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2022 Reads and Reviews ~ Anything goes
Gorky Park – Martin Cruz Smith – 2.5**
As the snow begins to melt, three frozen bodies are found in Moscow’s Gorky Park. This is the first in a series, and Smith gives us an interesting cast of characters, including a dwarf who does reconstructive sculpture from bones to help identify crime victims, and a rich, ruthless and well-connected American mogul. Investigator Arkady Renko will have to battle the KGB, FBI and New York City police to solve this case. It started with a bang, but I began to lose interest with all the subplots and political intrigue. And I found the ending disatissfying.
LINK to my full review
State Of Terror – Hillary Rodham Clinton & Louise Penny – 3.5***
Clearly Clinton provided the behind-the-scenes information on the workings of government on this scale, while Louise Penny crafted the plot, which was fast and furious and held my attention throughout. I wish Clinton hadn’t relied so much on taking digs at # 45, because the basic plot would have worked without that, and it just makes the book seem like a thinly veiled criticism of our former leadership.
LINK to my full review
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Baptism of Fire
Andrzej Sapkowski
3/5 stars
Geralt is still on the search for Ciri and fears that she has been captured by the Nilfgaard Court. A new female character, Milva an archer joins in the search for Ciri.
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The Good Good Pig: The Extraordinary Life of Christopher Hogwood
Sy Montgomery
5/5 stars
This is the delightfully true story about Sy Montgomery, naturalist, writer and radio commentator, who along with her husband raised a pig who was sickly. With the help of their neighbors providing food and support, he recovered quickly, grew to 750 pounds and was a friend to the neighbors, a local celebrity and a beloved pet.
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House of Hollow
Krystal Sutherland
4/5 stars
In this dark YA novel, the author tells the tale of three unusual sisters who as children disappeared for a month and returned not knowing what happened and with changes in their appearances. This time their older sister, Grey goes missing and Iris Hollow and her sister Vivi take up the challenge of where their sister went and what really happened the first time they went missing! Compelling!
To Be Continued – Charmaine Gordon – 3***
I wasn’t expecting much from this coming-of-middle-age book, but I found it to be pretty entertaining. Oh, I did have some issues with the main character, but she eventually got her act together, found a new therapist, a new best friend, a new guy, and a new career. It was a fun, fast read.
LINK to my full review
: The Winds of War – Herman Wouk – 5*****
Book # 1 in the Henry Family saga introduces us to Commander Victor Henry, his wife Rhoda, and their children: Warren, Byron and Madeline. Victor wants a battleship, but he’s been selected to serve as Naval attache in Berlin. It’s 1937 and he’ll have a front-row seat to history. This is a larger-than-life story to tell, and Wouk captures the reader’s attention from the beginning, weaving the family’s personal soap opera drama into the fabric of history. This was a re-read for me, but I found it just as engaging and thrilling as the first time. I’ll probably give in and re-read the sequel as well.
LINK to my full review
A Fistful of Collars – Spencer Quinn – 3***
Book # 5 in the Chet and Bernie mystery series, has Bernie Small hired to “babysit” a notorious bad-boy Hollywood actor who’s the star of a movie being shot on location in his area. Of course, Bernie goes nowhere without his partner, Chet, who is a dog and also narrates the tale. I just love this series. I never get tired of Chet’s way of interpreting what he witnesses.
LINK to my full review
The Upright Piano Player – David Abbot – 3.5***
This work of literary fiction is a striking debut. Abbott gives us the story of Henry Cage, a successful businessman who seems to have it all: a fine home, a successful career, and a reputation for being a principled and upstanding man. But his outward success hides personal failure. Although I liked it, the structure of the book left me feeling dissatisfied, and with more questions than answers.
LINK to my full review
Book Concierge wrote: " ...I wish Clinton hadn’t relied so much on taking digs at # 45, because the basic plot would have worked without that, and it just makes the book seem like a thinly veiled criticism of our former leadership."
Maybe that's exactly what it was!
The Facemaker: One Surgeon's Battle to Mend the Disfigured Soldiers of World War I, by Lindsey Fitzharris4 stars!
A powerful study of the good that can come out of evil. The story consists of blended biographies of the doctors and dentists who made modern plastic surgery possible and just a few of their thousands of patients. I was overwhelmed by the difference they were able to make in these men's lives, and I was thrilled to learn the names and stories of several of the men whose injuries I remember so well from War Against War. Don't miss this one.
The Kill Artist – Daniel Silva – 3***
This is the first in a series starring Gabriel Allon, whose cover is that of an art restoration specialist. The action is fast and furious and sometimes confusing, as is to be expected in an espionage thriller. There are more twists and turns than a casual reader can keep track of. And a basic knowledge of of Israeli / Palestinian relationships and politics is necessary. This is a long-running series, with over twenty books, but I doubt I’ll pick up another. Just not my cup of tea.
LINK to my full review
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The Tower of the Swallow
Andrzej Sapkowski
3/5 stars
Child of Prophecy, Ciri is in trouble. She is being hunted by friends who want to help her and her foes who want her dead. Her goal is to get to the Tower of the Swallows alive. Will she make it?
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Lady Oracle
Margaret Atwood
4/5 stars
Written in 1976, Margaret Atwood relates the fictional tale of author Joan Foster, a woman who writes gothic romance novels but her real life is more bizarre than her books. I like Atwood’s books and this doesn’t disappoint!
Where the Crawdads Sing, Delia Owens4 stars
An epic of piscatorial love, this is the story of a semi-feral girl trying to keep completely away from her own species as she studies the other life around her. But humanity keeps showing up, as always. I really hated the beginning of this book because it was so grim and tragic, but then it started to draw me in and by the end I was holding my breath as I waited to see what would happen next. Not a believable book, but a compelling story.
Much Ado About You – Samantha Young – 3***
Evie Starling, a thirty-three Chicagoan who’s just broken up with her boyfriend and been disappointed one time too many at work, decides to take a Bookshop Holiday in England to re-evaluate and regroup. She doesn’t expect to meet the devastatingly handsome local sheep farmer (and his even cuter dog). A charming rom com with all the usual tropes. Perfect for a light holiday read.
LINK to my full review
The Mummy Case – Elizabeth Peters – 3***
Book three in the popular Amelia Peabody cozy mystery series. Amelia and her handsome husband, Radcliffe Emerson, want permission to dig in a specific area for a long-lost pharaoh’s tomb. But the authorities were not pleased with Emerson’s past behavior and give him a site far from the desired pyramids of Dahshoor. They bring along their incredibly precocious son, Ramses, who wants a dig of his own. Peters writes these books as if they were Amelia’s memoirs and uses a formal style of writing that helps transport the reader to the late 19th century.
LINK to my full review
American Gods – Neil Gaiman – 2.5**
Gaiman is a hit-or-miss author for me. I’ve loved some of his works, others, not so much. This one clearly falls into that last category. In fact near the beginning I was tempted to DNF it entirely. Am I glad I persevered? Not exactly.
LINK to my full review
The Dragon Behind the Glass: A True Story of Power, Obsession, and the World's Most Coveted Fish by Emily Voigt3 stars...or was it 4?
This book was exhausting in the way that The Levy caper was: the author galloped all over the world, again and again, chasing something just out of her grasp. The more frustrated she became, the more she wanted it. If you like crime this book has plenty of it, starting out with a grisly murder and moving from there into all areas of bad activity, from questionable research practices and smuggling to genocide and gang violence. But I found myself wondering what the author was even doing here.
Balzac And the Little Chinese Seamstress – Dai Sijie – 5*****
During China's Cultural Revolution, three young men are sent to a mountain villages for re-education. One of them has a secret horde of books. The other two are captivated by the books and also by the little seamstress, daughter of the district’s tailor. Sijie gives us descriptions of the harshness of the terrain and of their forced labor. The scenes in the coal mine were particularly harrowing. But there are many humorous scenes, as well. I have read this little gem of a novel several times. It is luminously written. For me, it answers the question, "Why do you read so much?"
LINK to my full review
The Children’s Train – Viola Ardone – 3.5***
This is a story based on true events, set in post-WW2 Italy, when children from impoverished families in the south were sent north to wealthier communities / families who could care for them. How can the mother reconcile her decision to send her child to safety with the result of a child who is returned so different from the one she sent away? How can a child forgive his mother for her inability to provide more? I’m sure my book club with have much to discuss.
LINK to my full review
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Natural Causes: An Epidemic of Wellness, the Certainty of Dying, and Killing Ourselves to Live Longer
Barbara Ehrenreich
4/5 stars
I have read Ehrenreich's Nickel and Dimed and enjoyed that book. In this book she talks about how we spend more time worrying about living a long life as we put our bodies through dieting, fitness and medical tests. But science shows that the cells make those decisions on how long we live and not us. That maybe we should live our life fully and not worry about what we cannot control. I thought this was very thought provoking!
Reading Up a Storm – Eva Gates – 3***
Book number three in the Lighhouse Library Mystery series. Cozy mysteries are my go-to comfort reads and this doesn’t disappoint. They’re fast and fun and I love Lucy’s cat, Charles Dickens!
LINK to my full review
Where the Crawdads Sing, by Delia Owens4 stars
At first I thought I was going to hate this book; it was so tragic and depressing. But then the wind shifted and I found myself pulled irresistibly into the story. The ending made me cry a little, and I'm not much of a crier. Not sure if I could face reading this again, but it's a powerful story.
The Other Dr. Gilmer: Two Men, a Murder, and an Unlikely Fight for Justice by Benjamin Gilmer4 stars
Just an excellent read about a curious coincidence that turned into much, much more. Well written, hard to put down. There was medical material in here but it was delivered in plain English. Moving and hard to put aside. A lot of this story shocked me to the core. Don't miss this one.
The Secret, Book & Scone Society – Ellery Adams – 2.5**
I really like Adams’ “Books By the Bay” mystery series and thought I’d give this series a try, though I was skeptical about the “comfort scones” and Nora’s ability to cure someone’s ills by recommending the right book. I didn’t understand why Nora and her friends decided to investigate the death of a total stranger. By the end of the book, we’ve learned each of the women’s terrible secret, and there are a couple of promising romantic relationships. But I just got the feeling that Adams was trying too hard. Still, I did really love all the book references!
LINK to my full review
Helltown: The Untold Story of Serial Murder on Cape Cod, by Casey Sherman4 reluctant stars
This was OK, but there was not much "untold story" here at all. It was precisely the same story I just got through re-reading in In His Garden: The Anatomy of a Murderer. The author did do a great job of putting the story in the context of all the other craziness in the news just then. I didn't realize that the Truro murders happened pretty much back to back with the first moon landing, the publication of the novel that made Kurt Vonnegut a household name, Chappaquiddick, and the Manson Murders. A lot of the "untold story" here was pure fancy on the author's part, telling us what Costa thought about this, that and the other -- thoughts he had no way of knowing. Also, the book needed a serious final copyedit to remove the usage errors ("he shuffled passed the two paintings" being a typical example). With all that said, this version of the story has a wonderfully cinematic quality and it was a very enjoyable read
The Creation of Eve – Lynn Cullen – 4****
Based on the true, but little known, story of Sofonisba Anguisola, the first renowned female artist during the Renaissance period, this is a captivating work of historical fiction. I knew nothing about this extraordinary woman, and only a little about the court of King Felipe II. Cullen crafts a compelling story that includes intrigue, romance, mystery, politics and the frustration felt by a woman shackled by society’s conventions.
LINK to my full review
Outliers – Malcolm Gladwell – 3.5***
Subtitle: The Story of Success. Gladwell looks at hugely successful people who are “outliers” … far out of the norm. Examples include Bill Gates and The Beatles. He tries to explain how luck, opportunity, and the right birth year or month help these people succeed. Of course, ten thousand hours of practice is also a key element. I was interested in what Gladwell had to say and found the various essays easy to absorb and understand.
LINK to my full review
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Warner Bros: The Making of an American Movie Studio
David Thomson
4/5 stars
Thomson writes about the four Warner brothers that built a film studio, the stars they hired and some of the famous films they made. I really enjoyed this book. There are other longer books about them but if you want a book that just gives the basics, some interesting facts and what happened to the brothers this is the one for you!
The Case of the Missing Books – Ian Sansom – 3***
This is the first in a new series starring Israel Armstrong, the librarian in charge of the mobile library van in the small Irish village of Tundrum. It was mildly entertaining and I did like all the book references, but I prefer more actual mystery in my cozy mysteries. I doubt I’ll read any more of the series.
LINK to my full review
Artemis – Andy Wier – 4.5****
I wondered if Weir could possibly top The Martian , or at least equal it. Well, now I know. And I love that this time he features a feisty, intelligent woman as the lead character. I love a good crime caper, and this is one. Lots of twists and turns that kept the action moving and my interest high.
LINK to my full review
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They Both Die at the End
Adam Silvera
4/5 stars
Interesting book about two young men who meet up when they are selected to be on the death list and are to die today but they don't know when. They meet through an app called Last Friend and become good friends on their last day on Earth. As far as I remember the author doesn't discuss why people are selected to die - but I am assuming due to overpopulation. This book sounds weird but I enjoyed it.
Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? – Caitlin Doughty – 3***
Doughty, a funeral home director, answers questions posed by kids about death, dying and funerals. She’s forthright and honest, but also sprinkles her remarks with some lighthearted banter. It’s a pretty fast read, and quite informative.
LINK to my full review
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The Lady of the Lake
Andrzej Sapkowski
4/5 stars
Ciri has been trying to get home after escaping from the Tower of the Swallow. For all that she has gone through she needs to rely on her inner strength to return to her family and friends. Will she be able to get away for good from Bonhart, the man who hurt her?
Bag Man: The Wild Crimes, Audacious Cover-Up, and Spectacular Downfall of a Brazen Crook in the White House, by Rachel Maddow and Michael Yarvitz5 enthusiastic stars!
This was a really outstanding read. I literally noticed my jaw hanging at some of the twists and turns in this story. I read it only because another book I was reading mentioned a character's sadness that Nixon's VP had to step down for tax evasion. But there is so very much more going on here! Well-written and really kept me turning the pages. I'm sorry I didn't buy this instead of getting it from the library.
The Confessions of Frannie Langton – Sara Collins – 4****
This work of historical fiction looks at slavery, colonialism, drug addiction, medical experimentation and lesbianism in early 19th century England. This is Collins’s debut novel and it’s an ambitious one. Frannie narrates her story beginning in 1826, when she is already jailed for a double murder, and going back to 1812 and her youth in Jamaica. Frannie is a marvelous character – educated, observant, loving, strong and yet vulnerable. The story was as addicting as the laudanum frequently prescribed for “nervous ladies.”
LINK to my full review
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The Last Castle: The Epic Story of Love, Loss, and American Royalty in the Nation's Largest Home
Denise Kiernan
4/5 stars
22. Architecture – The Last Castle – The Epic Story of Love, Loss, And The American Royalty in The Nation’s Largest Home by Denise Kiernan 4/5 stars 8/28/2022
This was quite an interesting story of George Vanderbilt, his wife and the building and history of the Biltmore House on 125,000 acres in North Carolina. The author takes us through the good and bad times of the family including what happened to them from both World Wars and the Depression. I have never been to the estate but I really enjoyed this book.
The Library of Lost and Found – Phaedra Patrick – 3***
A heart-warming and enjoyable read. Martha Storm volunteers at the local library and would love to have a permanent paid position there. She’s clearly unappreciated, but soldiers on. And then one day a book of fairy tales is left for her, and as she tries to puzzle out where the book came from and how it came to be in her possession, she uncovers family secrets. Patrick writes quirky characters with hidden secrets very well. These are nearly broken people who keep their heads down and try to exist without much support or joy in their lives. And yet …
LINK to my full review
Klara And the Sun – Kazuo Ishiguro – 4.5****
Klara, the narrator of this extraordinary work, is an artificial friend (AF). She is a keen observer and tries to be a good friend to Josie, the young girl she’s ben bought to accompany. For all her intelligence and perceptiveness, Klara cannot quite understand emotion and she certainly doesn’t have feelings of her own. Her interpretations of what she observes are sometimes quite naïve. What does it mean to love? Can science duplicate that essentially human quality in an artificial intelligence being? Do we want scientists to try?
LINK to my full review
Lily Adler Mysteries5*****
by Katharine Schellman
The first was August bonus borrow audiobook from Hoopla and when I finished it I checked out the next two audios from Hoopla.
The Body in the Garden
Silence in the Library
Death at the Manor
Regency setting traditional mysteries with delightful characters, skillfully plotted mystery and a bit of romance.
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Season of Storms
Andrzej Sapkowski
4/5 stars
Geralt of Rivia is in this stand-alone and final novel in which he has his swords stolen and travels around trying to find them and overcomes wizards and monsters to get his swords back. Enjoyable!
The Murder of Jeffrey Dryden: The Grim Truth Surrounding Male Domestic Abuse, by Troy Veenstra3 reluctant stars
This was a short read, very heartfelt, but still very hard to get through because of the writing. It's the kind of book you have to stop reading periodically to go back, re-read and try to figure out what point the author was trying to make. It's full of contradictory statements, 25-cent words, even a few words he appears to have made up himself, and oy vey. I think the points he did make in here are important and need to be better known -- I can summarize it by saying that battered men are still in the same position today that battered women were in circa 1970 -- but for crying out loud, man, hire a copyeditor! RIP Jeff. I looked up the killer on OTIS and she was smiling happily in her mugshot. Scrod help any guy who crosses her path after she's released.
Miss Julia Rocks the Cradle – Ann B Ross – 3***
Book number twelve in the Miss Julia series, featuring a woman of a certain age who cannot help but get involved in the goings on in her North Carolina town. What I love about this series is Miss Julia, herself. She’s a real firecracker of a woman. The supporting cast of characters are wonderful as well. A fast, fun, comfort read.
LINK to my full review
Atomic Love – Jennie Fields – 3.5***
This work of historical fiction captured my attention from the beginning, and the twists and turns in the plot kept me turning pages. Set in 1950 Chicago, it focuses on Rosalind Porter, previously the only woman physicist working on the Manhattan Project, but now selling jewelry at Marshall Fields. It’s a fast-paced espionage thriller with a romantic triangle. It held my attention and I found it hard to put down at times.
LINK to my full review
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Woman in the Dark
Dashiell Hammett
4/5 stars
A young woman on the run shows up on the doorstep and is taken in to help her. However, the couple who live there have no idea what they are getting into.
The Supergirls: Fashion, Feminism, Fantasy, and the History of Comic Book Heroines
Mike Madrid
4/5 stars
Madrid discusses the history of the comic supergirls from the beginning in the 1940’s until the 2000’s. Very detailed and interesting
The Doggie in the Window: How One Beloved Dog Opened My Eyes to the Complicated Story Behind Man's Best Friend by Rory Cress4 stars
A very difficult book to read, but one I think everyone that is considering buying a dog should read. It's crazy that puppy mills are allowed to be in business and the laws are woefully inadequate to stop them. The author buys a dog from a pet shop and it doesn't turn out to be what she thought it was going to be and makes her curious as to how dogs are raised that are sold in pet shops. As you can probably guess, most of the backgrounds are horrendous. The biggest take away from this book is that as consumers, we can do a lot to stop puppy mills by researching where our pets come from and not buying from them.
Ordinary Girls – Jaquira Díaz – 4****
In this memoir, Díaz relates her childhood and teen years with brutal honesty. She grows up in Puerto Rico and Miami, with a mentally-ill and drug-addicted mother. And looks to her friends for the love and support she does not get at home. I found her writing gripping and enthralling. There were times when I wanted to turn away, because the scenes were so painful, but her writing kept me going. My heart went out to the young girl and struggling teenager. I applauded the woman she became.
LINK to my full review
Shards Of Honor – Lois McMaster Bujold – 3***
Book number 1 in the space-opera series Vorkosigan Saga introduces the reader to this family. We have a kick-ass heroine, Commander (later Captain) Cordelia Naismith and the leader of the enemy forces, Captain Aral Vorkosigan. Lots of intrigue, adventure, drama, danger, politics and plot twists to keep the reader turning pages. And witty banter to show the attraction between these two blossoming to romance. I doubt I’ll continue the series (just not my preferred cup of tea), but I’m glad I read it.
LINK to my full review
Library Lovers
Books mentioned in this topic
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End of Watch (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Natasha Lance Rogoff (other topics)Paulette Jiles (other topics)
Paulette Jiles (other topics)
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Steve Luxenberg (other topics)
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Murder 101 – Maggie Barbieri – 2.5**
Alison Bergeron is an English professor at a small, private college on the banks of the Hudson River in the Bronx, who finds herself the focus of a murder investigation when the body of one of her students is found in the trunk of her Volvo, which she reported stolen a few days previously. As a mystery, this was not very well plotted, and I found the reveal completely unrealistic and dissatisfying. But I did find the nascent romance between Alison and Crawford interesting. And I might read another book in the series just to see how that pans out.
LINK to my full review