Play Book Tag discussion
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2016-19 Activities & Challenges
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Trim the TBR—October Planning and Reporting
Sue wrote: "Meli wrote: "The Woman in the Window and it fits the tag! I thought there was talk of this being a buddy read or at least someone else had this as 32 also... let me know if that was you as I seem..."
YAY, cool!
I will start a discussion thread next month.
Robin wrote: "32. Dead Mountain-donnie eichar"I really liked this one. Not what I was expecting and super interesting. I hope you like it!
I caught a real break with my #32 for Trim the TBR:The Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
It works for:
1) Trim the TBR
2) PBT Horizons (it is set in Spain)
3) PBT Monthly Tag (it is tagged Crime-Fiction)
4) Flurries (it has a ghost!)
Plus, I'm excited that it works for both Crime-Fiction and spooky, as I voted for the spooky tag, knowing that crime would also be fine as it's a genre I read regularly. I have been behind on the Trim the TBR challenge, so this is good.
I'm hoping to finish all of my Trim books selected this year, even if I finish them wildly late and don't get points for them. I'll know I finished :)
I'm doing a little better with the Horizons challenge.
Kimberly, that is a great book to hit all 4 categories!!!
Kimberly, I am reading that book in October too, and I had no idea it hit every category. I knew Spain.... Didn’t know Crime fiction. My personal challenge was to read all of Carlos Ruiz Zagon’s works in 2019, and this one is up next, so I will probably read it first. Everything but Trim for me! Also, forgot already who is reading the accidental empress. That’s on my to get to soon list. But already my October is over ambitious to begin with!
@Kimber - goal is to trim that TBR and you are succeeding in 2019...even if at your own speed😉
I got Strange Weather which I don't think will fit the tag yet again. All good as it means I do end up doing 2 a month from my actual TBR rather than just the shortened version on here. Now to try to finish this month's ones.....aaagh
What are the odds? Seriously, what are the odds? I have only two Edward Rutherfurd books on my TBR - both really long and dense. The first (Sarum) was chosen for September and the second (London) is #32 for October. I'm only 500 pages into Sarum, so I guess I will be reading Rutherford for the rest of October LOL. The upside is that I will have a very good overview of English history.
Doughgirl5562 wrote: "What are the odds? Seriously, what are the odds? I have only two Edward Rutherfurd books on my TBR - both really long and dense. The first (Sarum) was chosen for September and the second (London) i..."Oh. My. Goodness. You'll be able to teach an overview of English history!
Doughgirl5562 wrote: "What are the odds? Seriously, what are the odds? I have only two Edward Rutherfurd books on my TBR - both really long and dense. The first (Sarum) was chosen for September and the second (London) i..."Aren't ALL his books super-long!?
LibraryCin wrote: "Doughgirl5562 wrote: "What are the odds? Seriously, what are the odds? I have only two Edward Rutherfurd books on my TBR - both really long and dense. The first (Sarum) was chosen for September and..."Yes, I think that all of his books are long :-) But I'm finding out that they are also dense - ~ as in more words per page and looong chapters. Sarum is 54 hours in audio and 900 pages, which means only about 17 pages per hour of audio. I wanted to read them both - just didn't figure they would be back to back.
Doughgirl5562 wrote: "Yes, I think that all of his books are long :-) But I'm finding out that they are also dense - ~ as in more words per page and looong chapters...."Ahhh, right! I think both(?) by Rutherfurd that I read were audio. Super-long, yes, but I didn't stop to figure out how many pages/hour!
That's too bad about back to back, for sure.
#32 - Fits the tag for Crime Fiction! Someone Else's Love Story by Joshilyn Jackson - 3.8
What a perfect title for this crazy quirky book.... Joshilyn Jackson is a well known bookstore bestseller author. Like everyone has read one of hers, or knows her name. Is she at the top of literary masterworks? No - but her books are just a fun ride.
In this one, a love story begins in the oddest of places. In a gas station convenience store holdup. Events converge that place our mismatched couple here. But what we learn as the story unfolds, is that there are so many other love stories. While Shandi our heroine is laser focused on her tunnel of love and destiny, and William is focused on loss and heartbreak, its they can she can see, there are a number of other love stories around completely missed. Enveloped in this story is neurodiversity, genetics, conflict of religions, and really what it takes to see someone as a person. I found I really enjoyed it. 3.8.
#3 - September BookA Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness - 5 stars
579 pages
Diana Bishop is in Oxford’s Bodleian Library preparing for an upcoming conference when she unwittingly calls up an alchemical manuscript, the Ashmole 782, that has been lost for centuries. The finding of this magical text brings Diana (a witch) to the attention of vampires, daemons and other witches, all of whom believe the manuscript is the answer to all of their questions and holds the secrets to their origins.
Mathew Clairmont, a vampire, is among the interested parties. And this is where the story gets really good as a will-they-or-won’t-they romance blossoms between Diana and Matthew. Throw in some history, magic, suspense and danger, and I quickly devoured this book within a matter of days and loved every minute of it.
I was so surprised by how much I enjoyed this book when I read it last year. It has such a strong sense of place too, each of the three main locations almost existing as characters...well the upstate NY house is a character! I was so entrancedby the Bodleian Library as described, I succumbed to a coffee table book about it. Being a francophile, the chateau spoke to me as well.
I just got this one at a used book sale-looking forward to reading it!
Heather, I read all three...I liked them well enough, and well enough to read all three. I disliked Diana tremendously. And I felt all three books could have fit into one book that would have been shorter than the shortest of the three. I think it will be a fun movie.
Meli wrote: "Sue wrote: "Meli wrote: "The Woman in the Window and it fits the tag! I thought there was talk of this being a buddy read or at least someone else had this as 32 also... let me know if that was y..."
Here are the people who had Woman in the Window at #32 at some point:
#32 The Woman in the Window - Meli, Anita, SueR, Kate, AJ
Theresa wrote: "I was so surprised by how much I enjoyed this book when I read it last year. It has such a strong sense of place..."It surprise me too. I was rolling my eyes for the first 50 pages and then before I knew I was hooked! lol
I adored the NY house! so much personality!
Amy wrote: "Heather, I read all three...I liked them well enough, and well enough to read all three. I think it will be a fun movie..."
I'm embarrassed to say I didn't even know it was a trilogy when I put it on my TBR. So now I have two more books to read. That's how it goes, I guess. I'm also looking forward to the movie.
#32 - The Humans by Matt Haig - 5 stars 285 pages in the hard cover, my e-book had 321
Does NOT fit the tag - has murder in it (committed by an alien), but is not a crime fiction per se
On the surface, this book is science fiction about an unnamed alien from a far-away plant that takes over the life of a professor of mathematics, Andrew Martin. Professor Martin has proven the Riemann Hypothesis but has not published his findings. The alien society wants to destroy any evidence of the professor’s findings, since they do not trust humans to use advanced mathematical knowledge wisely and believe the safety of the universe is at stake. The Riemann Hypothesis has to do with the distribution of prime numbers, but no special knowledge of mathematics is required to appreciate this novel, as it is really about the nature of humankind and what it takes to live a meaningful life.
It opens with our unnamed alien narrator describing his purpose in documenting his experiences on earth:
“This book, this actual book, is set right here, on Earth. It is about the meaning of life and nothing at all. It is about what it takes to kill somebody, and save them. It is about love and dead poets and wholenut peanut butter. It’s about matter and antimatter, everything and nothing, hope and hate. It’s about a forty-one-year-old female historian called Isobel and her fifteen-year-old son called Gulliver and the cleverest mathematician in the world. It is, in short, about how to become a human.”
The alien initially views humans as he has been conditioned to see them: arrogant, greedy, and violent. By living among them, he gradually comes to different conclusions. This is a very clever book filled with insight, humor, and philosophical questions. By employing a non-human describing the human species, the author provides plenty of opportunities to laugh at ourselves:
“The term “news” on Earth generally meant “news that directly affects humans.” There was, quite literally, nothing about the antelope or the sea horse or the red-eared slider turtle or the other nine million species on the planet. The news was prioritized in a way I could not understand. For instance, there was nothing on new mathematical observations or still-undiscovered polygons, but quite a bit about politics, which on this planet was essentially all about war and money. Indeed, war and money seemed to be so popular on the news, it should more accurately have been titled The War and Money Show.”
This book has something to say about overcoming socially instilled prejudices of those viewed as “other.” I think it could be helpful to those dealing with anxiety or depression. It is a book about love, life and death, poetry, music, compassion, and understanding. Highly recommended!
Link to My GR Review
#32 Joy in the Morning4 stars
This is a story of a newly married couple in 1928. Annie just turned 18, Carl is set to start his second year of law school. Neither family approved of this, expecting that Annie, an uneducated girl from a poor family, was in trouble by Carl. This is nowhere close to the truth. Unlike what is expected, Annie and Carl work together to bring out the best in each other.
My # 32 was Strange Weather by Joe Hill.Does not fit the tag for all of the stories but Loaded (dude killing lots of people) and Rain (mad chemist making crystal rain and killing a heap of people) do so half the book does.
384 Pages
I enjoyed some stories more than others but that is standard with 4 stories in one book.
Loaded I did not like at all at the time because it is too close to home with the way the world is right now, however it has stuck with me and I suspect I will remember it better than any of the others. There are some messed up people out there who have access to guns and are on power trips. These people will do anything to get their own way and not have to face consequences of their actions.
Aloft just made me want to go skydiving again and made me feel really sorry for the lonely lead character. We have all been there worshiping someone who doesn't notice we exist. No sure many of us would hump a cloud that looked like them though...…
Rain, what a lot of chemists and weirdos on one street! The cult seemed the most fun.
The whole book made it fairly clear that Joe Hill is not keen on the current president and there were lots of cheeky digs in that direction.
#32 The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn - 4 starsThe Woman in the Window
Fits the monthly tag: Crime Fiction
429 pages
The main character has agoraphobia and is unable to leave her house. As a result, she watches her neighbors from her windows. This activity is mostly harmless (but creepy!) and the neighborhood has mostly written her off as a bit crazy.
When she's not spying on the neighbors, she binge watches old "film noir" movies - especially Alfred Hitchcock suspense/thrillers.
And then she witnesses a crime through the neighbor's window. Or did she????
Her life starts to resemble the film noir she loves so much, and she falls into a warped reality where nothing is as it seems.
A really good read, with some great twists and turns.
#32 Mystery at Thunderbolt House by Howard Pease 2 starsdoes not fit monthly tag
287 pages
The Allen family is modestly getting by in Stockton, CA in 1905 when Mrs. Allen inherits Thunderbolt house and a large sum of money from her uncle in San Francisco. Mr. Allen is upset because he should make the money not his wife, only the beginning of the sexist bs in this book. Jud, the youngest son, is the narrator,who among other things describes his sister as not attractive and lucky if she ends up with a teaching job. Once they end up at the house in San Francisco there are two Chinese American servants who are treated in a very derogatory manner and speak in pidgin English. I couldn't get past the blatant racism and sexism to actually care about any part of the story.
Rachel N. wrote: "#32 Mystery at Thunderbolt House by Howard Pease 2 starsdoes not fit monthly tag
287 pages
The Allen family is modestly getting by in Stockton, CA in 1905 when Mrs. Allen inherits..."
Won't be adding that to the TBR then.
October # 32A Kind of Freedom by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton
Does not fit tag
pp.230
Reading A Kind of Freedom the debut novel of Margaret Wilkerson Sexton, it is clear that she is a writer to watch. This book was nominated for The National Book Award and was a New York Times Notable Book of 2017.
A Kind of Freedom is a family saga which deals with such hefty issues as race, drugs, incarceration and family. In the book we meet 3 generations of a family and we are introduced to defining issues of each generation. We go through a progression a seasons with a chapter from each generation, starting with WWII. We glimpse their hopes and dreams without knowing their entire story. I thought this was a clever way of doing a family saga.
Sexton deftly defines characters providing insight into their strengths and weaknesses and we can guesstimate how this will impact their lives and that of the future generations. We are of course in for some surprises and our best wishes do not always pay off.
While I enjoyed this book and admire the writing, it never hooked me in the gut, thus a 4 star instead of a 5. Others, I know saw it differently.
October: #32 You Look Like That Girl: A Child Actor Stops Pretending and Finally Grows UpFits the October tag, NO: crime fiction
Page Length of the book- 275 pages
5 stars
What a wonderful book. No celebrity name bashing or dropping. Lisa Jakub just gives you a straight forward, honest look into her life and making a decision to leave the Acting word behind. She also is forthcoming with her bad choices and decisions that almost lead her down a very wrong path. I highly recommend this book if you are a fan of her acting work.
October - #32I Was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon
3 1/2 stars
This historical fiction novel looks at the stories of Anastasia Romanov and Anna Anderson. Anastasia was the daughter of the Russian Czar Nicolas Romanov and was reportedly killed with the rest of her family. Anna is the woman who claims to be Anastasia and believed by many. The book goes back and forth between being told by the points of view of Anastasia and Anna. Anastasia’s is told going forward in time, while Anna’s goes backwards. This nonlinear timeframe was sometimes a confusing method.
The author creates well developed roles for both characters while trying to include facts. She also does not shy away from many of the unpleasant details that are involved in the history of Anastasia and Anna. Even if the reader already knows the answer of them being the same person or not, it does not take away from the story. The book is an interesting look at the women.
That Month in Tuscany by Inglath Cooper 4.5 stars - does NOT fit monthly Crime Fiction theme
334 pages
Housewife/mother Lizzy heads to Tuscany on her own, after her husband yet again pleads last minute work commitments on the eve of a long-planned trip. Determined not to be a doorman yet again, feeling rebellious, and sensing the end of her 20 year marriage, Lizzy sets out to enjoy a trip she has dreamed about for years and along the way find herself again. On the flight to Rome, Lizzy meets Ren, a rock star who happens to be fighting his own demons and internal battles, not least of which is a weariness with being a celebrity. As this wonderful story continues, Lizzy and Ren team up to explore Tuscany together, both at a cross roads in their lives, ultimately coming to terms with their personal stories. Along the way, Lizzy's husband Ty and daughter Kylie have their own side stories that influence Lizzy, Ren and their travels. Along the way, the reader also enjoys Tuscany with Lizzy & Ren, a delightful puppy named Sophia attaches herself to Ren, and the paparazzi make an appearance or two. Of course.
I won't say more to avoid spoilers, but rest assured, this ended up being one of the most enjoyable books I've read in a while. In fact, I give it 4.5 stars - only dinging it because there are a couple of points specifically about Kylie's relationship with her mother that weren't that believable unless Kylie is a moron (and she's not). These are fully realized characters, with real problems that are not miraculously resolved into fantasy happily ever afters or suddenly completely disappear. Nor is it just a thin story spun to tie together extensive spicy scenes. Don't worry - you get the happy ever afters and sexy scenes, and they are very satisfying!
October: #32 The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn
Fits the October tag, crime fiction, YES!
429 pages
3 stars
I originally meant to read the book, but I was traveling on business and needed something to listen to.
Anna is a prisoner in her own home, trapped by an intense agoraphobia, and alone since being separated from her husband and daughter. She is a drunk and taking a lot of meds, so completely unreliable.
She spies on her neighbors a little here and there, interacts with them a little here and there and eventually stumbles upon a mystery involving a new family across the street. Did she see someone get murdered? Or is she crazy? Those are the questions that drive the entire story.
It is suspenseful and keeps you guessing, but one of the main plot twists I figured out very early on, which surprised me because I never figure out the twist. Also, some parts just drag and drag so it got to be monotonous at times. This book is too long. Could've been half the length I think.
A recommend for readers who enjoy a good thriller with a twist, but it isn't setting the world on fire (for me, apparently it did for many others).
Hi Meli, even though you listened to it on audio, you can report the number of pages in the hardcover edition and get credit for it! That is one of the reasons the admins decided to stick with the hardcover page count, so you can enjoy a book in whatever format you prefer and still get equal credit for it as someone who enjoyed a different format.
Nicole R wrote: "Hi Meli, even though you listened to it on audio, you can report the number of pages in the hardcover edition and get credit for it! That is one of the reasons the admins decided to stick with th..."
Oh wow, that is really generous!
I updated my original post with the page count.
Swimming Lessons - Claire Fuller - 3 1/2 stars
295 pages
Does NOT fit the tag
Blurb: Gil Coleman looked down from the window and saw his dead wife standing on the pavement below.'
Gil's wife, Ingrid has been missing, presumed drowned, for twelve years.
A possible sighting brings their children, Nan and Flora, home. Together they begin to confront the mystery of their mother. Is Ingrid dead? Or did she leave? And do the letters hidden within Gil's books hold the answer to the truth behind his marriage, a truth hidden from everyone including his own children?
Review: I was disappointed with this book, which is a shame as when I bought it I remember being very excited about it. It's an OK story, but I think I was expecting more twists or more of a resolution to the mystery of Ingrid's disappearance. (view spoiler)
I did, however, enjoy the chapters featuring Ingrid's letters and finding out which book she hid it in, as the books were often relevant to the contents of the letter.
Cross-posted from October 2019: Other Books.
295 pages
Does NOT fit the tag
Blurb: Gil Coleman looked down from the window and saw his dead wife standing on the pavement below.'
Gil's wife, Ingrid has been missing, presumed drowned, for twelve years.
A possible sighting brings their children, Nan and Flora, home. Together they begin to confront the mystery of their mother. Is Ingrid dead? Or did she leave? And do the letters hidden within Gil's books hold the answer to the truth behind his marriage, a truth hidden from everyone including his own children?
Review: I was disappointed with this book, which is a shame as when I bought it I remember being very excited about it. It's an OK story, but I think I was expecting more twists or more of a resolution to the mystery of Ingrid's disappearance. (view spoiler)
I did, however, enjoy the chapters featuring Ingrid's letters and finding out which book she hid it in, as the books were often relevant to the contents of the letter.
Cross-posted from October 2019: Other Books.
# 32 Of Love and Other Demons 3 stars160 Pages
Does Not Fit Tag
This was my second go at reading Gabriel García Márquez-Love in the Time of Cholera was DNF for me. Well, I got through this one-but it was slow going.
The story line captured my attention, the reason it was on my TBR in the first place. A young girl, supposedly driven mad by the bite of a rabid dog. A priest sent to exorcise her, who ends up in love with her. Add to that Marquez's personal experience as a reporter, covering the razing of a historic convent and the fable of a young girl his Grandmother use to tell him All the pieces of a great story. And yet, I struggled to get through it, two weeks to finish 160 pages...
Just not the author for me. Happy it is off the TBR.
October # 32Fit's the monthly Tag - NO
Pages - 447 (based on hardcover ... I listened to the audio)
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
October - #32Neighborly by Ellie Monago
3 stars
313 pages
does not fit the monthly tag
Aurora Village is exactly the sort of neighborhood Kat has always dreamed of; beautiful homes, friendly neighbors and miles away, physically and emotionally, from the environment in which she was raised. Now Kat and her husband Doug have brought their infant daughter Sadie to a cute little bungalow in the "AV". Although the home was way over their budget, Doug's family chipped in a hefty amount to allow the young couple to buy their dream home. Kat is charmed by it all and the welcome party thrown by the entire neighborhood just makes everything seem perfect. Until...a not so welcoming note is left for Kat: "That wasn't very neighborly of you". At first Kat believes it must be a teenage prank but the notes continue and each one is just a bit more sinister.
The AV begins to lose a bit of its appeal as Kat learns of a bizarre lifestyle that seems to be embraced by most of the neighbors. Kat becomes uneasy around her new found friends and her relationship with Doug starts to crack. Kat's unhappy past has begun to infiltrate her mind and her feelings of unworthiness cause her to question everything. Someone in the neighborhood seems to know that Kat's emotional health is suffering and they are determined to drive her either out of the neighborhood or out of her mind.
This book was not quite what I expected but that doesn't mean it wasn't good. I didn't care for the hidden storyline and I was not a big fan of the unsupportive, dim Doug. Kat is a likable character though she is plagued by demons much of the time. The ending was a bit abrupt and convenient. On the whole, it was ok.
August #16 - Beauty Queens by Libba Bray5*
396 pages
Does not fit the tag
In a sort of dystopia/parallel universe, the contestants for the Teen Dream beauty pageant are being flown to an exotic destination when their plane crashes on a desert island. Well, they think it's deserted, but we soon find out there's a whole army base on the island, and since they're in the midst of conducting an illegal arms deal with a rogue nation, they can't exactly let their presence be known. And then a group of TV-reality fake pirates show up, and things get even weirder.
For the first few chapters, I was like, "what the actual f*ck am I reading?!" But then I fell totally in love with the girls. It's basically a critique of the beauty-queen mentality; in the beginning all they want to do is put on makeup and practice their dance routines, but they are on a desert island and they have to survive, so they learn to hunt, fish, build shelter... At the same time there's a commentary on many contemporary issues, like sexual activity, homosexuality, transsexuality, disability... It turns out to be a lot about girl power and woman bad-assness.
The whole political side of things is completely out there, but in a funny way. The book doesn't take itself seriously once, but can still be interpreted seriously.
I really enjoyed this, both because of the feminism aspect and because it was absolutely hilarious.
Elise wrote: "August #16 - Beauty Queens by Libba Bray5*
..."
I listened to this on audio a few years back. Though I really don't recall details, I remember enjoying it! Can't recall my rating without looking it up, though. (from memory, I'd guess 4 stars.)
Trim 0ctober - #32
Tidewater: A Novel of Pocahontas and the Jamestown Colony by Libbie Hawker - 4 Stars
538 pages
Tidewater is an historical novel about the Pocahontas and John Smith legend. We first meet Pocahontas as a child, and John Smith, newly arrived in the new settlement of Jamestown. The misery suffered by colonists who did not know how to survive in the New World is contrasted with the “Real People,” led by Pocahontas's father Powhatan, who live a comfortable life. Chief Powhatan, one of the most famous Indian Chiefs in history, has formed an empire of several tribes, and we witness the political implications of that decision.
I listened to the audio of Tidewater and found that it explored a believable history about Pocahontas. The story is narrated in three points of view: Pocahontas, John Smith, and Opechancanough, who was Powhatan's brother. The author did extensive research into the customs and beliefs of the Algonquin Indians and every character is complex and believable. I loved the details of Pocahontas's culture, and the way the clash of cultures is subtly portrayed.
Most of what we know about the legend of Pocahontas and John Smith we learned from the Disney movie, long ago school history class, or the memoir authored by John Smith. I was relieved to find a story that made sense to me. Libbie Hawker writes an extensive Author's Note at the end of the novel where she acknowledges any historical inaccuracies and gives further detailed information that was just as interesting as the book, if not more so. It made me want to do some more exploration about early American history.
When I put Tidewater down on the Trim list it had been on my TBR for almost four years. I enjoyed this much more than I expected. If you are interested in how the legend of Pocahontas and John Smith emerged, or the early interaction of colonists and Native Americans, you might want to give this one a try.
Madam Millie: Bordellos from Silver City to Ketchikan / Max Evans3.5 stars
Millie and her sister were orphans in the early 20th century after their parents died within a short time frame. Although, they were in and out of foster homes, they mostly managed to stay together. When Millie’s older sister Florence, got sick, it was suggested she head for someplace dry. They ended up in New Mexico, with Florence in a sanitorium and Millie needed to find a way to make enough money to pay for Florence’s care. It’s how Millie got into prostitution, and not long after, she started buying and running the whorehouses, herself. She married a number of times, but held on to those whorehouses, and added to them.
Millie was feisty, that’s for sure. She was also well-respected. And had a few brushes with the law. I’m not sure she was someone I would like, but it takes all kinds. She has lots of good stories. The book certainly kept my interest. Overall, it was good.
#32 - Home to Holly Springs5 stars - 356 p
I'd almost forgotten how much I love visiting with Father Tim! In the past, I've almost always listened to the audio edition. In fact John McDonough's voice is the voice of Father Tim as far as I'm concerned. This book wasn't narrated by John McDonough and that decided me to read the e-book or DTB if available rather than switch to another voice. As I read this, I could almost hear McDonough/Father Tim.
In this episode, Father Tim has received a very brief note that he needed to go back to his childhood home asap. Something moved him to do that and, of course since this is Father Tim, it was the work of God in his life. The stories switch up as memories wash over Timothy and we learn about his youth, his friends and parents in the past and also keep up with what's going on in the present. It's quite a story, especially as he tries to find out who sent him the note that drove him to return to Mississippi. His wife, Cynthia, is back in the mountains of North Carolina unable to accompany him due to a foot injury; so he brings his dog, Barnabus, whom he also calls The Old Gentleman.
As usual there is a great cast of characters but none that we are used to with the change of venue. Although this is a book chock full of faith (more faith than religion) I usually didn't find it overpowering or preachy. In fact, I'm a bit jealous of these people who have so much faith and often receive consolation in that faith. It's a sweet thing. I'm so happy to have had this brief respite with one of my favorite series.
Ragtime5 stars, 320 pages
The story begins with a very white and american fictional family. The owners of a american flags making company no less. From there it pans to a list of historical figures of that era (first decade of 20th century). Houdini; Emma Goldman, who I never heard of before but was fascinating; Harry K Thaw, Evelyn Nesbit; Stanford White. And each one of them added layers to the story. Another family - this time newly come immigrants from Europe joins the ensemble
The book discusses Immigration, American dream, capitalism, socialism, passion, cities, life of the rich and poor, prison system, transport. It gives a wide and detailed picture of America (and specifically state of NY).
It is a strangely structured story.
There are the two unnamed families and their fictional stories.
There are the famous people that weaves into the story beautifully.
And then comes Coalhouse Walker, a black pianist, the first fictional character to be named - and the story becomes his.
His story is pretty simple - a wronged man fights against the powerful system for justice (and vengeance).
His is a simple and effective story, and around it there are many other stories for the other characters that connect and disconnect from his.
There are hilarious moments and heartbreaking ones.
The writing is so good I was owed at times.
It's the kind of book which can easily become hard work, but was surprisingly readable
#32Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident by Donnie Eichar
Pages 288
Does not fit tag
4 stars
It is nonfiction story written by an American about Russian hikers that died mysteriously in 1959. I never heard of this prior to reading it so I don't recall why it was on my TBR. Though my 13 yr old history buff knew about it. So it made for good conversation. I'm happy they finally may have found the answers to what happened to the hikers, but being a mystery buff I was exciting explanation.
#32All Creatures Great and Small - James Herriot
3 1/2 stars
Does not fit the tag
442 pages
All Creatures Great and Small is the story of a young veterinarian working as an assistant veterinarian in the English countryside. Each chapter describes an incident in the author's time there, the entire book covers two years. It was amusing book and there were many times when I enjoyed learning about rural life in 1930s Great Britain. Often, though, it was very repetitive descriptions of treating a sick animal (usually a cow). I did enjoy reading it but I was not something I was compelled to pick up often. There were some stories that made me smile though, so if you enjoy sweet, humorous, real life stories, give it a try.
Trim the TBR Challenge - October 2019 - #32Title:
Year OneAuthor: Nora Roberts
Date Read: 10/26/2019
Page Count: 448
Rating: ★★★★
Review:
This is a dystopian novel laced with magic – both good and evil. A family gathering in Scotland for the New Year results in disaster for the world. Ross MacLeod accidently spills blood of a pheasant on the ground of a consecrated ring which raises influence of the evil in the form of a killer virus named ‘Doom’ which spreads through air. The entire MacLeod clan is infected and Ross and his wife, on their way to New York from London, inadvertently spread it to all the people in the air port travelling to various destinationas all over the world. The Doom spreads fast and wipes out more than half the population in the world. Governments collapse and lose control and chaos reigns when latent magical powers in human beings – good and dark – are unleashed. Lana Bingham and her partner, writer Max Fallon, journalist Arlys Reid and her intern Little Fred, paramedic Jonah Vorhies and doctor Rachel Hopman, Kathy and her babies and Simon are some of the characters through whom the book travels to form new communities of the survivors of Doom. Here again, the magical people choose sides, joining either the Light or the Dark, and the hatred of normal humans who survived the Doom to the magical beings, termed the Uncanny, uneashes another form of violence.
The dark forces want to destroy the child in Lana’s womb, who is considered to be the Saviour and in the fight between the dark and light forces Max Fallon and some more magical beings are killed to help Lana to escape from the New Hope community where they had settled down. The rest of the book is about Lana’s journey to a sanctuary and Simon’s help and the birth of the baby, Fallon.
I have read very few dystopian novels and I found this very fast moving.
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Play Book Tag
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I thought there was talk of this being a buddy read or at least someone else had this as 32 also... let me know if that was you as I seem to have lost..."
I have The Woman in the Window for 32! I don't recall if there are others, but I'm happy to have a buddy to read with!