The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
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GETTING TO KNOW YOU
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<closed thread>What are you currently reading?
The Girls of Atomic City
– Denise Kiernan – 4**** This is a fascinating micro history of the men and women – many women – who worked to extract the key ingredient that would fuel the bombs the U.S. dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasacki, thereby ending the war. Kiernan did much research and was able to interview a few surviving women to get their personal stories. Using the personal stories of a handful of women made the history personal and engaging.
Full Review HERE
Hula Done It?
– Maddy Hunter – 1* This is book number four in the Passport to Peril series, starring tour escort Emily Andrew and the group of Iowans she takes on various vacations. The characters are cardboard, the plot is thin, and the dialogue is tortured. Hunter did manage to add a few tidbits of Hawaiian history, but not really enough to give a real sense of the islands. Oh well … it was a fast read, and it satisfied a challenge to read a book set in Hawaii.
Full Review HERE
I finished "Strangled Prose" and starting "A Really Cute Corpse"
Finished:
by Adam Levin - 2*I am proud of the fact that I finished this book as it was quite a feat for me. However, it was not a believable story for me. The main character, Gurion, is a 10 year old who leads a rebellion in his school so angry that the children kill two people and seriously wound others - some adults, some other children. This story covers four days of life of this young man with the last day being the day of rebellion and revolt. If this had been a story with a teen-aged protagonist, I might have been more convinced.
There were points of the book that were very interesting but not enough in the over a thousand pages to upgrade my rating.
Currently reading:
The New Mystery: The International Association of Crime Writers' Essential Crime Writing of the Late 20th Century
The Case of the Missing Books
Crank
Relish: My Life in the Kitchen
Whose Body?
Farewell, My Lovely
Haunted Ground
I finished "A Really Cute Corpse" and starting "Dart Tort"
Finishing today:
- 3*,
- 4*,
- 4*,
- 3.5*,
- 3*For Crank, I really liked the writing style of poetry and the way the various poem structures supported the story. For Relish: My Life in the Kitchen, the drawings and the food memoir were very entertaining and well done.
Finishing today/tomorrow:
- 4*
Starting to read:The Silver Pigs
The Heist
The Writing Circle
The Elephant Tree
The Periodic Table
Thunder Rides a Black Horse: Mescalero Apaches & the Mythic Present
Sanibel Flats
As The Waltz Was Ending
– Emma Macallik Butterworth – 4**** This memoir is written for a young adult audience. It is very interesting to see how the historic events unfold through the eyes of a child, and how seductive the opportunities promised by the Nazis were to the young students they recruited. The book is rated as being for age 12 and older; there are some horrific experiences related here, so it may not be the best book for particularly sensitive youngsters.
Full Review HERE
Life Studies: Stories
– Susan Vreeland – 3*** Vreeland is best known for her historical novels focusing on various artists. This is a collection of short stories that focus on art, but more on the people around the artist, rather than on the artist him/herself. The first half of the book is set in an historical time frame, the second half is contemporary. I really liked some of these stories, and others left me feeling ‘meh.’
Full Review HERE
A Few Fair Days
– Jane Gardam – 4**** Lucy is a young girl living in a small, seaside town in Yorkshire, in the years between the wars. This is a charming collection of stories about childhood, and reminds this reader of our greatest and most valuable plaything – imagination. I loved how they played pirates, explored the abandoned estate next door, or searched the seashore for “treasure.” At least one of their escapades had me laughing aloud. Just a lovely book.
Full Review HERE
Throne of Jade
– Naomi Novik – 4**** In Book two of this series, the Chinese demand the return of the dragon known as Temeraire. Novik does a great job imagining a fantasy scenario where dragons are part of the Air Corps, while also keeping the reader in a (circa) 1801 time frame. The battle scenes are exciting, and the intrigue builds suspense. I really like the growing relationship between Temeraire and Capt Laurence. This is not my preferred genre, but I think I’m hooked on the series.
Full Review HERE
Just finished All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood for Task 20.06-BAll I can say is...WOW. What an incredible story. I'm definitely in a book hangover on this one...and needing sleep. I just read thru the night
Caddie Woodlawn
– Carol Ryrie Brink– 4****
This Newbery Award winner tells the story of Caddie Woodlawn, age about 12, in 1864 Wisconsin. Caddie is a courageous, intelligent and resourceful girl. The story reminds me a bit of Laura Ingalls Wilders’ “Little House” books, and that is definitely a good comparison.
Full Review HERE
Sit! Stay! Speak!
– Annie England Noblin – 1* Addie Andrews has inherited her Aunt Tilda’s house in tiny Eunice Arkansas, so she moves from Chicago, and the painful memories there, to refurbish the homestead and heal from her wounds. The best part of this novel – and unfortunately is a small part – is Felix, the pit bull puppy; and I say that even though I’m not a “dog person.” I knew going in that it was chick lit, and I wasn’t expecting great literature but this was really bad.
Full Review HERE
I finished "Dark Tort" and started "Murder is Binding" by Lorna Barrett
Finished:
- 4*,
- 3*,
- 4*,
- 3*Reading:
The New Mystery: The International Association of Crime Writers' Essential Crime Writing of the Late 20th Century
The Elephant Tree
The Periodic Table
Thunder Rides a Black Horse: Mescalero Apaches & the Mythic Present
The Hot Rock
Special Deluxe: A Memoir of Life & Cars
The Twelve
Pax
– Sara Pennypacker – 4**** Peter is forced to turn his pet fox, Pax, loose in the woods, but then reconsiders and sets out to rescue his beloved pet. This is a wonderful tale of loyalty, love, grief and perseverance. The point of view shifts from from Pax’s story to Peter’s experiences by chapters. Both Peter and Pax have been betrayed and are distrustful as a result. They draw on reserves of strength, courage and perseverance they didn’t know they had to help not only themselves but those around them.
Full Review HERE
Journey to the River Sea
– Eva Ibbotson – 4**** Maia is an orphan in London, in the early 1900s who is sent to live with distant relatives on their rubber plantation in Brazil. What a lovely adventure / coming-of-age story! Maia is a strong female character – intelligent, kind, generous, brave, resourceful and loyal. I did think the Carter family – father, mother, and twins – were rather stereotypical “villains,” but that is a small quibble. This is a children’s book, after all, and I don’t expect the same subtleties that I would in literature written for adults.
Full Review HERE
Finished:
- 3*.
- 3*,
- 3*Will finish later today:
- 3*,
- 3.5*Reading:
The New Mystery: The International Association of Crime Writers' Essential Crime Writing of the Late 20th Century
The Twelve
To start next:
In the Company of Cheerful Ladies
The Bookseller of Kabul
This is Where I Leave You
Access Denied
Dracula
– Bram Stoker – 5***** Stoker wrote this as a series of journal or diary entries, letters and newspaper clippings. This gives a certain immediacy to the writing, and builds suspense. The novel is wonderfully atmospheric; from the delights of a new culture as Harker first experiences the loveliness of Eastern Europe, to the creepy, skin-crawling scene with the hordes of rats, and finally to the “pure-white” snow of the mountain blizzard, time and again Stoker puts the reader smack dab in the middle of the scenes. But the novel is more than just a horror story. There are several themes which would be great for book group discussion.
Full Review HERE
Book Concierge wrote: "Bea wrote: "Will finish later today:The Hot Rock ..."
I loved Westlake's book!"
Yes, I will definitely go on with this series.
Anne’s House of Dreams
– L M Montgomery – 4**** What I love about these books is Anne, herself. She’s so optimistic and friendly, with good common sense, a kind heart, and a generous spirit. She is no stranger to trouble and heartache, and this book definitely includes some heart-wrenching events. I love the young woman she has become.
Full Review HERE
The Dinner
– Herman Koch– 4**** In an oh-so-fashionable restaurant in Amsterdam two couples meet for dinner. I was completely fascinated by the psychological nuances explored in these two couples. Over the course of this meal they dance around the very serious situation their sons have gotten into. Emotions are triggered, and just as quickly suppressed. I can hardly wait for my F2F book group discussion!
Full Review HERE
Finished:
- 3*,
- 4*Still reading:
The Twelve
The Bookseller of Kabul
This is Where I Leave You
Delete All Suspects
Succubus Shadows
Midaq Alley
– Naguib Mahfouz – 4**** I love stories that feature an ensemble cast such as this. Midaq Alley is but one of many such small streets in Cairo. The residents form a microcosm of society, and over the course of the novel they fall in love, endure heartbreak, commit crimes, become ill, take chances at new adventures, and simply move on with their lives. Mahfouz’s writing is wonderfully atmospheric – I could smell the bread baking, or hear the cacophony of sound in a busy public square.
Full Review HERE
Finished:
- 3.5*,
- 3*
The Monkey’s Raincoat
– Robert Crais– 3.5*** This is a great detective story that reminds me of the old-fashioned noir tales by Chandler. I was hooked from the beginning and interested throughout. Will definitely read more of this series.
Full Review HERE
I finished " Roses Are Red" by James Patterson and started "The Christmas Shoppe" by Melody Carlson
The Red Leather Diary
– Lili Koppel – 4**** Lily Koppel was a young (age 22) writer working at the New York Times when she discovered an old red leather diary. It had originally been given to Florence Wolfson for her 14th birthday – Aug 11, 1929, and Florence dutifully wrote in it every day for the five years allowed on its pages. The diary did more than offer a fascinating glimpse into the past. As Lily read the young Florence’s record of her hopes, dreams, heartbreaks and triumphs, she discovered something about herself. And then Koppel went searching for Florence…
Full Review HERE
Finished:
- 4*Still Reading: The Twelve
Starting:
The Iron King
Death of a Salesman
Legend of the Feather Pillow
Murderously Incorrect
Sonnets To Orpheus
Succubus Revealed
Up To This Pointe
– Jennifer Longo – 2** When her life-long plan to be a ballerina with the San Francisco Ballet goes awry, 17-year-old Harper Scott finagles a way to go to Antarctica for six months as a research assistant. This story line is so ridiculous that I made myself dizzy rolling my eyes. On the plus side, Harper does mature (a little) over the course of the novel, and while she makes some foolish mistakes she does eventually learn some important lessons.
LINK to My Review
Saving Fish From Drowning
– Amy Tan – 3*** Twelve American tourists join an art expedition that begins in the Himalayan foothills of China and heads south into the jungles of Burma. And then, on Christmas morning, eleven of the travelers boat across a misty lake for a sunrise cruise – and disappear. I like Tan’s writing. She has the ability to plop me right into the middle of a completely different culture. This story has some elements of magical realism. Tan deftly explores the ways in which American tourists make “innocent” mistakes that have significant consequences. At 474 pages, this is longer than it needs to be. Still, I enjoyed it and was entertained throughout.
LINK to my review
Finished:
- 3*,
- 3*Murderously Incorrect was chosen as a read for a game requiring that I select the book with the lowest rating on my TBR. I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I liked the character of Rada, as flawed as he was. The mystery had twists and turns that, although I might have guessed them, I never seriously felt I was right.
Sonnets To Orpheus was a surprise as I liked this poetry and felt that I understood it better than I usually do.
Make Way For Ducklings
– Robert McCloskey – 5***** and a ❤ Mr and Mrs Mallard search for a good home in which to raise their brood. This is a perennial favorite for children and their parents. Oh, how I loved the story of how Policeman Michael and the other people ensured the safety of Mrs Mallard and her brood: Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack and Quack, as they crossed busy streets, waddled past coffee shops and book stores, and finally made their way to the Public Gardens, for a reunion with Mr Mallard who waited patiently on the little island in the pond. It’s an absolute delight to revisit this story and I marvel at the wonderfully detailed illustrations.
LINK to my review
Finished:
- 4*Soon to finish (tomorrow):
- 2*This book is a first novel by an MD. It had some funny moments, too much Yiddish, and not believable reactions to events by the protagonist - over-reacting in most cases.
Reading:
The Twelve
How the Shaman Stole the Moon: In Search of Ancient Prophet-Scientists from Stonehenge to the Grand Canyon
The Girl Who Played Go
– Shan Sa – 4**** Set in Manchuria circa 1931, the novel is told in alternating points of view: a 16-year-old Chinese girl who has mastered the game of go, and a Japanese soldier in disguise to challenges her to a game. I’m glad that Shan Sa included footnotes on the Japanese and Chinese history, because my own education in this is woefully lacking. What really shines in the novel, however, is how the characters come to life. . I was engrossed in their lives, and completely stunned by the ending.
LINK to my review
Finished:
- 2.5*This book was much more scientific than I expected, although I did learn a few things about the Anasazi peoples and the Grand Canyon.
Reading:
The Twelve
Starting:
Day After Night
The Old Man and Mr. Smith
Erasmus of Rotterdam
Leslie
I finished "Foundations" by Mercedes Lackey and started "The Dressmaker" by Kate Alcott
Mrs. Mike
– Benjamin and Nancy Freedman – 4**** This is a novel, but it is based on the real life story of Katherine Mary O’Fallon. It’s a great adventure story, love story, and pioneer story. The young couple endure several misadventures and tragedies, including wildfires, floods, and epidemics of diphtheria and influenza. It is their deep love for one another that sees them through, as well as their willingness to understand the cultural mores of the Indians and adapt to, or at least tolerate, their differences.
LINK to my review
I am reading "Intrigues" by Mercedes Lackey and "The Dressmaker" by Kate Alcott
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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)
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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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Started: Crank