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:
- 4*OK...so I like flawed protagonist who are strong people...especially strong women. Detective Harriet Blue is definitely that - strong and flawed. I did figure out, although I was not sure of my choice, the villain. The story line chose another for that role, but it seemed to easy to me. However, I liked the twist that explained why the villain was as he was characterized. It was appropriate and felt real.
I must admit to being a bit jaded by all the James Patterson books and that I chose this one for his co-writer. A very good read.
Finished:
- 4*Wow! Thoroughly enjoyed this book. The story revolves around the impact on other's lives of our choices and the blindness we have toward our own responsibilities...at least in the eyes of others. It's a story of forgiveness ~ the need for it and the need to give it. This story pulled at my emotions. That's the measure of a truly engaging book.
Reading:
Animal Dreams - Own
Letters of a Woman Homesteader - Library
White Lies - Library
Sabriel - Ebook
The Snow Child - Library
To the Land of Long Lost Friends - Library
Marked - Kindle
Finished:
- 3.5*Really enjoyed these letters. Elinore Pruitt Stewart was both a brave woman as well as a keen observer. Her letters about her life as a homesteader in Wyoming were delightful to read.
Nice Work – Celia Imrie – 3***
Book two in the Nice series. Love the double entendre of the title as this book is set near Nice, Cannes and Marseille in a charming small French town full of colorful characters and a tight group of expats who are trying to make a new life on the Cote d’Azur. This is a fun, enjoyable read with a bit of intrigue and a likeable cast of recurring characters. Some of the family drama from book one spills over into this tale.
My full review HERE
Finished:
- 4*Loved it! Got so caught up in it that I read the last half of it all in one sitting.
I was hesitant about this book partly because of the title and partly because of the cover. I am not a Romance reader. However, this book is more action and mystery than romance. Oh, that is there also and a bit steamy but with the gentility of description. Nicely done. Felt the heat without being bombarded by the picture.
And, although I had suspected the killer briefly, I was a bit surprised at the complexity of which he was a cog.
On to book #3.
Finished:
- 3* Interesting story of finding one's own memories and life amidst the memories of childhood.
Finished:
- 3*Interesting story of finding the truth is not always what one expects.
Reading:
Sabriel - Ebook
The Snow Child - Library
Marked - Kindle
Finished:
- 4*Dystopian kind of story. A virulent virus was released, a scientist killed, and the world was divided into marked and unmarked...oh, and militia-type. The protagonist is a young woman who is days away from her seventeenth birthday and choosing her Path. And, then she starts learning, in bits and pieces, her life story from people she had trusted. There is a teenage infatuation and a grown up love in it too for her.
I got a little tired of her wanting to be brave and always seeming to fail, but not enough to reduce the stars to three.
Reading:
Sabriel - Ebook
The Snow Child - Library
A Month in the Country - Library
Walking Into the Night - Library
Hangman's Root - Library
Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies, and the Making of a Medical Examiner - Library
Cat Trick - Own
Finished:
- 4*What a wonderful story of a Russian fantasy come to life. It is full of emotion and memory and hope.
Finished:
- 3*An interesting description of life in rural England post WWI.
Finished Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. Yesterday started Wise Cocktails: The Owl's Brew Guide to Crafting & Brewing Tea-Based Beverages by Jennie Ripps and Maria Littlefield. There are some recipes using hibiscus and I bought some in Egypt in January so I will try some of these recipes
Finished:
- 4*This China Bayles mystery had more twists and turns that I could shake a stick at! Didn't see the end coming. Nicely written cozy mystery.
Finished:
- 3*Two feral cats have adopted a librarian and help her solve mysteries. Each cat has a paranormal talent. This is a fun cozy mystery with wonderful characters. I picked it up from a Free Library kiosk and now will have to find the previous 3 books and any others to continue with this series.
Reading:
Sabriel - Ebook
Walking Into the Night - Library
Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies, and the Making of a Medical Examiner - Library
Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen – 4****
It's no wonder this is a classic. Austen is simply the master of dialogue. The way in which the characters interact brings them to life. From Mrs Bennet’s hysterics, to Lydia’s self-centered teen-aged giddiness, to Mr Collins’ simpering diatribes, to Jane’s cautious and measured observations, to Elizabeth’s outrage and clever responses to Darcy and Lady Catherine de Bourgh, the dialogue simply sparkles.
My full review HERE
Finished:
- 3*This is the story primarily of a man who became the butler of William Hearst. Although some of the story involves Mr. Hearst and the life his butler had in California, most of the book is filled with letters to his abandoned wife. A tragic story. An interesting story. A sad story of a life missed in memory.
Reading:
Sabriel - Ebook
Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies, and the Making of a Medical Examiner - Library
Starting soon:
Death in the Park
The Sanctuary Seeker
The Invitation
Finished:
- 3*I love forensic shows on TV, and I have a medical background; so I found this book very interesting. However, for the average person who does not share my interest or training, it might be a bit gross as she does describe the autopsies and uses medical terms throughout this book.
Currently Reading: Sweep of the Blade - Audiobook
Sabriel - Ebook
Death in the Park - Kindle
Starting soon:
The Sanctuary Seeker
The Invitation
Finished:
- 4*I have avoided this book for several years, because I thought of it as a children's book. I was wrong. Yes, it is a young adult fantasy...but, not just for young people.
I got very caught up in this story of a young woman who starts out to find her father's body. She wants to re-unite his body and soul and make him live as would any young person who loves a parent. In the process of making that journey, she grows into her own strength and responsibilities. This is a story about doing the hard thing, finding love and choosing life.
I will be looking for the next books in this fantasy with pleasurable anticipation.
Currently Reading: Sweep of the Blade - Audiobook
Death in the Park - Kindle
The Sanctuary Seeker
The Invitation
Untimely Death
Devil in Winter – Lisa Kleypas – 3***
Book number three in the Wallflower series is a fun romp of a regency romance. The action moves forward at a steady pace, there are dastardly villains, innocent damsels, mysterious foreigners, handsome heroes, and a feisty heroine.
My full review HERE
Bea wrote: "Finished: - 4*I have avoided this book for several years, because I thought of it as a children's book. I was wrong. Yes, it is a young adult fantasy...but, not just f..."
I also was pleasantly surprised when I read this one. I listened to the audiobook which was very well done!
Leonard and Hungry Paul – Rónán Hession – 4****
Two thirty-something single men are friends. They each live at home, they play board games, take satisfaction in their work, like to read, and are, in general, nice. Can quiet, gentle people change the world? Oh, I loved this book! I liked how Hession showed us these two men slowly and gently, revealing their strengths and flaws, as we got to know them. The ending is perfect. Happy and hopeful but not tied up in a nice, neat bow.
My full review HERE
Finished:
- 4*A good story set in King Richard's time. There are many terms that are specific to this historical setting, but a list of definitions are included in the front. The position of coroner is new as this story begins. The rival between the coroner and sheriff is intensified by the fact that John is the coroner and his brother-in-law is the sheriff. This is a new series for me, and I will certainly continue with it.
- 3*I would have given this book 3.5* if allowed. I had figured out the mostly likely candidate for murderer, although that person seemed to be a throw-away character. I will follow up with the next in series to see if the writing continues the same or becomes more developed.
Currently Reading:
Sweep of the Blade - Audiobook
Death in the Park - Kindle
The Invitation - Own
Murder in G Major - Library
Dumb Witness - Library
The Last Thing He Told Me - Library
Just finished up The Taking of Jemima Boone: The True Story of the Kidnap and Rescue That Shaped America-about the kidnapping of Jemima by a Cherokee-Shawnee raiding party from Boonestown, the first settlement of white colonists, in Kentucky. Not quite 4 stars, but an interesting read with great research by this author.
: Revenge Wears Prada – Lauren Weisberger – 2**
Subtitle: The Devil Returns. This is a follow-up to the immensely popular The Devil Wears Prada . Andy and Emily have joined forces to launch a high-end bridal magazine that is very successful. I didn’t much like either of these two lead characters and how they handled their professional and personal relationships. I’d already read book three in the series (which focuses on Emily), so that may have colored my reactions.
My full review HERE
Finished:
- 4*What a fun recording! I was on the edge of my seat during the battle descriptions. And, the ending makes me eager for the next book.
Each character is well-rounded and easy to love or hate as need be. The romance and the doubts that plague Maud about marriage, the interaction between Maud and the precocious Helen, feel real and reasonable. Definitely fell into the world-building of the author and became immersed in the story.
Started: My Sister, the Serial Killer - Library
Finished:
- 4*It was appropriate that I read this new series during February, which is Black History month. The author is a very talented black woman whose protagonist is an accomplished black woman. I loved this book. A woman determined not to return to her family as a "failure", who comes to Ireland as a last chance to redeem herself, and who builds a friendship with a ghost, a garda and a maths teacher. Gethsemane is a strong, determined and delightful woman. Definitely will continue with this series.
The Whale Rider – Witi Ihimaera – 5***** and a ❤
What a wonderful story. Magical, mystical, and yet completely relatable. Eight-year-old Kahu wants nothing so much as to please her Grandfather and be loved by him. But he dismisses her as a “useless girl.” Still, her grandmother, father and uncle champion her cause, as she comes of age and proves that she has what it takes to become chief and lead her people.
My full review HERE
Finished:
- 4*I really enjoy Agatha Christie novels. I personally like Miss Marple best, but Hercule Poirot sometimes delights. This was one of those stories. I was surprised at the ending. I had not figured out correctly the murderer. That is a bit unusual as, even if I don't know for sure, I usually at least figure out the person is a possibility. Not so in this story. I totally bought into the red herrings. Loved it!
Currently Reading:
Death in the Park - Kindle
The Invitation - Own
The Last Thing He Told Me - Library
Death of a Lobster Lover - Ebook
Finished:
- 3.5*This is a new series in the cozy mystery genre for me.
I liked the protagonist, Sunni Taylor, and her sisters. The newspaper characters were partially sketched out, but they were not integral to the story so it didn't matter much. Her sisters and friends were a little more developed but all suffered from the need to introduce so many characters who will appear in further books. I also like Detective Jackson and am sure he will be the counter to her investigations in further books.
But the tickler for the next book? The ghost haunting her home (hopefully to be a B&B) was introduced on the last pages of this book. One would need to read the next books to truly meet him.
I will look for the next in this series for sure. A good start to a spectacular series.
Finished:
- 4.5*Oh, my. I was set to start reading this book on a Monday. I only read a couple of pages, but I figured that I would average 50 pages a day and get it done in a week. So, when I sat down on Wednesday to catch up the 150 pages that I had anticipated I would have done, I found this book really engaged me and, except for the late hour, I would have finished it in one day! I did...in two sessions of reading...all in 24h.
It is an amazing, gripping tale of love and loss and hope even in the darkest time. It is took my hand and drug me into a world of danger and determination and most of all LOVE.
I will look for more of this amazing author and wonder if she can bring me along again on a whirlwind of a dangerous ride and leave me wanting more.
Currently Reading:
The Invitation - Own
Death of a Lobster Lover - Ebook
Acqua Alta - Library
The Janus Stone - Library
Finished:
- 3*I have resisted this book for a long time. Therefore, I was a bit surprised when I actually got around to reading it. I liked it. Not well enough, but, yes, I liked it..especially the ending.
However, for most of the book, I had difficulty identifying with any of the characters or with the setting. Perhaps the setting issue is that it is far from my own experience in the USA. Regarding the characters, none seemed to be operating in the reality that I know. Now I will accept that this story may easily fit in the African reality, and that the characters may seem more real to others. It is the issue that confronts me as a reader when I read outside my own experience. Still I liked the story.
Finished:
- 2.5*It seemed to be a first novel that needed a bit of tightening up. I think the author could have benefited from a good writing group.
My main issue is that the story was written in the first person and so it has the thoughts and feelings of the first person. And, a lot of that was not believable. It felt more like what the author thought the character should think and feel than what the character actually thought and felt...right up until close to the end. Then the author got out of his own head and allowed the character to come alive.
Currently Reading:
The Invitation - Own
Death of a Lobster Lover - Ebook
Acqua Alta - Library
The Janus Stone - Library
A Murder of Manatees - Audiobook
The Hazel Wood - Library
Finished:
- 4*I enjoyed this cozy mystery, even though I do not drink alcoholic cocktails nor eat lobster; both of which constitute the recipes in this book.
The characters were fully developed and delightful. And the story held surprises and twists that just kept it on its toes.
I realize that I have jumped into the series in the middle. It would be fun to go back to book #1 and read the missed books to see how the friendship developed, but nothing is missing by starting with book #9.
Furious Hours – Casey Cep – 3.5*** rounded up
Subtitle: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee. This is a combination of a true crime exploration of the serial killer Reverend Willie Maxwell, and a mini biography of Harper Lee. I found the entire story fascinating, but then I am a fan of both Lee and true crime books. However, I think the author would have been less successful with this book without the Lee hook, and that somehow just didn’t sit right with me. So, three stars: I liked it; other true-crime or Lee fans will probably like it too.
My full review HERE
Finished:
- 4*I am more in love with the character of Ruth Galloway that I was before. She is an independent, feisty professional who lives life on her terms. In this story she is pregnant and dealing with the archeological mysteries as well as her own feelings about having a baby with no family support (her family's religious views find her at odds with them). There are men orbiting around Ruth who support her - Max, a fellow archeologist who turns out to be part of the mystery; Cathbad, a druid friend; and Harry, the commissioner of police, a married man.
Delightful cozy mystery. On to book #3.
Currently Reading:
Acqua Alta - Library
A Murder of Manatees - Audiobook
The Hazel Wood - Library
The Invitation - Own - I have removed this book from active reading. It will take me a long time to work my way through the philosophy of this book...and I will do so slowly.
West Side Rising – Char Miller & Julian Castro – 4****
Subtitle: How San Antonio's 1921 Flood Devastated a City and Sparked a Latino Environmental Justice Movement. I grew up in San Antonio’s West Side and witnessed many a flood in our neighborhood. This book explores not only the results of the city’s founding in a flood plain, but the political decisions – motivated by class and racial prejudice – that ensured that the areas poorest citizens would continue to suffer for centuries despite contributing tax dollars to help the wealthy stay dry. And how, a group of those West Side residents, fueled by yet another flood, marshalled their collective political power to achieve major changes.
My full review HERE
Finished: Acqua Alta - 4*This book is set in Venice, Italy. As might be expected it has an opera singer as one of the characters. Her partner is an archeologist, who discovers some Chinese antiquities have been faked. That leads to assault, murder, theft of antiquities and the corruption of many people. It involves the Venice police (Commissario Brunetti, Patta, Vianello, and others) as well as international law enforcement to solve the case. A thoroughly intriguing story.
Finished:
- 2*This is an audiobook, set in the future of space travel and written tongue-in-cheek about many social icons of the recent past. Not my style of humor.
Currently Reading:
The Hazel Wood - Library
The Poppy War - Library
A Court of Wings and Ruin - Library
Zapped - Library
Year One - Audiobook
Finished:
- 3*This is a fairy tale of a girl from a fairy tale who was stolen, returned and then escaped from her own story.
Finished:
- 4*I enjoyed this romp around New York City during a blackout and was on pins and needles whether it would all come out alright. Wonderful characters, even the minor ones. Almost a Keystone cops feel about some of it. What fun!
Finished:
- 4.5*Wow! I knew that I loved this series, but I read this one in less than 12 hours! And, that was with taking a few hours to sleep, a bit of time to kill some large Palmetto bugs in the kitchen and then to start the cleanup, and feed/treat my dog.
I so love the characters of Mercy and Adam and the issues that spring from each species in melding their love together. Mercy is growing more into her adult self rather than remaining the child always seeking for her place. I thoroughly buy into her interior changes and growth. She is a strong woman/being who is learning to hold onto love rather than run.
And, for other paranormal readers, this one has vampires, fey, werewolves and lots of variation among those groups. Oh, and zombies, too!
Currently Reading:
The Irish R.M. - Own
The Poppy War - Library
A Court of Wings and Ruin - Library
Year One - Audiobook
The Duke and I – Julia Quinn – 3.5***
Book one in the Bridgertons series. This was everything a regency romance should be. There is a young marriageable lady in need of a husband, an aloof, dashingly handsome but rakish duke, and enough sexual tension and plot twists to keep things interesting and the pages turning.
My full review HERE
Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit – Jeanette Winterson – 3***
Winterson’s semi-autobiographical debut novel has a protagonist who is also named Jeanette. It is a glimpse at one teenager’s path out of childhood and into adulthood. Oh, the angst of teen years! The confusion and questions that adults don’t seem to want to answer (heck, they don’t want you to even ask), the emotional roller coaster of attraction vs guilt. First published in 1985, I can see why it became so popular. But I’m long past this stage of life and I’ve read many books treating coming-of-age, including those featuring LGBTQ characters. I thought it was fine for its genre, but not particularly memorable to me.
My full review HERE
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The Seasonal Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The Opposite of Everyone (other topics)Small Wonder (other topics)
I, Alex Cross (other topics)
Fox & I (other topics)
On Gold Mountain: The 100-Year Odyssey of a Chinese-American Family (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Gill Paul (other topics)Elizabeth Peters (other topics)
Rainbow Rowell (other topics)
Liam Moiser (other topics)
Barbara Mertz (other topics)
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An engaging mystery set in Ireland. Cormac Reilly is confronted with his first case twenty years later and has to deal with the frustration of the social service and police politics of that time and now. He also finds himself stuck in a maze of confusing personal pieces that threaten to ruin his career. Loved this book. Will look for more by this author.
Starting:
Letters of a Woman Homesteader - Library
White Lies - Library