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2021 Reads and Reviews ~ Anything goes
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The Painter
Peter Heller
4/5 stars
Jim Stegner is a famous painter living in Colorado. His life has been marred by the death of his daughter and he can’t keep it together. One night he comes across a man beating a horse which enrages him and he kills the man which sets off an unusual arc for him, one of destruction and one of creative energy. I enjoy Heller’s works- they are never boring!
The Killer Across the Table: Unlocking the Secrets of Serial Killers and Predators with the FBI's Original Mindhunter, by John Douglas5 stars!
Not just another list of familiar serial killers and their FBI classifications. In this one Douglas goes pretty deeply into how he builds trust with a murderer or rapist, brings out the information from the criminal's point of view and makes sense of it all. He uses other, better-known cases he's worked on to compare and contrast the individual shapes of the pathologies involved. A fascinating read for all the right reasons. A nice bonus is that I found one (1) Spellcheck error in the whole book. ("Roll" was used in place of "role" on page 218 of the uncorrected proof copy I read.) Read this one!
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The Magician's Nephew
C.S. Lewis
4/5 stars
Written in 1955, this was not the first book written but one of the last but it is the first story chronologically. This is a prequel to the series set in 1900 and revolves around 12 year old Digory, Polly Plummer, his friend and his Uncle who has given them magic rings which takes them to the land of Narnia and the beginning of the Narnian world and book series. Never having read the books when I was younger, I enjoyed this and look forward to the rest of the stories.
Remember: The Science of Memory and the Art of Forgetting by Lisa Genova 5 stars
Lisa Genova is one of my favorite authors and I believe I have read all of her books. She is a neuro-scientists and her novels deal with medical issues such as Alzheimer's disease. This is the first book that is more clinical and doesn't deal with an individual person. It was interesting to find out how memories work and why we can't remember everything. I was happy to find out that I probably do not have dementia. If you forgot where you parked your jeep you probably don't have dementia. If you forgot you HAVE a jeep you might.
Quite a Year For Plums – Bailey White – 3***
A charming look at the eccentric people who inhabit a small town in Georgia. I had a hard time getting into the book. That was my problem, I think, rather than the book’s. I usually enjoy these slower, meandering, character-driven works, but it just didn’t quite work for me at this time. It was okay. There was nothing really wrong with it. But I barely remember it just a day after finishing it.
My full review HERE
Book Concierge wrote: " Quite a Year For Plums
– Bailey White – 3***
A charming look at the eccentric people who inhabit a small town in Georgia. I had a hard time getting in..."
Maybe enjoy and move on is typical for her. Mama Makes Up Her Mind was enjoyable but not highly memorable. The "something like a husband" story was the one which really stuck with me.
Seriously … I’m Kidding – Ellen DeGeneres – 3***
I like Ellen DeGeneres. She’s a talented comedian and I’ve been a fan of hers for years. But watching a talented performer give a 5-minute monologue that is funny and entertaining is not the same as reading a book … or, in my case, listening to it. It wasn’t great literature, but it was fine. I doubt I’ll remember it tomorrow.
My full review HERE
Bluffton – Matt Phalen – 4****
Subtitle: My Summers With Buster Keaton. This graphic novel explores the early 20th century era of Vaudeville, and one particular summer resort that catered to many of the era’s Vaudeville stars – including the Keaton family and their talented son, Buster. It’s a wonderful way to introduce young readers to this by-gone era.
My full review HERE
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Hugh Martin: The Boy Next Door
Hugh Martin
4/5 stars
This is the very interesting autobiography of Alabama born Hugh Martin. Martin was a composer and song writer for theater and movie productions. Probably best known for writing Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas and The Trolley Song, he worked with Judy Garland and many famous singers of that time period. He also served in WWII as a soldier and died in 2011 at the ripe old age of 97. This is definitely a must read for Hollywood fans.
The Winter of Frankie Machine – Don Winslow – 4****
Wow, what a ride! The action is fast and furious, and deadly. Retired Mob hit-man Frank Machianno (a/k/a/ Frankie Machine) is really on his own, with no one to trust. And the reader is pretty much on her own as well. There are more potential suspects than Carter has pills. The action is non-stop and there are surprises right up to the ending. This is the first book by Winslow that I’ve read. It won’t be the last.
My full review HERE
Julie wrote: "Hugh Martin: The Boy Next Door
Hugh Martin
4/5 stars
This is the very interesting autobiography of Alabama born H..."
Adding to my TBR...
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The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
C.S. Lewis
4/5 stars
Lucy finds a wardrobe while visiting a professor and discovers that it leads to the land of Narnia. Her siblings don’t believe her but when they enter the wardrobe they realize she was not lying. While in Narnia, they realize that the White Witch has cast an evil spell on the land and with the help of a lion named Aslan, they attempt to free Narnia from the Witch. Enjoyable!
: This Time Together – Carol Burnett – 4****
Subtitle: Laughter and Reflection. In this memoir Carol Burnett chronicles her show business career, from her early roles in New York, to headlining her incredibly popular variety show and beyond. I love Carol Burnett. She is truly an American Treasure. I can’t remember the last time I read a book that had me both howling out loud in uncontrollable laughter (my husband came from the other side of the house to see what was going on), and crying to the point where I had to put it aside for a moment because I literally could not see the words on the page for my tears. That speaks, I think, to the genuine person Burnett is, and to her generosity of spirit to lay it all wout there.
My full review HERE
Caddie Woodlawn’s Family – Carol Ryrie Brink – 3.5***
This sequel to the popular Caddie Woodlawn book was originally titled “Magical Melons.” Set in the late 1800s, in Western Wisconsin, the books chronicle life in the Woodlawn family, primarily from the perspective of Caddie, who is almost 13 in this episode. She and her five siblings have great fun in and around their farm and the land surrounding it. Like the “Little House on the Prairie” series, these books provide a reasonable look at life in those pioneer days, though stories involving the native Indian population make me cringe.
My full review HERE
An Irish Country Village – Patrick Taylor – 4****
Book two in the popular Irish Country Doctor series, relating the trials and tribulations of young Dr. Barry Laverty as he begins his practice as a country GP in the mid-1960s in Ballybucklebo, a fictitious community in Northern Ireland full of eccentric and memorable residents. Taylor has a gift for making his character so alive they fairly jump off the page. I also love the descriptions he gives of the landscape; makes me feels that I’ve actually been to Northern Ireland. Will definitely keep reading this series.
My full review HERE
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The Horse and His Boy
C.S. Lewis
3/5 stars
Shasta, a young boy is on the run accompanied by Bree who is a talking horse. They hear of a dangerous plot by the Calormen who want to take over Narnia and they rush to stop the plan. Not my favorite of the three stories of Narnia that I have read so far but not bad.
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Zen Pencils: Cartoon Quotes from Inspirational Folks
Gavin Aung Than
4/5 stars
I originally found this comic strip series on Today's Comics but it eventually ended. I was thrilled to find there are different editions of it published in book form and our library system had a copy of one of the editions. The author would take a famous inspirational quote and illustrate a short story around it. I thought it was nicely done!
A Stab In the Dark – Lawrence Block – 3***
Matthew Scudder series, number four. Block writes a tight, fast-moving, noir police procedural. Scudder is something of a mystery himself. Oh, we know why he left the force and we’re privy to his demons, but he plays his cards close to the vest. Watching him ferret out the truth is engaging and fascinating.
My full review HERE
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Prince Caspian
C.S. Lewis
3/5 stars
The siblings Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy are returning to boarding school when they are whisked away to go back to Narnia where they find Trumpkin the dwarf who explains to them what is going on in Narnia. King Caspian has been killed by his brother who is now ruling Narnia. The siblings take up Prince Caspian’s cause to be instated as the new King. Not my favorite of the series but it was well written.
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My Planet: Finding Humor in the Oddest Places
Mary Roach
4/5 stars
Mary Roach is known for her excellent non-fiction books including STIFF: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers, and GULP: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal, however in this book, she has written short humorous essays on her life and marriage. I thought this was quite funny but too short!
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The Voyage of the Dawn Trader
C.S. Lewis
4/5 stars
King Caspian has built the ship, the Dawn Treader to take his crew to find the End of The World (Aslan’s country). Invited on the voyage is Edmund, Lucy and their cousin Eustace (Peter and Susan are now too old to go on the journey). Caspian is looking for the seven lords that were banished by his uncle. They go to where no other ship has gone. This has to be my favorite book so far in the series and I couldn’t wait to see what happened.
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The Silver Chair
C.S. Lewis
4/5 stars
In this book, the storyline follows Cousin Eustace and Jill Pole and their adventures since the 4 siblings of the previous books are now too old. Eustace and Jill are being pursued by bullies at school and while running away from them they found a locked gate which is now unlocked and the kids are able to escape their bullies. However, they are now on the edge of a precipice and Jill accidentally pushes Eustace over it. She then sees Aslan, the lion and he has a task for her and Eustace. They are to find the missing Prince Rilian who is believed to have been kidnapped! This was good. This is the second to the last book in the series.
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The Last Battle
C.S. Lewis
4/5 stars
This is the last book of the Narnian adventures and follows Eustace Scrubb and Jill Pole as they unlock the secret of the fake Aslan (aka the donkey, Puzzle) and his conspirator Shift, an ape that are wreaking havoc to the land including cutting down all the Talking Trees. King Tirian, a descendant of King Caspian X hears the news, he takes off to help prevent the destruction.
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Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted
Suleika Jaouad
4/5 stars
Suleika Jaouad had just finished college and was ready to start her career and life with her boyfriend when she was diagnosed with leukemia. All her plans are dashed and she is thrown into the health care system which will do anything to get rid of her cancer. Well written and very informative on the cancer care she received.
The Bookshop Of the Broken Hearted – Robert Hillman – 3.5***
In 1968 in rural Australia, Tom Hope runs his farm, milks his cows, tends his sheep and tries to find a new purpose in his life after his wife, Trudy, left him and took her son, Peter, with her. Then he meets Hannah Babel, a survivor of Auschwitz and some 15 years his senior, who hires him to build bookcases for her new bookshop. I really liked how Hillman drew these broken-hearted people, how he revealed their pain and their efforts to heal and move forward. Yet, I wasn’t sure I understood Hannah all that well.
My full review HERE
Finding Dorothy – Elizabeth Letts – 3.5***
Letts mines history to go “behind the scenes” on the making of the 1938 movie that launched Judy Garland’s star - The Wizard of Oz - and, more importantly, the story of how L Frank Baum came to write the series that captured the imaginations of millions of readers. I was engaged and interested from the beginning and felt that I learned much about both the making of the movie and about the people Maud and Frank Baum were.
My full review HERE
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Finding Dorothy
– Elizabeth Letts – 3.5***
Letts mines history to go “behind the scenes” on the making of the 1938 movie that launched Judy Garland’s star -..."
I think I read that last year. I enjoyed it!
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The Search for Anne Perry
Joanne Drayton
3/5 stars
This is the biography of Anne Perry, prolific writer of mysteries. However, Anne Perry is not her original name but she was actually born as Juliet Hulme. Her name change came about after she was imprisoned for the death of a young girl and became an author. Drayton covers her life but mostly her writing career and offers samples of Anne’s writings from her books throughout the biography. I enjoyed the book but I thought that the book summaries interrupted the flow of the book and the discussion of her life was not linear. The death of the girl was not discussed till later in the book and contained few details about it.
The Accidental Tourist – Anne Tyler – 3.5***
Tyler excels at writing character-driven works that give us a glimpse of their lives in all their messy complexity and banal ordinariness. I love the scenes she creates that reveal so much of family dynamics; the Thanksgiving dinner is priceless, as is Rose’s wedding, and Christmas at Muriel’s mother’s house.
My full review HERE
All Quiet On the Western Front – Erich Marie Remarque – 4****
Many have called this the “greatest war novel of all time.” I’m not certain I agree with that superlative, but it IS a powerful, emotional, gripping, disturbing, enthralling, and honest exploration of war and its effects on the young who become the pawns of their leaders.
My full review HERE
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Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike
Phil Knight
4/5 stars
What a well written book by Phil Knight, who maps out his journey to build a shoe brand and form his own company, NIKE with the help of his family and friends. This is definitely very inspirational for those building their own company but very readable for those who like a good biography.
Stalking Justice: The Dramatic True Story of the Detective Who First Used DNA Testing To Catch a Serial Killer, by Paul Mones4 stars
A great read! Paul Mones always writes really good TC but this is a very unusual story. Being an attorney himself he explains legal aspects of the story that make it even more unusual and interesting than it would have been otherwise. There are NO spoilers on the jacket or in the photo section, which is great because this story offered a number of surprises. The writing was so focused on the important aspects of the crimes involved that even though there were no crime-scene photos, I came away feeling as if I had seen them. Be sure to read this one.
The Secret of Black Ship Island, by Larry Niven & Co4 stars (except for the editing job)
Revisits the characters we loved, and in some cases lost, in BEOWULF'S CHILDREN. We learn what happened That Terrible Night when the denizens of Surf's Up were initiating a fresh cohort of Grendel Scouts at Black Ship Island on what they called Hell Night. Never a dull moment. It ends in tears. But we come away very proud of the heroism, and shattered by the many terrible losses. I have to say I was disappointed in the text quality. This novella is a cut above the utterly lousy text- and copyediting you see in most straight-to-to-Kindle books, but it's still full of AutoCorrect errors, like "tale" used in place of "tail" and misplaced apostrophes. What's happened to the pride we used to see in a well-edited book?
The White Umbrella – Brian Sewell – 3***
When British filmmaker, Mr B, spots a young donkey being abused in Peshawar, Pakistan, he leaps out of his Land Rover to rescue the animal. Told he cannot take the donkey on the plane home to England he vows to walk, and so he sets off. This is a charming fable of one man’s devotion, determination, and good luck. It was an engaging, gentle read, with a totally satisfying ending. A perfect escape from the hectic and stressful present day situation.
My full review HERE
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Little Big Man – Thomas Berger – 3.5***
Berger’s novel purports to be a memoir/autobiography of Jack Crabb – frontiersman, Indian scout, gunfighter, buffalo hunter, adopted Cheyenne. I was completely entertained by this novel of the American West. Berger gives the reader quite the raconteur in Crabb, with a gift for story-telling and colorful language. By the narrator’s own account, he certainly has a gift for landing on his feet, managing to get out of more than one potentially deadly scrape by his wits or sheer dumb luck. If the scenarios stretch credulity, well that is part of the fun.
My full review HERE
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The White Umbrella
– Brian Sewell – 3***
When British filmmaker, Mr B, spots a young donkey being abused in Peshawar, Pakistan, he leaps out of his Land..."
Is the book Little, Big Man the basis for the Dustin Hoffman film?
The Rules of Inheritance: A Memoir by Claire Bidwell Smith4 stars
I had mixed feelings about this book. At times I thought about quitting. It just seemed so sad most of the time. The main theme of the book is the author's grieving over her parent's deaths. Another theme is her inability to have a sustaining relationship. It was interesting enough to keep going and at the end I was glad I did. The author eventually becomes a therapist specializing in grief, which was kind of surprising as she takes a long time to overcome her own grief but maybe that helps her to help others. The one thing I didn't like at all was going back and forth in time so much.
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Advise and Consent
Allen Drury
4/5 stars
Drury’s book published in 1959 revolves around Washington politics. The Secretary of State needs to be replaced and the President’s nominee is not a popular one. The story unfolds through the eyes of four politicians as they deal with the nomination and the potential scandal behind the nominee. Amidst the nomination storyline is also the space race storyline between the US and Russia. This is a very long book but I thought it was well written and interesting.
Cosmopolitan Greetings, Allen Ginsberg3 solid stars
Kind of an exhausting read. Ginsberg flits from one idea or image or hemisphere to the next so quickly that at times I could hardly keep up. Great stuff on every page. I know there will be deeper depths to plumb when I return to re-read. I plan to do this despite some of the grundgy images and ashtray taste the poems left in my head.
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The Bluest Eye
Toni Morrison
3.5/5 stars
This story, set in Ohio in 1941, revolves around the preteen Pecola Breedlove, an African American who is living in a foster home. Her biggest wish is to have blue eyes. She believes that if she has blue eyes that she will be loved. But things don’t go her way and she struggles with her life. This was Morrison’s first novel.
Julie wrote: "The Bluest Eye
Toni Morrison
3.5/5 stars
This story, set in Ohio in 1941, revolves around the preteen Pecola Breedlove, an African Americ..."
What a devastating read that was.
I just read 2 novellas on the Ramree Crocodile Incident, Dragon of the Mangroves: Inspired by True Events of World War II and Sunset on Ramree. Both were good in very different ways. The first was written from a convincingly Japanese perspective but there was so much focus on saving face, preserving finger bones for comrades' funerals and commenting on how truly Japanese the unit commander is that the crocodiles were sort of scooted aside. The second gave much more of a sense of the interaction between croc and fighting man, with a lot more grue and gore. It sounded so American that I didn't believe for a second that a Japanese soldier was telling me his story. But both told the story through the eyes of an individual and gave no sense of the scope of the destruction. A third book that surfaced on my Kindle after I finished both novellas said that 1,000 soldiers were deployed on Ramree Island and only 20 survived to be captured after the crocs, the scorpions and the assorted tropical diseases got through with them. I mean...wow.🐊🐊🐊
Julie wrote: "Is the book Little, Big Man the basis for the Dustin Hoffman film?..."Yes, it is.
In Island Christmas – Nancy Thayer – 3***
‘Tis the season for improbable holiday romances with ice skating, decorating a Christmas tree, hot cocoa, snow, at least one person who is “not into Christmas and/or kids,” and one or more missteps on the road to that happy-ever-after ending. If it isn’t already a Hallmark Christmas movie, it would make a good one. Fun, fast, holiday read.
My full review HERE
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Where We Come From – Oscar Cásares – 4****
The setting is Brownsville, Texas, a border town with a mean reputation as a haven for human traffickers and drug runners. But it’s also a community of hard-working, middle-class people who want nothing but a safe home for their children, decent schools, good roads, a thriving business district and reliable city services. Cásares focuses on one such family. I really enjoyed this exploration of a complex issue. There are multiple layers to the novel and much fodder for a stimulating book club discussion.
My full review HERE
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The Indifferent Stars Above: The Harrowing Saga of a Donner Party Bride
Daniel James Brown
3.5/5 stars
Daniel James Brown deals with the tragedy of the Donner party and their trek to make it to California. The book revolves around Sarah Graves and her family when her father, mother and 8 brother and sisters decide to try their luck in California. Disastrously, they take the advice of a Stephen Meek who told them a route which would be easier to take. However, this man never took this route but trusting him, the party followed his directions and so begins their harrowing trip followed by starvation, freezing temperatures, snow and death of several members of the party. Well written and thoroughly researched!
Mod
The Great Beanie Baby Bubble: Mass Delusion and the Dark Side of Cute
Zac Bissonnette
4/5 stars
This is the story of Ty Warner who created the buzz that fueled the need to own, sell and trade Beanie Babies and oh what an interesting tale the author Zac Bissonnette weaves. I remember that time period, the looking for and buying beanie babies for my daughter though we never sold or traded any. Anyone who remembers that time period would probably be interested in reading this book.
Christmas On the Island – Jenny Colgan – 3***
A charming, story set against a holiday season that raises expectations and sometimes sees our dreams come true. There’s quite a lot going on in this book, #3 in the Mure series. I think I might have had an easier time of it had I read the first two books before tackling this one, as Colgan generally builds relationships over the course her series.
My full review HERE
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The Old Gringo – Carlos Fuentes – 1*
The novel is framed as the reminiscence of a woman. An old journalist heads to Mexico during the time of the Mexican Revolution seeking, not a story, but his death. There has been much praise for this work; it was the first translated work by a Mexican author to become a bestseller in the United States. But I had great difficulty engaging with the characters and the plot, such as it was. Our book club struggled to find anything positive to say about this work.
My full review HERE
A Good Man with a Dog: A Game Warden's 25 Years in the Maine Woods by Roger Guay 5 stars
In the beginning this book was really hard to read. I was amazed that poaching and illegal fishing is so rampant. I can't even imagine how people can be so cruel and selfish. I learned that poaching and illegal fishing can harm the environment and fishing for years to come if not forever. This book is about a man who was a game warden for 25 years. It is full of stories about how stupid people can be. I was amazed at how often people get lost and even die in the wilderness. The most amazing part of the book was when he went to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. I had no idea what a horrible situation that was and I appreciated the author's honesty about his own PTSD after going there.
Chas Addams Happily Ever After: A Collection of Cartoons to Chill the Heart of Your Loved One, by Charles Addams4 stars
Great fun! This is a compendium of Charles Addams's New York Times cartoons, all of them devoted to romantic relationships. Out of the whole book, I only spotted 2 featuring the beloved Addams Family; the rest were other courting, married, or splitting couples doing that Charles Addams thang, like the one with the lawyer and the husband beaming at the wife as the lawyer comments about how happy they are that she's decided to settle out of court. Under the desk she is taking a pistol out of her handbag and pointing it at her ex. Good, good times...
The Book of Eels: Our Enduring Fascination with the Most Mysterious Creature in the Natural World, by Patrik Svensson4 stars!
This was a great read! The writing is thoughtful, poetic even, but always firmly grounded in science and fact. This one focuses on the many mysteries surrounding this fish and the flailing attempts by humans to understand and explain them, going all the way back to Aristotle. The author himself has long experience of eels and takes us inside his own life as he tells us about theirs.
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5 stars
I did not know a lot about Tammy Duckworth going into this book except I..."
Thanks for the recommendation! Adding to my list!