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2022 Reads and Reviews ~ Anything goes
Cold-Hearted Rake – Lisa Kleypas – 3***
Book number one in The Ravenels series. A charmingly wicked bachelor inherits an earldom, and butts heads with the late earl’s beautiful, young and head-strong widow. Sparks fly and passion overcomes sensibility and rules of propriety.
My full review HERE
Cold-Hearted Rake – Lisa Kleypas – 3***
Book number one in The Ravenels series. A charmingly wicked bachelor inherits an earldom, and butts heads with the late earl’s beautiful, young and head-strong widow. Sparks fly and passion overcomes sensibility and rules of propriety.
My full review HERE
Lunch At the Piccadilly – Clyde Edgerton – 3***
The jacket blurb promised a funny romp with elderly ladies who steal a car and go on an adventure. The book however, is not nearly so fun … and funny … as the jacket blurb. Yes, there are some humorous escapades, but much more is devoted to Lil’s nephew Carl, a quiet, unassuming bachelor who can’t seem to find his way to a happy and fulfilled life. The episode with the stolen car (brief though it is) was quite funny, but the ending is rather poignant.
My full review HERE
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The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern – Lilian Jackson Braun – 3***
Book two in the “Cat Who” cozy mystery series, starring journalist James Qwilleran and his Siamese Koko. I like this series, set in an unnamed northern-midwest city. I like the way Qwill ferrets out information, and how he’s beginning to notice that his cat is quite astute. The plot is full of twists and turns, as well as a colorful assortment of characters, good and bad. Photographer Odd Bunsen is an able sidekick.
My full review HERE
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Something to Hide
Elizabeth George
4/5 stars
Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and his partner Detective Sergeant Havers are on a new case which involves the death of a Nigerian colleague, as she was investigating the illegal practice of FGM - Female Genital Mutilation in the Nigerian community in London. Heartbreaking!
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Simon the Fiddler
Paulette Jiles
4/5 stars
Set in the 1860’s, we find Simon Bouldin who has been able to remain out of the Civil War. Simon has spent most of his time traveling with his band. Unfortunately, Simon has finally been caught and ends up in a regimental band with his fellow bandmates and at a performance spies a beautiful young woman, Doris. The only problem is she is an indentured slave and they go their separate ways. However, Bouldlin is still attracted to her and vows to find her, while saving up his money to buy land for a homestead and hopes to make a home with her. I enjoyed this book, not as much as her book News Of The World but look forward to reading more of her stories.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets Of the Universe – Benjamin Alire Sáenz – 4****
This is a coming-of-age story featuring two Mexican-American teens trying to figure out their place in the world. I enjoyed this book and felt connected to these boys and their struggles. I’m way past that stage of life, but I remember the pain of not feeling like I fit in, the joy of finally having a good friend, the fumblings and push/pull of early romantic encounters. And I loved Ari and Dante, their reliance on one another and their growing relationship.
My full review HERE
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The Country Nurse Remembers: True Stories of a Troubled Childhood, War, and Becoming a Nurse
Mary J. MacLeod
5/5 stars
This was the third book in the series but chronologically it is the beginning of her life story and the beginning of her career in nursing during WWII. She discusses her life, the death of her mother and her problems with her stepmother. I really enjoyed this book and the rest of the series. Highly recommended!
Lady Clementine – Marie Benedict – 3.5***
This work of historical fiction focuses on Lady Clementine Churchill, the woman beside (not behind) the man, Winston Churchill. Lady Clementine emerges from the pages as a strong woman, with the courage of her convictions and easily able to stand up to (and for) the man in her life, helping Winston Churchill achieve the successes for which he is so well known.
My full review HERE
Lizzie & Dante – Mary Bly – 3***
This romance features a tragically ill heroine who is a Shakespeare scholar vacationing on the island of Elba, an understanding handsome Italian chef and his precocious 12-year-old daughter, plus a supporting cast of movie stars, gay friends, and no-nonsense acquaintances. There are some twists and turns, because the path to happiness is never a straight one, and I thought the author was trying a bit too hard to force the reader to tears, but I still enjoyed the book. And I LOVED all the food references.
My full review HERE
May God Have Mercy: A True Story of Crime and Punishment by John C. Tucker4 stars!
This was quite a ride. I thought it was about a different case when I sent for it, and I was surprised and pleased to realize there was a whole book about the hideous murder of Wanda McCoy. Even though I knew exactly how it came out (the truth came out long after the book ended), I was still drawn into the story and could easily see how this case tore apart everyone involved on both sides of the case, to say nothing of the general public. Well-written, compassionate and very unbiased despite the fact that most of the story was told from the defense perspective. Don't miss this one.
A Cup of Light – Nicole Mones – 2.5**
Lia Frank is an appraiser / art historian, specializing in fine Chinese porcelain who goes to Beijing to authenticate a collection of rare pieces and finds herself in the midst of a multi-national effort to remove priceless artifacts from China. I think Mones was trying to do too much in one book. The art intrigue is story enough, but then she added a romance. Also, I’m not sure why she chose to make Lia deaf, though I though that she wrote poetically about the “silence” Lia retreats to when she removes her hearing aids to explore her memory. I certainly liked learning more about Chinese porcelains.
My full review HERE
Say Nothing – Patrick Radden Keefe – 4****
I confess that while I had heard of “The Troubles” I had never really studied the causes of the conflict in Northern Ireland, nor did I closely follow the politics at play. I’m so glad that my F2F book club chose this book, because I learned about not only the conflict portrayed, but perhaps a little about how a young person becomes radicalized and how festering dissatisfaction can turn from angry rhetoric to acts of terrorism. Keefe is an accomplished investigative journalist, and he certainly did his homework here.
My full review HERE
Boys Enter the House: The Victims of John Wayne Gacy and the Lives They Left Behind by David B. Nelson4 stars!
This is an outstanding read, nothing more or less than everything the author was able to find out about the young men and boys found in the Des Plaines River and John WAYNE Gacy's crawl space. He wasn't able to provide full biographies of every one of them, but there was a little something on everyone, even the unidentified victims. He also provided a rundown on many of the unanswered questions about this case, including whether some of the officially identified victims were really who we think they are, and whether Gacy did in fact kill them all, giving us a fair amount of information on some really slimy associates of his I never heard about before reading this book. He also told us a lot about the terrible gaps left in the lives of friends and families after these young men vanished. The writing was surprisingly clumsy at odd moments -- this is an award-winning writer but he uses "hone in on" when he means "home in on," stuff like that -- but overall this was a really hard book to put down. Absolutely do not miss this one. It's the book I have been waiting for all these years on this tragic, maddening case.
Fishface wrote: "Boys Enter the House: The Victims of John Wayne Gacy and the Lives They Left Behind by David B. Nelson..."
I think I may have read this .. I know I read something about Gacy's crime spree, but it was long before I joined Goodreads or Shelfari, so it's not recorded here. Great review!
This I Know – Eldonna Edwards – 3***
I picked this up while trolling my public library’s shelves. I was a bit skeptical, but saw an author blurb from Lesley Kagen, so thought I give this a go. I was quickly immersed in the story and eager to see how things would work out for the eleven-year-old heroine. The setting is a small town in Michigan in the late 1960s. Grace is a typical pre-teen in many respects, but she has a special gift she calls “the Knowing” of which her preacher father does not approve. There is a mystery involving a child predator, which subplot comes and goes, and was really unnecessary IMHO. Still, a satisfying, enjoyable read.
My full review HERE
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A Madness of Sunshine – Nalini Singh – 3***
Nalini Singh is known for her romantic fantasy books, but this is her debut adult detective mystery. The setting is a remote town on the West Coast of New Zealand, populated primarily by indigenous Maori. I really liked this mystery thriller, with several layers of intrigue. Detective Will Gallagher is a great character, with flaws and some darkness in his past … he is, after all, a big-city Detective now assigned to a small town in the middle of nowhere. The twists and turns kept me guessing, and I didn’t see the ending coming. I hope Singh will write another mystery featuring Will.
My full review HERE
Book Concierge wrote: "Fishface wrote: "Boys Enter the House: The Victims of John Wayne Gacy and the Lives They Left Behind by David B. Nelson..."
I think I may have read this .. I know I read something..."
Well Shelfari was shut down long before this book was released in late 2021. Could you be thinking of Buried Dreams: Inside the Mind of a Serial Killer? It had more than the average "row of photos/list of names" level of information on the victims.
The Warmth of Other Suns – Isabel Wilkerson – 4****
Subtitle: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration. I had heard of Wilkerson’s masterful social history, but had just never gotten around to reading it … until now. One thing I really appreciate about this work is how Wilkerson focuses on three individuals to illustrate the scope of the Great Migration. It was informative and interesting, and I definitely learned some things I had not known before.
My full review HERE
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Alexander Hamilton: A Life
Willard Sterne Randall
4/5 stars
I knew little about Hamilton’s life before reading this book but Randall paints a portrait of a very smart and interesting man who was willing to become involved in the building a nation. Highly recommended!
Precious And Grace – Alexander McCall Smith – 3***
Book # 17 in the hugely popular “No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency” series, has Mma Precious Ramotswe and her “co-director” Mma Grace Makutsi at loggerheads once again over updating office practices vs relying on tried and true methods. I love this series. I enjoy spending time with these people, though I rather missed Mr J L B Matekoni who barely appears in this episode. Mma Ramotswe can always be relied upon to consider carefully the underlying motives and various options for dealing with any problem. While Mma Makutsi is frequently the one to rush forward, perhaps jumping to the wrong conclusion, or arriving at the right answer but for the wrong reason!
My full review HERE
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Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders
Vincent Bugliosi
4/5 stars
This is the fascinating and horrible story of the Manson murder spree when 5 people were killed in an attack masterminded by Charles Manson that occurred in August 1969 near Hollywood. Vincent T. Bugliosi Jr. was a Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney and the lead prosecutor in the trials and this book was written by him. I thought this was a well written, detailed account of the crimes and the trials of the people involved in the crimes.
I was curious to see who was still alive of the people involved and found this article from March 2022. https://laist.com/news/criminal-justi...
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The Guide
Peter Heller
4/5 stars
Jack, who was also the main character in Heller’s book The River, gets a job at a retreat as a guide to visitors to help them find the best spots to fish. However, nearby is Kingfisher Lodge, cordoned off by a huge fence and frequented by the visitors’ that go there for treatment. When he hears screams coming from the Lodge, he questions why is it so barricaded and guarded and what treatment are these people receiving. Heller is one of my favorite writers and I think this is the first fiction book I read that has the Covid epidemic as part of the story. Fascinating!
The Outsider by Stephen King5 stars!
This is the most satisfying SK I've read in a long time. It starts out as a murder mystery but then, siddenly, you're in totally unfamiliar territory, in a very Stephen Kingish way. Full of utterly normal situations and decent people, punctuated by mayhem and horror. I really recommend this one.
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Whatever Happened to Pudding Pops?: The Lost Toys, Tastes, and Trends of the 70s and 80s
Gael Fashingbauer Cooper
3/5 stars
The authors talk about the bygone products, TV shows, stars and trends of the 70’s and 80’s. If you grew up in that time period you will probably get a kick out of this book. Anyone up for a candy cigarette?
Stones For Ibarra – Harriet Doerr – 3.5***
An American couple arrive in the remote mountain village of Ibarra, Mexico to reopen the copper mine his grandfather abandoned some fifty years previously. Clash of cultures. Very atmospheric. I loved the depictions of festivals and traditions. Several subplots involve the residents of the town, their lives, loves, disappointments and joys.
My full review HERE
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Out Stealing Horses – Per Petterson – 3.5***
Petterson has crafted an atmospheric, character-driven story of one man’s looking back on his coming-of-age summer when he was almost 15 and living with his father in a remote cabin on a river in eastern Norway, just on the border with Sweden. The story moves back and forth between the present day and the summer of 1948. As Trond matures he comes to realize that adventure isn’t always all it’s cracked up to be, and there can be a very real human toll to giving in to desire and youthful exuberance.
My full review HERE
Rachel To the Rescue – Elinor Lipman – 3.5**** (rounded up)
Rachel Klein, unceremoniously fired from her job in the White House Office of Records Management (WHORM), as a result of a drunken tweet voicing her frustrations, gets hit by a speeding SUV on her way out of the Executive Office Building. Turns out the driver is a “close friend of the President” … let the fun begin! A delightfully fast read, a joy of a rom-com.
My full review HERE
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Stowaway – Karen Hesse – 4****
In the summer of 1768 Captain James Cook set sail on H.M.S. Endeavor for a major expedition to explore the possibility of a new continent. One of the people aboard was Nicholas Young, age 11. Hesse uses the imagined journal kept by Nick to tell the story of this voyage. It's a great adventure, and a believable coming-of-age story. Nick is bright, enthusiastic, hard-working and observant.
My full review HERE
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Chuck Amuck: The Life and Time of an Animated Cartoonist
Chuck Jones
4/5 stars
Chuck Jones who worked for Warner Brothers, discusses his life growing up and his career in animation, drawing Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pigs and many more toons. This book contains lots of his sketches and drawings. I enjoyed it and all the sketches, cartoons and pictures.
Tea Shop Cozy Mysteries - Books 1-6
by Katherine Hayton
3***
#1
Pushing Up Daisies#2
Berry Murderous#3
Deathbed of Roses#4
Orange Juiced#5
Keeping Mums#6
Hibiscus HomicideAs a whole I didn't dislike it. I guess I would describe it as okay comfortable cozy mystery. Not exactly boring but certainly not exciting. I liked Hayton's Cozy Kitten Cafe series well enough I decided to try this series. It was okay but too generic for my tastes. Setting it in New Zealand would have made it more interesting to me. The Cafe series setting was NZ and it was interesting to see how the sometimes very rare breeds of cats were going to be worked into the plot. Both series could do with some serious proofreading and editing. In the Tea Shop books unless I missed something the switching between the terms cookies and biscuits seemed to be random.
The 6 book set Kindle version is available from KU with audio set available from Hoopla.
They All Love Jack: Busting the Ripper by bruce Robinson3 reluctant stars
This was the Everest of my Mt. TBR project -- an 800-page doorstop of a book about Jack the Ripper. It ranged all over the place, from intriguing to laughable. Above all it made me very aware of how little I know about the original source material on the Ripper case, about any of the suspects, and about how to know whether what I'm reading is fact or fiction. This author is one of those guys who thinks EVERYTHING is a conspiracy and he can prove it -- then goes on to prove only that his ego has outrun his common sense. I have to treat this one as wildly-imaginative historical fiction that may well be rooted in facts that do seem to suggest a solution to the Ripper crimes. But those facts are interpreted here in a way that makes zero sense. I would have enjoyed the book more if the author had just told us his theory and backed it up instead of bloviating endlessly about how much smarter he is than anyone else because the solution is so obvious -- a solution he says he took 15 years of research to figure out himself. Okay.
Mod
3 reluctant stars
This was the Everest of my Mt. TBR project -- an 800-page doorstop of a book about Jack the Ripper. It ra..."
Loved your review- will steer clear of this book!
The Wedding Date – Jasmine Guillory – 3.5***
What a fun, fast romantic read. I loved that Alexa and Drew are professionals with time-consuming careers. Their path to Happily Ever After is complicated by their geographic distance, their own personal issues, and a few missteps common to many new relationships. But they approach all these obstacles as adults, which I found very refreshing!
My full review HERE
Julie wrote: "Loved your review- will steer clear of this book!"To be fair he did raise some fascinating points in here that were new to me. But.
Madge: The life and times of Madge Oberholtzer: The young Irvington woman who brought down D.C. Stephenson and the Ku Klux Klan by Charlotte Halsema Ottinger4 stars!
I was so impatient to read this that I bought it on Kindle and started reading it the next day. Full of interesting information of all kinds -- from an exhaustive biography of Madge herself to the story of what happened to the national KKK membership following the murder and the later history of the house her killer lived in. Voluminous appendices with photos and "whatever happened to this person" mini-biographies of almost every single person mentioned in the story, AND their descendants. There's a photo of just about every single person, too. Massive listing of sources. This is destined to be a basic sourcebook on all things Madge Oberholtzer and all things D.C. Stephenson.
Save Me the Plums – Ruth Reichl – 4****
Subtitle: My Gourmet Memoir. Reichl has written before about her time as a food critic and about her mother, here she tackles the years she spent as editor-in-chief of Gourmet magazine. I love her writing. It is nothing short of delicious. She is open, honest and insightful. She writes about not just what happened but how she felt about what was happening. And, as usual, she really excels when writing about food. I may have gained 10 pounds just reading it!
My full review HERE
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Save Me the Plums
– Ruth Reichl – 4****
Subtitle: My Gourmet Memoir. Reichl has written before about her time as a food critic and about her mother, here..."
I like her books!
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Mister Death's Blue-Eyed Girls
Mary Downing Hahn
4/5 stars
Set in 1956, two young high school girls are killed in the woods causing great consternation in their community. Buddy, a young man is thought to have killed them but is let go. Will they ever find the killer(s)? This is based on a true story. This is considered a Juvenile book but I really enjoyed it and wondered why it was in that section because I think adults would enjoy it. I have read Hahn’s other books and would like to read more of her.
Julie wrote: "Mister Death's Blue-Eyed Girls
Mary Downing Hahn
4/5 stars
Set in 1956, two young high school girls are killed in ..."
Based on the Grimes sisters? Or that other case, the two friends from school?
Julie wrote: "Mister Death's Blue-Eyed Girls
Mary Downing Hahn
4/5 stars
Set in 1956, two young high school girls are killed in ..."
Now I remember the other names. Is it based on the murders of Michael Ryan and Nancy Shomette?
Once Upon a Time in Rio – Francisco Azevedo – 4****
This is a delightful multi-generational saga of love, adventure, joy, disappointment, fear, prosperity and all those ingredients that make up the delicious dish we know as family. It begins when Jose Custodio and Maria Romana marry in Lisbon in 1908 and follows the Custodios, their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren through the decades and into the 21st century. It reminded me at times of the Spanish telenovelas my grandmother loved to listen to on the radio. Weddings, births, funerals, fights and making up. Such drama! Such love! I was engaged and interested from beginning to end.
My full review HERE
Mod
Lincoln in the Bardo
George Saunders
3/5 stars
This is the interesting and unusual story that takes place during the Civil War in 1862 and involves the death of Lincoln’s son Willie who has just died and the struggle over his soul. I don’t think ever read a book like this. There are multiple characters (living and the dead) discussing his death.
Writers & Lovers – Lily King – 3.5*** rounded up
Casey Peabody is a struggling writer, reeling over the sudden death of her mother some six month before the novel begins, burdened by crushing student debt and maxed-out credit cards, and recently having broken up with her boyfriend; she is adrift and somewhat depressed. I really liked this book. I loved how Casey looked at the people and events in her life, and that, despite all her difficulties, she has a strong sense of her own self, and stands up for herself against bullying co-workers. The supporting cast, was just that, supporting. And I was happy to cheer for her at the end.
My full review HERE
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The Tender Bar: A Memoir
J.R. Moehringer
4/5 stars
Author JR Moehringer writes about his life growing up in New York City with his mother who was abandoned by his father. He spends a lot of time with his uncles as they substituted for his father and learns from them. I really enjoyed this memoir!
Mod
The Cement Garden
Ian McEwan
4/5 stars
When their parents died, four children were left behind in their home. Though they were capable of informing the authorities, they stayed in the house doing whatever they wished. I do like McEwen and his dark stories.
Malice In the Highlands – Graham Thomas – 3***
This is a police-procedural mystery with a likeable lead character. There are plenty of suspects, and a mishmash of clues and subplots to keep things interesting. I did not solve the case ahead of Powell and was happy to be surprised by how things turned out. A thoroughly satisfying mystery, and I would read more of this series.
My full review HERE
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The Brown's Chicken Massacre
Maurice Possley
4/5 stars
Maurice Possley discusses the shockingly, true story of the massacre of the staff of a Brown's Chicken in Illinois, as they closed down the store one night in January of 1983. It took 10 years and the advances in DNA testing before they could solve the case. Well researched and written.
Send For Me – Lauren Fox – 3***
This is an historical fiction work set both in 1930s Germany and in contemporary Wisconsin, that tells the one family’s story. There were parts of the novel I really liked, when I was completely engaged and caught up in the story. But there were other parts that just fell flat for me. I think this is my fault; I am just so over the dual timeline in historical fiction.
My full review HERE
Open Secrets: Open Secrets by Carlton Stowers 3 solid stars
This was a very good read with a spoiler-free photo section, very nearly wrecked by spoilers on the back jacket. I say "very nearly" because the investigation was full of twists and turns that really must have given the police some headaches. The courtroom scenes were mercifully compressed into a short epilogue. Well written and well worth your time.
Mod
Wizard of Oz: An Over-the-Rainbow Celebration of the World's Favorite Movie
Ben Nussbaum
4/5 stars
This is a short book celebrating the movie - The Wizard of Oz. The author discusses a myriad of topics on the film, the actors who performed and even talks about the Broadway musical - Wicked. Definitely for fans of the movie.
Mod
Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less
Jeffrey Archer
3/5 stars
Four men are swindled in an investment by Harvey Metcalfe, a wealthy man who has no remorse. The men get together to take him down and get their money back. Not my favorite of the Archer books but I enjoyed it.
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3 stars
Natchez, Mississippi is a quirky little town with a history of slavery and racism. The book explores how this plays a part in the lives of its residents today. Interspersed between chapters is the story of an African prince who is captured and taken to America to be entered into a life of slavery and how he finds a way to return to his homeland. I found parts of this book to be interesting and parts to be boring. It took me a while to get into this book but I did eventually get into it.