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Reviews for July 2019 / Theme: Author first or last initial in RED WHITE BLUE
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A Unhallowed Grave by Kate Ellis (E)Wesley Peterson series book #3
3.5★
I really like this series and this author. There is always two stories in these books...one that requires an archaeologist and one that requires the skills of a detective...both are provided by Ms. Ellis.
I found the parallels presented by the two murders that were separated by 500 years a bit too coincidental to ring true. Never the less it was a very entertaining read and a great addition to this series.
Every Secret Thing by Emma Cole (Susanna Kearsley) (E)4★
It was one of those books that I didn't want to end. The mystery is well plotted,with plenty of twists and turns while the characters...both past and present...keep the plot moving along without taking anything from the story. War-time New York and Lisbon come to life with just the right amount of detail for the period. Kate...the heroine, is motivated and easy to cheer for as she unravels the past while trying to keep herself alive. I especially liked the way the author dropped subtle hints throughout the story. A very enjoyable read.
Anyone Who Had a Heart: My Life and Music by Burt Bacharach4 stars
Burt Bacharach wrote some of the most popular music of the 60's and 70's. At first I didnt think I was going to like this book. In the beginning, it seemed like it was one sexual conquest after another. After he got past that I really enjoyed it. If you are not familiar with his music you may not like this book because after he tells about his early years he has a story to tell about most of his more popular songs. He is not always a very nice or likeable person, having cheated on his first three wives, one of which was Angie Dickenson. His third wife was Carol Bayer Sager, a songwriter in her own right. After the third marriage he seems to have settled down quite a bit. This book is full of nostalgia for those long lost days of the 60's and 70's.
Just a few of his more popular songs:
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
Only Love Can Break A Heart
Wishin' and Hopin'
Blue On Blue
Close To You
Walk On By
Alfie
The Look Of Love
I Say A Little Prayer
One Less Bell To Answer
Do You Know The Way To San Jose
This Guy's In Love With You
I'll Never Fall Again In Love Again
Arthur's Theme
Mod
Ron Hansen: R in Red / H in wHite
Isn’t It Romantic? – Ron Hansen – 3***
The subtitle of this little novel is “An Entertainment.” And that’s exactly what it is. Natalie and Pierre, a young Parisien couple, are stranded in Seldom, Nebraska, population 395. What follows is a farcical comedy, with messages gone astray, intentions misunderstood, love declared, and more than one mishap. It’s a fun romance, if totally ridiculous. Great beach read.
LINK to my review
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Laura Ingalls Wilder - L in bLue / I & W in WhIte
Little Town On the Prairie – Laura Ingalls Wilder – 3***
Book seven in the popular classic Little House series, has Laura growing into a young lady. I love this series for the way the pioneer spirit is portrayed and the strong family relationships. THIS book, however, has a scene that is very uncomfortable for modern readers. I know this is historically accurate to the period, but I just cringed reading about it. If you are going to read it with your children, be ready for a serious conversation about what is and is not appropriate.
LINK to my review
Stranger In The House by Shari Lapena (L)
4★
This is the 3rd book that I have read by this author. I enjoyed the book but so far nothing has taken the place of her first book [The Couple Next Door]. The thing that bugged me is teh same thing that bugged me in the first book and the second book...this authors love of the short sentence. I guess it is just her writing style and I will eventually get used to it. The story was predictable if you read many mystery & suspense novels but it did have some surprises. I really didn't form any real attachments to any of the characters but still it was a worthwhile read.
Skin Game by Stuart Woods (W)
Teddy Fay series Book #3
3.5★
I really like the Teddy Fay character. I've read the Stone Barrington series for more years than I care to count and have lately found that I am dissatisfied with what Stuart Woods has made of him, Teddy Fay brings back what the books were to begin with. He's bright...he's daring...he doesn't take anything off of anybody...and he has integrity. He always does things his way but he gets the job done. Woods blended the story with the characters of Stone and Dino. It would have been better if he had just let Teddy work his magic.
by Janet Evanovich4 stars
from my library's catalog: When Larry Virgil skips town before his latest court date, leaving behind a hijacked freezer truck loaded with ice cream and a dead body, Stephanie Plum goes undercover at the ice cream factory to discover who is killing the employees and sabotaging the business.
my thoughts: These stories are not classic literature, but they are fun reads. Stephanie gets into a lot of trouble and has to get out. I love Lula and Grandma Mazur. They always add fun to the story. The mystery was okay, but I enjoyed Stephanie accidentally bumping into the solution. I can always do without the Ranger/Morelli subplot, but it does not annoy me as much as it annoys others.
Son of Harpo Speaks! by Bill Marx5 stars
finished 7/6
Bill Marx is the son of Harpo Marx, the silent member of the Marx Brothers, the one that played the Harp. Harpo Marx wrote a book entitledHarpo Speaks!, hence the title of Bill's book Son Of Harpo Speaks. Harpo was my favorite Marx Brother. I love his impishness. I was glad the book portrayed Harpo in a positive light and the love the son has for his father is palpable. Bill has led quite an interesting life himself. He was adopted at a young age and the story of finding his birth mother was very interesting. Bill seems to have inherited his musical talent and his sense of humor from his father, even though they are not biologically related. The story of his (Bill's) trip to the fertility doctor is laugh-out-loud funny!
Hangman's Root by Susan Wittig Albert (W)
China Bayless series book #3
2★
The story centers around Dottie Riddle...a serious animal lover... who is accused of murdering her co-worker and neighbor, Miles Hartwick. I say good for Dottie for even thinking of killing him!!! China Bayless is quick to come to her friends defense. The only "crime" Dottie...the "cat lady....was guilty of was to provide a home for the homeless cats who found their way to her backyard. Meanwhile a series of nasty neighborhood incidents centering on the stray cats caused a number of people to believe that the kind hearted Dottie could have caused his death. Not a lot really happens after that except a lot of speculation. Cozy mystery people probably will, or already, love this series. I thought after the hanging that the book was just begging to end.
Note: This was a book that fit several challenge categories. The 2 star rating is based entirely on my dislike for cozy mysteries and in no way reflect on the writing style or the content of the book.
Mod
Honeymoon – James Patterson & Howard Roughan – 3***
Patterson and his team can sure churn out the fast-paced suspense/thrillers! The action is quick and the target ever moving. The writing may be simple, but the plot holds the reader’s attention. Good beach / vacation read.
LINK to my review
Ruff vs Fluff by Spencer Quinn -(R)
4.5★
Yeah... I know....it's a kid's book. But hey... it had a dog...and a cat...on the cover. Not just any dog and cat but a CUTE dog and cat. Queenie and Arthur. One chapter is the dog "speaking" and the next one we hear from the cat. They very much have their own insights about their humans, the murder, It's 304 pages of pure delight. I just wish Spencer Quinn had written the two little balls of fur to be able to communicate with one another.
Harry Potter and the Deathly HallowsHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, by JK Rowling - Red
5*
There isn’t much I can say about the last book in the Harry Potter series that has not already been said. I initially read the books as they were published and decided to re-read the series this year. I have enjoyed them even more this time than I did the first time I read them.
Mod
Author FIRST or LAST initial is in RED WHITE BLUE
So Tessa Dare would work because her initials are T D and 'T' is in White
But Stephen King would NOT work because neither S or K is found in RED WHITE BLUE
Lol! I totally misread this challenge. You stated: The Author's First or Last Initial is in Red, White or Blue. I interpreted that: The Author's First or Last Initial is printed on the cover in Red, White or Blue. I obviously didn't read closely enough.I'm laughing so hard, I can hardly type! Please ignore my entries!
Mod
Interpret as you wish ... but if you are using the cover image, please POST the COVER.
Mod
It's all in good fun. Let the entries stand as is ... but please, if you are interpreting this as the name printed in red, white or blue on the cover, post the cover.
Thanks, all ..... and happy reading!
Mod
The Passover Murder – Lee Harris – 3***
Book number 7 in the Christine Bennett mystery series. I really like this main character. Christine is intelligent, calm, deliberate, tenacious and compassionate. She gains the trust of those she interviews and manages to ferret out information that even the police failed to uncover. I also like that the setting is in a time period before cell phones, computers and googling. The person doing the detecting has to rely on lots of tedious footwork and research, as well as keen observation and a well-hone intuition when interviewing suspects / witnesses.
LINK to my review
Freefall, by Jessica Barry - B in Blue
4*
I was thoroughly engrossed in this story. A young woman walks away from a plane crash, and is now on the run. Her pursuers are unknown to us, as is the reason she is being pursued. The reasons unfold slowly within this suspenseful story.
My Sister Rosa, by Justine Larbalestier- L in Blue
4*
As the blurb for the book says: “What if the most terrifying person you know is your ten year old sister?” Che Taylor is 17 years old. He is mostly parented by...no one. His parents are too busy. He mostly parents his 10 year old sister, Rosa, who he believes is a psychopath. This story grabbed me from the first few pages and kept me interested until the end.
XinguXingu, by Edith Wharton - W in White
4*
This is a humorous short story about upper class ladies in the early 1900's who are involved in a book club. They invite an author to attend their meeting, and rather than discuss her book, they discuss Xingu. Most of them just pretend to know what Xingu is, and the result is humorous.
MilkmanMilkman, by Anna Burns - B in blue
2*
Apparently I am not clever or refined enough to appreciate this book. It is certainly not for the reader who reads for pleasure. I can see some gems of greatness within this book, but to find them takes a monumental effort.
None of the characters are named, but are referred to generically as The Brother In Law, for example. The non-naming of the characters did not bother me as it did some readers, but the continual droning on and the repetitious phrases and sentences became very tedious. I think the Man Booker prize should actually be awarded to those who were able to finish this entire book.
Night Women Formally published as Farewell To Freedom by Sara Blaedel (B)
3★
I liked the cast of strong women characters and the fact that this author doesn't see the need to describe every tiny detail to be a big selling point on her books. I have read two of her other books but this one I found to be somewhat tedious with way too much going on making the story somewhat hard to follow. The editors...or rather the lack of...was partly to fault. I know translation is sometimes difficult from some languages to English but it seems they could have done a better job.
Mod
Turning Angel – Greg Isles – 2**
Book two in the Penn Cage series. Iles can write a compelling story with lots of suspects, many twists and turns in the plot, complicated motives and subplots, and a fast pace that keeps the reader turning pages. Penn’s background as a prosecuting attorney in Houston serves him well. Murder is always a violent crime, of course, and the sexual component herein is particularly disturbing. But I have a major problem with THIS book due to the basic underlying relationships. So the basic “thriller genre” gets 3 stars (even with the violence against women), but loses a star for the particularly distasteful – and disgraceful – underlying theme here.
LINK to my review
The Marsh King's Daughter by Karen Dionne - (D in red)
5★
The book excels on a couple of counts. First, the author creates suspense by alternating chapters between the past and present. Sometimes that is a little confusing but in this case it works very well. Secondly, the characters are excellent...especially Helen. As she learns more about her parents her character grows and develops into someone that you can't help but like and admire. The story is chilling and psychological, but one of the most original...gripping... and beautifully told that I have read in some time.
Altered Carbon by Richard K. MorganAltered Carbon, By Richard Morgan - R in Red
4*
Interesting. I liked this book, and the very intriguing concept the story is based on. It is action packed, with a crooked plot that will keep you guessing. If you don't like blood, gore, fighting, or lots of sex then skip this book. I would have enjoyed it more if the sexy sex parts had been fewer. It is definitely a high testosterone novel.
by Lisa See 5 stars
Book follows two women Mi-Ja and Young-sook who come from very different backgrounds and are Haenyeo(women divers). Mi-ja is the daughter of a Japanese collaborator, forever marking her, and Young-sook was born into a long line of haenyeo and will inherit her mother’s position leading the divers. First thing I want to talk about is the book is depressing at times, it not a light read. Second thing is the writing, it is wonderful, Lisa See just pulls you and does not let go because of this I was able to deal with the depressing parts.
You can feel the care and respect of subject by the research that was done for this fiction book. The beautifully written stories gives you a look into these two lives which is at time overwhelming. I also like how Lisa See show's how times change and the loss of respect and tradition sometimes loses its place. I highly recommend this thought provoking book.
by Erin Lindsay McCabe1 star
So many mixed feelings on this book. I liked the concept of the book about a woman joining her husband in the Civil War. This topic just can't be talked about enough. It is no secret that women did dress up and join the Civil War to fight long before it was acknowledge or known by the mass public. Sad to say this book did not do the subject true justice. It dragged on, the woman was not developed and she was way to wishy washy on to be strong or not in her thinking or standing up for herself. I know there was strong women in those times, I have a few in my family. This book tries to hard with Rosetta being a modern thinking woman with people pleasing tendencies and I need my husband, it lacks balance. I was going to give it two stars but just can't do it so getting one star.
Caught by Harlan Coben - H in White3*
Harlan Coben is one of my favorite authors and reading one of his books has always been a treat for me. But this particular book didn't pull me in the way his others do. The main character was unlikable to me, and I just couldn't really enjoy the book. Hats off to Mr. Coben --- one mediocre book out of the many of his books that I have read? That's an awfully big accomplishment!
by Dave Barry (reD and Blue)4 stars
from goodreads: A brilliantly funny exploration of the treacherous state of adulthood by the Pulitzer Prize-winning humorist. Some people may wonder what this subject has to do with Dave Barry, since Dave's struggled hard against growing up his entire life-but the result is one of the funniest, warmest, most pitch-perfect books ever on that mystifying territory we call "adulthood."
my thoughts: As with most of Dave Barry's books, some of his essays were funnier than others. Two of his essays really spoke truth to me. His essay on Dance Recitals hit close to home since I just sat through three dance recitals within the last two months. Definitely made me smile. I also appreciated his essay about getting a colonoscopy. My favorite essay, however, was his parody of the Twilight series. I was laughing so hard, I'm sure I was snorting. That essay alone earned 4 stars.
Arsenic and Clam Chowder: Murder in Gilded Age New York by James D. Livingston 3 stars
The setting is 1896 New York. Evelina Bliss dies after being served some clam chowder bought by her daughter and delivered by her granddaughter. But was she poisoned or was it a natural death. Without modern day forensics it is hard to determine. The book sounded intriguing but I was rather bored by it. There is some New York history here that doesnt seem to have much connection to the murder but seems to be filler to help fill the book, which was thankfully short, at 203 pages and the last 30 pages or so are citing sources and index so about 170 pages of actual reading.
by Kathleen Bridge (Blue)3 stars
from my library's catalog: After Meg Barrett discovered that her fiance? still had designs on his ex-wife, she decided that it was time to refurbish her life. Leaving her glamorous job at a top home and garden magazine, she fled Manhattan for Montauk, only to find that decorating can sometimes lead to detecting.
my thoughts: A decent cozy mystery. I liked the setting and the storyline kept my interest. There were lots of twists and turns. I liked the reveal because I was definitely not expecting it. Something was just off about the main character. I didn't dislike her, but she seemed to always stumble upon everything accidentally. The stumbling didn't seem intentional by the author, though. I'll definitely continue the series. I'd like to see where it goes.
(L in Blue)The Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver
3★
Nick and her younger sister, Dara, are as different as two sibling can be...in every aspect. An accident that leaves her sister permanently scarred both physically and emotionally...sees Nick walking away and for all purposes abandoning her sister. The story is told from both Dara’s and Nick’s points of view through alternating past and present day accounts as well as diary and blog entries. Unfortunately the essence of the story becomes lost in a story that simply tries to hard to be too much. The author unsuccessfully makes an attempt to weave the sister's story together by using a plot line about the disappearance of a 9-year-old girl. This drags the story down by taking way too long for the reader to sort out how the two different stories are related and it simply becomes a distraction. I did enjoy Oliver's writing style and I wouldn't say it's a bad book...it just wasn't the book I was expecting or hoping for.
Girl in the Blue CoatGirl in the Blue Coat, by Monica Hesse -- H in White
4*
This book started out very strong, with interesting characters and a good plot. It stumbled a bit before completion, but was overall a good historical fiction novel. I gave it 4 stars, rounded up from 3.5.
- (B in Blue)The Camel Club by David Baldacci
The Camel Club series Book #1
3.5
I read some of this series 10 or so years ago and really didn’t care much for it. It has always been my least favorite of everything David Baldacci…one of my favorite authors of all time… ever wrote. The essence of the series is politics and more politics. The characters though, are another matter. Oliver Stone and Agent Ford are what would keep most people reading and coming back for more. Ten years later…I’m back for more…and it was all because it was a group read for the Mystery & Suspense group on LibraryThing…people that make everything worth reading. I still didn’t care for all the politics but the action was superb…especially the last few chapters. If any American, or any other world citizen can read or listen to these last 6 or 7 chapters and not find themselves holding their breath and their heart rate accelerated…then they are already ready for that granite stone. Well done…reading group. I think I’ll join you for the next one.
RecursionRecursion, by Blake Crouch, B in Blue
5*
I loved it! A suspenseful science fiction book that I didn't want to put down.
Mod
The Sun Also Rises – Ernest Hemingway – 3***
One of Hemingway’s earliest novels, this was first published in 1926, and has never been out of print since that time. It is loosely based on the author’s own experiences with a circle of friends frequently known as “The Lost Generation.” In general, I am a fan of Hemingway, but this novel missed the mark for me. The ennui with which these people live their lives just doesn’t interest me very much.
LINK to my review
Mrs. Everything, by Jennifer Weiner - W in White
3*
I liked the book, but I didn't love it. You can watch 2 sisters grow up, move into the world, and start their own families. It isn't an earthshaking novel, and I didn't love any of the characters, but it is well written.
Mod
The House of the Spirits – Isabel Allende – 4****
Allende covers three generations of the Trueba family in her native Chile. The novel weaves together personal and political triumphs and tragedies into an epic story of love and history. I love Allende’s luminous writing, and the way that she seamlessly introduces elements of magical realism into her stories. Her gift for vivid description had me feeling cold drafts, luxuriating in sumptuous fabrics, hearing the cacophony of a busy marketplace or a student riot, cringing at the stench of human waste in a prison cell. She makes me believe that a woman can have bright green hair, or be clairvoyant and commune with ghosts.
LINK to my review
Daughters of The Lake by Wendy Webb - (W in White)
3★
I really thought...and hoped... that this historical, ghostly murder mystery would be absolutely perfect for the ghost story junkie in me...and it almost was. "Almost" is the key word here. The book is more supernatural in tone than it is paranormal and the two story lines didn't merge as they were obviously meant to. Still...it was entertaining even if it was predictable from almost the first line. A lot of the story was told from dreams which began to blend and then blur making the reader have to pause to try to figure out what the author was trying to say. Not a bad book by any means and well worth 3 stars.
Mod
Dorothy Must Die – Danielle Paige – 3***
This is an imaginative retelling … or perhaps sequel … to Frank L Baum’s The Wizard of Oz books. The characters are all here, but they aren’t as they were portrayed in Baum’s classic books, or the much beloved movie. Amy Gumm was a decent heroine – self-reliant, principled, tenacious, willing to sacrifice for the greater good. However, the “mean girl” theme was a little heavy-handed for my tastes (and my stage of life). So my final verdict is average.
LINK to my review
Forever and Ever, Amen: A Memoir of Music, Faith, and Braving the Storms of Life by Randy Travis4 stars
First of all, I have to say Randy Travis was a major reason I became a country music fan in the late 80's and the 90's, which for me were the golden years of country music. So I was excited for this book come out. I saw Randy and his wife on tv promoting the book so I knew that Randy is aphasic (non-verbal) since his stroke and his wife probably had the most input into this book. But I understand it probably comes across better as a memoir than a bio. I was bored with the beginning when it talks about his younger years. As a major Randy fan I knew most of this info but I can see that it needs to be included for the ones that arent familiar. Then the book mostly focuses on his work, the stories behind the songs and albums and concerts. The book really gets interesting when he gets divorced and his subsequent stroke. I felt bad that he had to go through such a contentious divorce and then nearly dying from a stroke. I think if you are a country music fan you will enjoy this book.
The Curse of Misty Wayfair by Jaime Jo Wright -(W in White)
4.5★
It carries a duel story line that follows the lives of two women born a century apart. I thought to start with that it was a ghost story but found that even though there was a ghost...and one of the women goes door to door taking photographs of the recently dead...it is more a case of reincarnation than an actual case of a haunting. Both Thea and Heidi share similar lifestyles. Other than looks they are both lonely...they both often display unorthodox behaviors...both had similar sad childhoods with mothers that shared a type of mental illness. The missteps that Thea made in the past have impacted Heidi's present and may still impact dead Thea. I found the book only somewhat creepy but high on suspense. The only problem I had with it was that the ending was very predictable if you read very many of these type of books. It was well written...engaging and well worth the 4.5 star rating.
Mod
The Two Faces of January – Patricia Highsmith – 3***
Highsmith manages to give us unlikeable characters that behave in ways that just keep this reader enthralled and interested, turning pages to find out what twists, turns and surprises the plot has in store. It’s set in Athens, in 1962, and you have two con men trying to out-con one another. Add a femme fatale (who is married to one of the men, but attracted to the other), and you have a recipe for disaster.
LINK to my review
by Ellery Adams2 stars
(E in red and white)
from my library's catalog: When the going gets tough, Ella Mae LaFaye bakes pies. So when she catches her husband cheating in New York, she heads back home to Havenwood, Georgia, where she can drown her sorrows in fresh fruit filling and flakey crust. But her pies aren't just delicious. They're having magical effects on the people who eat them--and the public is hungry for more. Discovering her hidden talent for enchantment, Ella Mae makes her own wish come true by opening the Charmed Pie Shoppe. But with her old nemesis Loralyn Gaynor making trouble, and her old crush Hugh Dylan making nice, she has more than pie on her plate. and when Loralyn's fiancé is found dead--killed with Ella Mae's rolling pin--it'll take all her sweet magic to clear her name.
my thoughts: This was an okay stereotypical cozy mystery. Nothing special about it at all (even the magical pies were just meh). The stereotypes were all there. The main character wasn't very bright and didn't have much depth to her. She kind of accidentally stumbled upon the killer. It was fine for a mindless read as long as you're not expecting too much out of it.
Grab a Book & Play Booktivity!
Books mentioned in this topic
Pies and Prejudice (other topics)The Two Faces of January (other topics)
The Curse of Misty Wayfair (other topics)
Forever and Ever, Amen: A Memoir of Music, Faith, and Braving the Storms of Life (other topics)
Dorothy Must Die (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Richard K. Morgan (other topics)Tessa Dare (other topics)
Stephen King (other topics)
Here's the place to share your opinions / reactions / recommendations.
Our July theme:
Read a book whose author First OR Last initial is in RED WHITE BLUE
The theme was suggested by Carol.
Be sure to link to the author's name for this month's challenge.
Enjoy!