaye, who discovered her magical powers in book one of the series. This installment in the series did serve to better explain the premise and Ella Mae’s family’s magical history. It’s far from literature, and pretty predictable, but I did find it entertaining.
My full review HERE
Here is my review for
The Constant Rabbit it didn't disappoint - 5 stars.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I finally managed to put my thoughts in to a review
The Water Dancer - 4 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Remains of the Day – Kazuo Ishiguro – 4****
A proper English butler, known only by his last name: Stevens, reflects on his life’s work. I love the way that Ishiguro reveals Stevens’ character through his musings. As he recalls the glory days of house parties that welcomed influential people to Darlington Hall, Stevens reveals how he allowed his sense of duty and devotion to being butler in a great house to blind himself to what was really happening – both in the world at large and on a more personal level. This slow realization is what makes this book so poignant and thought-provoking.
My full review HERE
The Day the World Came To Town – Jim DeFede – 4****
This is the story of what happened in Gander, Newfoundland, when, as a result of the 9/11 attacks in America, some 40 jumbo jets landed in the space of a few hours, flooding the town of 10,000 with some 6,600 passengers and crew members. It’s an uplifting story, especially now in these unsettled times. Reminding me that there is kindness in this world, that there are people who rise to the occasion and behave selflessly to help others in distress, without thought to remuneration or reward.
My full review HERE
Just Finished:
Perfectly Famous
by: Emily Liebert
Good premise with weak follow-through and head-scratching ending. My full review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Virgil Wander – Leif Enger – 4****
I love character-driven novels and this one perfectly fits the bill. I love Enger’s way with words, the way he paints the landscape and draws his characters who so perfectly fit the scenario he gives us. There is a spirituality, or mysticism about Enger’s story-telling that captures my attention as well. Enger’s town is small, but the people in it are larger than life. There are moments of humor and tenderness, and some evil and tragedy as well. However, the overall feeling is one of hope and resilience and of looking forward to the future, whatever it may bring.
My full review HERE
Normal People was OK just not as great as so many others seem to think.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I went from binge reading in May and the beginning of June to being distracted by the end of June. Anyway, this is what I've read:The Bookshop on the Shore by Jenny Colgan
The Secret Life of Violet Grant by Beatriz Williams
The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs
If It Bleeds by Stephen King
The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn
Just finished:
Oval
by: Elvia Wilk
A futuristic novel that explores neo-liberalism taken too far.
My full review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A Rule Against Murder – Louise Penny – 3.5***
Book four in the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache mystery series, set in and around Three Pines, Quebec. This time he’s pressed into service when a murder occurs at an isolated resort where he and his wife are celebrating their wedding anniversary. I love Gamache and the deliberate way he goes about investigating cases.
My full review HERE
Finders Keepers – Stephen King – 3***
Book two in the Bill Hodges trilogy, featuring the former detective, now a PI, and his team of misfits and amateurs. King is a master crafter of the suspense genre. He keeps the reader turning pages while offering complex characters and motivations.
My full review HERE
Just finished:
Don't Look for Me
by: Wendy Walker
Solid, thriller with some unexpected twists to be released this September 2020. My full review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Get Shorty – Elmore Leonard – 3***
This was just plain fun. I’d never seen the movie (starring John Travolta as Chili, and Gene Hackman as Harry), so had no real idea what to expect, other than a wild ride. And Leonard definitely delivers that.
My full review HERE
French Pressed – Cleo Coyle – 3***
This is book six in the Coffeehouse Mystery series, and I’m really enjoying them. I do think that Clare’s insistence on investigating on her own is a bit over-the-top, but it wouldn’t be a cozy mystery without an intrusive amateur sleuth. This episode really delves into foodie culture which had me salivating in places. Not a fan of the cliff-hanger ending, but that’s a pet peeve of mine. Still, I found it deliciously entertaining – a perfect “escape” read.
My full review HERE
I JUST finished The Heir Affair, which is a sequel to The Royal We. It's the continuation of the story of Bex (Rebecca Porter, an American college student who studies abroad at Oxford) who falls in love with her hallmate Nick (Nicholas Lyons, heir to the throne of England). Sequels don't always stand up to the original for me, but this one did! I absolutely loved it.
Just finished:
The Bright Lands
by: John Fram
Mystery with superfluous supernatural elements but some good inclusion of marginalized characters.
My full review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I just finished
which I really enjoyed. I am now starting
.
Rise & Shine Benedict Stone – Phaedra Patrick – 3.5***
This is a charming novel of one man’s awakening. Patrick has crafted a sort of modern fairy tale, with a cast of eccentric characters, a romantic quest, the mythology of gems, and a happy ending (of course). It was a delightful, heart-warming read.
My full review HERE
To the Bright Edge Of the World – Eowyn Ivey – 4.5****
This is a marvelous adventure story, and an engaging look at personal growth. Both these lead characters experience heartache and difficulties and yet both persevere in reaching their goals despite obstacles, naysayers and setbacks. I loved the use of diary entries and letters to tell this bifurcated story. The book is full of Native Alaskan people’s culture, traditions, and stories. There are several very strong Native characters. I love magical realism and Ivey seamlessly weaves these elements into her story.
My full review HERE
The Bookish Life Of Nina Hill – Abbi Waxman – 3***
I was predisposed to like this book because it focused on a bookworm. However, while I liked Nina and the other characters, I somehow didn’t really connect to the book. Perhaps I’m just too far past that young-adult / new-adult phase in my life to really immerse myself in the angst of dating, or the romantic missteps we’ve all made in a new relationship. In any case, I still enjoyed it, as I enjoy mind candy (and candy of the edible kind as well), but it just doesn’t stay with me for long, or really satisfy my hunger.
My full review HERE
Ayesha At Last – Uzma Jalaluddin – 3.5***
I had great fun identifying Elizabeth, Darcy, Lydia, Wickham and Mr Collins in this modern-day retelling of Pride and Prejudice, featuring a Muslim couple in Toronto, Canada. Their missteps, misunderstandings, wrong conclusions, and ultimate relationship flow seamlessly from who they are and how they perceive the world. Jalaluddin shows us characters who are faithful and yet living in the modern world, and she doesn’t shy away from exploring work-place (and societal) bias.
My full review HERE
The Next Best Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
The Spotlight (other topics)The Zimmerman Telegram (other topics)
A Gentleman from Japan: An Epic Sea Voyage, an Intriguing Tale of Espionage and the Forgotten Story of the First Japanese Explorer in Tudor England (other topics)
My Home Is Far Away (other topics)
Anna Karenina (Modern Library Classics) 1st (first) edition (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Joy Ellis (other topics)Theresa Beachman (other topics)
Faith Martin (other topics)
Leslie Wolfe (other topics)
James Patterson (other topics)
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The Long Shadow by Anne Buist
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...