The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
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GETTING TO KNOW YOU
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<closed thread>What are you currently reading?
Finished the first part of a Nero Wolfe omnibus borrowed from my local library,
by
Rex Stout (1886-1975). 5*.Now reading the second part of the omnibus,
.On deck (owned book):
Coming Up Roses: The Broadway Musical in the 1950s.
Cactus Blood – Lucha Corpi – 1*
Book two in the Gloria Damasco mystery series. She’s a private detective in training, with a gift for premonition…. Or at least vividly violent dreams that seem to come true. The plot was all over the place and I didn’t care about any of these characters. If it wasn’t a selection for my F2F book club, I would not have finished it.
LINK to my review
The Pearl Thief – Elizabeth E Wein – 3.5***
This is a prequel of sorts to Wein’s Code Name Verity , giving readers a little background on the character of Julia Beaufort-Stuart. It’s a good mystery and coming-of-age tale set in 1938 in the Scottish Highlands. I thought Wein did a good job of moving the plot forward and keeping the reader guessing. There are plenty of suspects and certain bits of evidence point first in one direction and then in another. Author notes at the end give additional information on the Travelers and on Scottish river pearls.
LINK to my review
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm – Kate Douglas Wiggins – 4****
What a delight this classic is! From the first introduction, as she boards the stagecoach as the lone passenger, Rebecca charms and entertains. She is ever curious, constantly moving, always exploring, and chattering away. I wish Wiggins had written a sequel; I sure would read more about Rebecca as a young woman. She’s every bit as engaging and interesting as Anne Shirley (of Green Gables).
LINK to my review
Ordinary Grace – William Kent Krueger – 4****
Krueger is best known for a series of mysteries set in Minnesota. Here he departs from that formula to write a stand-alone novel that explores issues of family loyalty, decency, and faith. The catalyst this particular summer is death – an accidental death, a natural death, a murder, a suicide. Through the Drum family we see how differently people react to death in this small town, where every person, related by blood or not, is somehow close to you and any death affects you. This is the first book by Krueger that I’ve read. It will not be the last.
LINK to my review
FRIDAY – 31 August 18
The Widow Clicquot – Tilar J Mazzeo – 3***
Subtitle: The Story of a Champagne Empire and the Woman Who Ruled It. Mazzeo’s biography is sparse on intimate detail, due to lack of personal letters and papers. The result is somewhat interesting but flat. The extraordinary woman at the center of the story never quite comes to life.
LINK to my review
Cold Sassy Tree – Olive Ann Burns – 4****
Thirteen-year-old Will Tweedy narrates Burns’ historical novel which takes place in the small Georgia town of Cold Sassy Tree circa 1906. Oh ,what a treat this novel is! The characters are richly drawn, and cover the gamut of personalities. I was completely engaged in the story from beginning to end, laughing aloud several times as I watched the residents engage in gossip and speculation.
LINK to my review
The Little French Bistro – Nina George – 3***
A German tourist in Paris runs from her loveless marriage and winds up in Brittany where she finds her inner strength, and love. I liked some aspects and was disinterested in others. (The whole Celtic Druid connection was unnecessary in my humble opinion.) All told, it’s an okay story and there are some moments that are really tender and enjoyable.
LINK to my review
Finished:
- 4*,
- 4*Reading:
11/22/63 - This book is going so very slowly for me that I am thinking of turning it back in and getting a Kindle version. (Is one available?) I am really intimidated by huge books...plus, they are hard to hold.
We Shall Not Sleep - When I finish this one, I will have completed the series.
The Shiksa Syndrome
On Hold (Owned kindle book):
A Game of Thrones
Shelter in Place – Nora Roberts – 2.5**
Roberts, best known as a romance writer, turns her attention to the thriller genre, and she fills it will all the stereotypical characters of that genre. There wasn’t much suspense as I could see the end coming practically from the beginning of the novel. Still, it was a pretty fast read and mostly held my attention.
LINK to my review
The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir – Jennifer Ryan – 4****
Among the many novels about World War II, this one stands out for its focus on the women left behind. Set in an English village, where most of the men are off to the fight, and the women have stepped up to the task of keeping things going. The novel is told by a series of diary entries and letters. I was engaged and interested from beginning to end, and thoroughly enjoyed spending time with these ladies!
LINK to my review
Exit West – Mohsin Hamid – 4.5****
What an inventive and interesting way of telling a tale that examines issues of immigration, war, and love. Hamid uses a framework of a political unrest, where outsiders are quickly blamed for all that goes wrong. It’s uncomfortably recognizable and plausible, but also has a mystical / ethereal quality.
LINK to my review
Educated: A Memoir – Tara Westover – 5*****
In this memoir, Westover recalls her childhood and personal journey to become an educated, independent woman. It’s amazing that Westover survived some of the episodes she relates; it’s a testament to her inner strength and determination that she managed to prosper. Her story is fascinating, compelling and inspiring, but there are scenes that left me shaking my head or cringing in fear.
LINK to my review
The Trouble With Goats And Sheep – Joanna Cannon – 3.5***
What an interesting and inventive way to structure this mystery / coming of age novel. Cannon tells the story in dual timeframes (Summer 1976 and December 1967), and with multiple points of view. But in addition to the mystery Cannon gives the reader a coming-of-age story. I loved Grace and Tilly. The girls learn valuable lessons about friendship, responsibility and not being quick to judge.
LINK to my review
Finished:
- 3*,
- 4*Reading:
Ha'penny
A Morning for Flamingos
Deliverance
11.22.63
I got bogged down in 11/22/63, so I switched to the audio version.
Over the Edge – Michael Ghiglieri & Thomas Myers – 2.5**
The subtitle is all the summary anyone needs: Gripping accounts of all known fatal mishaps in the most famous of the World’s Seven Natural Wonders. The chapters are divided by cause: falls from the rim, falls within the canyon, environment (i.e. dehydration), etc. They have a pretty engaging style when they are recounting a specific scenario, but they tend to get preachy about the causes of most of these fatalities. Mostly it’s boring. My husband’s account of his raft trip is much better (read full review).
LINK to my review
Black and Blue – Anna Quindlen – 3***
The abused wife of a New York City detective flees with their son to a new life in a new state with new identities. Quindlen gives the reader a reasonably suspenseful story arc, but I had some problems believing in the characters. I was interested in how it would play out, but I won’t remember this book for long.
LINK to my review
I finished "Ill Met By Moonlight" and starting "London Bridges" by James Patterson
The Cider House Rules – John Irving – 4****
I love Irving’s writing, and don’t know why this one languished on my TBR for so long. What I really like about the novel is how the characters are portrayed. The reader gets a clear idea of how Dr Larch came to his decision. The reader also clearly understands why Homer makes a different decision, how he struggles to love this man who is like a father to him, once he makes that decision. And the reader watches the painful separation that all parents face when they send their offspring out into the world to make their own way. How a parent’s hopes and dreams may not always be embraced by that child.
LINK to my review
Bea wrote: "Reading:Ha'penny
A Morning for Flamingos
Deliverance
11.22.63"
I wanted to finish the Jo Walton trilogy in order, but my library renewal on book 3 is due to end Wednesday and I have barely started book 2. SO...I will renew book 2 (Ha'penny), turn in book 3 for a later checkout, finish A Morning for Flamingos, and drop out of the library's SC writers reading program as I am just not interested in the books at this time (next one Deliverance). The Audible book of 11.22.63 has yet to be started.
The Handsome Man’s Deluxe Cafe – Alexander McCall Smith– 3***
Book # 15 in the popular No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series has the ladies investigating a case of amnesia. In the meantime, Mma Grace Makutsi has decided to open a new restaurant. I love this series. The cases the agency works on are less important in this series than the relationships between the characters. I feel like I’m spending time with old friends when I open one of these books and become immersed in their lives. They are my reading comfort food.
LINK to my review
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe – Fannie Flagg – 5*****
This is actually the third time I’ve read this book and I love just as much now as I did the first time. Flagg does a marvelous job of developing these characters, and the reader feels the love between them. I was hooked from the beginning and engaged throughout.
LINK to my review
How to Fall In Love With a Man Who Lives In a Bush – Emmy Abrahamson – 3***
Julia is a Swede living in Austria where she teaches English at Berlitz. One day, while waiting on a park bench she meets a smelly, dirty homeless man, Ben. This was a quick, fast read and mildly entertaining. I shook my head at the chances Julia took, but recognized what she saw in Ben. He was clearly intelligent, caring, giving and willing to work at the relationship. She, on the other hand, was pretty closed off to any change in routine, and visibly embarrassed by him. All told it’s a decent chick-lit, new-adult romance.
LINK to my review
I finished "London Bridges" by James Patterson and starting "Bone Crossed" by Patricia Briggs
Finished: A Morning for Flamingos - 4*, In the Company of Angels: A Novel - 5*Actively reading:
The Last Brother
Ha'penny
Black Betty
11.22.63
50% Off Murder – Josie Belle – 3***
A typical cozy mystery where the lead amateur sleuth just cannot keep her nose out of police business, despite specific warnings to steer clear. There are plenty of suspects, including Maggie’s old high-school nemesis. I thought this was a bit formulaic, but maybe I’ve been reading too many cozies lately. The old rivalry with Summer Phillips irritated me no end; they’re 40 years old for heaven’s sake and they are STILL hashing out high school drama?! I figured out the culprit long before Maggie or Sheriff Sam Collins caught on. Still it was a fun, fast read and if another book in the series fits a challenge task, I’ll read it.
LINK to my review
Before We Were Yours – Lisa Wingate – 3.5***
This historical novel is based on a shameful episode in Tennessee history, when babies were sold for profit and powerful people looked the other way. I was engaged and interested from the beginning, but … Of the two time lines I much preferred the historical story arc set in Depression-era Tennessee. I did not care for the contemporary story arc featuring Avery and her uncertain / conflicting love interests. Most of the characters seemed to come straight from central casting. Still, our F2F book group had a lively discussion.
LINK to my review
Finished:
- 3*,
- 4*,
- 4*Actively reading:
A Killer Read
11.22.63
Sworn to Silence
The World According to Bertie
The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine
The Monster of Florence – Douglas Preston and Mario Spezi – 3.5***
In the early 1980s the residents of Tuscany were terrorized by a serial killer every bit as brutal as Jack the Ripper. Known as the Monster of Florence, the psychopath was never caught. Preston and Spezi put their journalism skills to the test, and for their troubles, became the focus of criminal investigation themselves. There are some elements of the book that rival the best true-crime books, but in the end I was left feeling ‘meh.’
LINK to my review
I, Robot – Isaac Asimov – 4****
I’ve never been a great fan of science fiction but this book has been on my tbr for ages. The thread that weaves the chapters together is Susan Calvin, PhD – a specialist in “Robopsychology.” As the narrator relates Dr Calvin’s fifty years of experiences in the field, the reader gets a sense of the slippery slope humanity has embarked on by relying more and more on these highly intelligent machines. It’s fascinating, frightening, thrilling and thought-provoking.
LINK to my review
Orhan’s Inheritance – Aline Ohanesian – 3.5***
The novel moves back and forth between 1990s and the last days of the Ottoman empire. There are not a lot of fiction books about World War I (as compared to WW II), and only a small number that deal with the Armenian genocide. So, this is an interesting and informative subject on which to focus. What people had to do to survive and how the trauma affected them forms the basis for a compelling story. It made me wonder when, or whether, one can ever let go of past wrongs. Must hate and rancor pass from generation to generation because one’s grandfather hurt the other’s grandfather?
LINK to my review
Mennonite In a Little Black Dress – Rhoda Janzen – 3***
The subtitle is: A Memoir Of Going Home. I’m not sure what I was expecting. One the one hand, Janzen is able to look at her life and the choices she made honestly and without (much) regret. She seems to genuinely like and cherish her family, and I really loved the relationship she had with her mother. On the other hand, I’m not so sure Janzen was truly over her husband’s having left for a guy he met on Gay.com. I enjoyed much of it and found her sense of humor about her own situation refreshing, but I didn’t love it.
LINK to my review
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Dark of the Moon – John Sanders – 3.5***
Book One in a new series featuring Virgil Flowers of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension; he only works “the hard stuff.” Sandford crafts a tight plot with several twists and turns, plenty of suspects, a little love interest, and a skilled, likeable lead detective. I like the way Flowers pieces together the puzzle. He’s deliberate and cautious, but aggressive when questioning a reluctant witness. He’s an astute observer and is careful when drawing conclusions. It certainly kept me guessing right up to the reveal.
LINK to my review
Actively reading: A Killer Read
11.22.63
The World According to Bertie
The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine
I returned Sworn to Silence to the library unread. I am overdue on returning The World According to Bertie and have about 100 pages to go. Hopefully I will get it done today or tomorrow.
The Great Alone – Kristin Hannah – 2.5**
Ernt Allbright is a damaged man; a former Vietnam POW he is prone to fits of anger and depression. So, moving his family to a remote homestead in Alaska is clearly a sign that things are going to go badly. I was engaged and interested in the story from the beginning, but … I quickly grew tired of Cora’s constant excuses for her sorry husband. She seemed to never take seriously the signs that he was a danger to her … and to their child! On the plus side, I really did enjoy the depictions of the majestic natural beauty of Alaska. I liked the self-sufficiency of many of the characters, and particularly liked the strong women of the community. In general, however, the things I liked couldn’t make up for what I didn’t like, so this gets a below average rating.
LINK to my review
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Buried In Bargains – Josie Belle – 3***
Book 3 in the Good Buy Girls Mystery series, has all the elements of a successful cozy mystery series: a group of friends who serve as amateur sleuths, a villainous temptress “mean girl” who is the bane of their existence, a handsome sheriff with a definite interest in widowed Maggie, and a lovely small community with a high murder rate. I identified the culprit the first time said culprit made an appearance in the book. But it was still fun to watch everyone else catch up.
LINK to my review
Finished:
- 3*I liked the characters in the book, at times, a lot. However, the title bore little connection - other than one small chapter - to the overall story. Bertie was just one character among many who lived at 44 Scotland Street...and who appeared in the book. I did like some of the ideas and philosophical bits that various characters shared...but not enough for a better rating.
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The Seasonal Reading Challenge
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Reading:
11/22/63
At Some Disputed Barricade
On Hold (Owned book):
A Game of Thrones