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2023 Reads and Reviews - Anything Goes
: One L – Scott Turow – 3.5***
Subtitle: The Turbulent True Story of a First Year at Harvard Law School. Turow wrote this memoir just after his first year of law school, and it was published before he had graduated. I was very interested in the psychology of his experience. Turow and his fellow , all high-achievers when they arrived, were thrown into a competitive atmosphere where they felt pitted against one another, with the result that many of them began to seriously doubt themselves and became suspicious of their colleagues. The stress – both external and self-imposed – was palpable.
LINK to my full review
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Lady
Thomas Tryon
5/5 stars
Set in New England in the 30’s and 40’s and before the WWII, Woody, a young man befriends Lady, an older, wealthy woman neighbor who is widowed and lives with her servants Jessie Griffin who chauffeurs her around and his sister Ag who cleans and cooks for her. However, Lady has a secret and when it is revealed Woody has to decide whether he will still remain loyal to her. Well written and I had a hard time putting this down. 1974
On Gold Mountain –Lisa See – 4****
Subtitle: The One-Hundred-Year Odyssey of a Chinese-American Family. This is See’s “biography” of her family, starting with her great-great-grandfather, Fong Dun Shung, who immigrated to America (“The Gold Mountain”) in 1861 as an herbalist / healer working for the railroad. In chronicling her family’s story she also explores the history of immigration policy / discrimination in the U.S., particularly in regards to those of Pan-Asian origin. Very interesting and readable.
LINK to my full review
Country Ragamuffins: Reflections on a Midwestern Farm Childhood by Maxine Bergerson Werner5 stars and a heart
After reading several books about children who were horribly abused, this book was a breath of fresh air. The author writes about growing up on a farm in rural Minnesota during the 1950's and 60's. I also grew up on a farm in Minnesota in the 1960's and so many memories came flooding back, although I will say we had an indoor toilet and a TV. So many memories that I hadn't thought about for a long time. Loved this trip back in time. Loved seeing the recipe for Rommegrot, a dish my daughter-in-law makes every year at Christmas.
Fox & I – Catherine Raven – 4****
Subtitle: An Uncommon Friendship. Alone in the world, and self-isolating in a cabin on a remote piece of land in Montana, Raven “befriended” a fox. I loved this memoir of finding friendship in an unexpected way, and of the healing power of connecting to nature and to another being.
LINK to my full review
Small Wonder – Barbara Kingsolver – 3.5***
This is a series of essays Kingsolver wrote in the year following the 9-11 attack on the World Trade Center. Kingsolver can come across as preachy, but she also writes elegant passages about the restorative power of connecting with nature. There’s plenty of horrible in the world still, but reading this book of essays reminds me of those things will can help relieve the terror, fear, anguish, and find joy and hope again. I read this as a book, and it’s due back at the library now, but I think this is a collection that would be good to have handy to read a chapter or two every once in a while
LINK to my full review
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Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World
Mark Kurlansky
3.5/5 stars
Kurlansky is one of my favorite writers and in this book he writes about the history of the Cod fish and the cod fish industry in this book. Though this was not my favorite of all his books it was quite interesting. I learned a lot of information about Cod fish and industrial fishing. There is also a section on cod recipes.
The Opposite of Everyone – Joshilyn Jackson – 3.5***
I really like Jackson’s books. I love her quirky Southern characters, with their colorful sayings and folk wisdom. I frequently want to shake some sense into them, and more often want to sit down with them over a few glasses of wine and just get to know them better. However improbable the many coincidences, I bought this story hook-line-and-sinker. There is more than one broken character here, but they learn to rely on one another and take steps toward healing.
LINK to my full review
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For Her Own Good: Two Centuries of the Experts' Advice to Women
Barbara Ehrenreich/ Deirdre English
3.5/5 stars
"First published in 1978, this classic history, now revised and updated, brilliantly exposes the constraints imposed on women in the name of science. Authors Barbara Ehrenreich and Deirdre English have never lost faith in science itself, but insist that we hold those who interpret it to higher standards. Women are entering the medical and scientific professions in greater numbers but as recent research shows, experts continue to use pseudoscience to tell women how to live. This edition of For Her Own Good provides today's readers with an indispensable dose of informed skepticism." from Goodreads."
This is Goodread's synopsis of this book and I couldn't do this synopsis any better than they could!
Lengthy read but so very interesting!
Julie wrote: "For Her Own Good: Two Centuries of the Experts' Advice to Women
Barbara Ehrenreich/ Deir..."
Adding this to my teetering TBR mountain.
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The Great Santini
Pat Conroy
4/5 stars
This novel is based on the author's father, the mercurial "Great Santini'", a Marine pilot. They led a nomad's life with having to move from town to town when their father had to go to different bases. Conroy relates the ups and downs of Marine life, not to mention the stress of having to kowtow to all his father's demands. Wonderfully written! 1976
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Andy and Don: The Making of a Friendship and a Classic American TV ShowDaniel de Visé
4/5 stars
Daniel de Vise writes a fascinating book about the relationship between Andy Griffith and Don Knotts as he follows their lives and careers and especially their time on The Andy Griffth Show. Highly recommended!
A Deadly Wandering: A Tale of Tragedy and Redemption in the Age of Attention, by Matt Richtel4 stars
This is an excellent read that starts with a true multi-family disaster but goes much farther than average in understanding what happened so that Keith O'Dell and Jim Furfaro died, seemingly out of nowhere. By the end of the book I understood why the man responsible for their deaths could not remember how he'd done it, and what needs to happen to make sure nothing like this ever happens again. The author opened several chasms under my feet, making clear that while we have all the information we need to stop similar deaths from happening, we are pretty much all working together to make it worse every year. Read this one. It is packed with information you need.
E Is For Evidence – Sue Grafton – 3***
Book five in the “alphabet” series has PI Kinsey Milhone dreading a not very merry Christmas; she’s accused of insurance fraud and finds herself out on her own trying to clear her name. What I love about the series is the time frame – no cell phones or computers. Kinsey has to rely on her wits and good old-fashioned leg work to ferret out the information she needs. There are a lot of characters, most of whom are suspects, and enough twists and turns to keep this reader guessing right up to the reveal.
LINK to my full review
High Tide In Tucson – Barbara Kingsolver - 4****
Kingsolver was already a successful novelist when this collection of essays was published. She relates her thoughts on family, home, politics, nature, social issues and personal responsibility with humor, compassion, wit and integrity. Her training as a scientist is evident, as is her talent as a poet.
LINK to my full review
Bookish And the Beaast – Ashley Poston – 3***
Book number three in the Once Upon a Con series can easily be read as a standalone. Rosie Thorne, high school senior and geek girl bookworm, and Hollywood bad boy Vance Reigns, who plays the villain in the Starfield movies, are the lead couple. It’s a YA romance, full of the drama of homecoming, friends, frenemies, gossip, the pitfalls of social media, and a bit of Comic-Con nerdiness thrown in. I can certainly see the appeal for the intended audience.
LINK to my full review
The Four Winds – Kristin Hannah – 4****
As she did in The Nightingale , Hannah uses female characters to tell a bit of the history of a time and place. In this work, the timeframe is 1920s to mid-1930s, and the place is America, specifically the Great Plains and California. I loved the three central women in the books: Elsa, her daughter Loreda, and her mother-in-law Rosa. Very reminiscent of Steinbeck’s masterpiece The Grapes of Wrath
LINK to my full review
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The Dog of the South
Charles Portis
3.5/5 stars
Charles Portis who wrote True Grit explores the ups and mostly downs of Ray Midge's life after his wife takes off with another man and his car. Ray is determined to find his wife, his car and is able to track her down with his credit card statements but along the way he meets a variety of kooky and interesting people.
Buy a Whisker – Sophie Ryan – 3***
Book two in the Second Chance Cat Mystery series, featuring Sarah Grayson, proprietor of Second Chance, a consignment shop in North Harbor, Maine, and her rescue cat, Elvis. It’s a pretty typical cozy mystery. There are enough suspects and red herrings to keep the reader engaged and guessing, and an interesting regular cast of colorful, quirky characters.
LINK to my full review
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Family Reunion – Nancy Thayer – 3***
Thayer specializes in family dramas set on Nantucket. As per usual there is at least one troubled marriage, a grandchild that relates more to grandma than to parents, a possible new romance (or two), and at least one pet too cute for words. And in this case, there is also a major decision regarding whether to keep the home that’s been in the family for generations or sell out to developers willing to pay millions of dollars for prime ocean-front land. It’s a quick read full of mostly likeable characters in recognizable situations. Perfect choice for a vacation read.
LINK to my full review
Julie wrote: "The Dog of the South
Charles Portis
3.5/5 stars
Charles Portis who wrote True Grit explores the ups and mostly downs of Ray Midg..."
I've been telling myself to read more Portis. Thanks for the reminder!
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The Amityville Horror
Jay Anson
4/5 stars
In 1975 the Lutz family has moved to Amityville, New York because of George Lutz's new job. However, things go terribly wrong when they moved in. Strange and horrible things were happening in the house. They were never informed that the son of the previous family, Ronald J. DeFeo Jr. killed his family. As much as they tried to live there, they eventually had to move out. What a fascinating story. Several film versions were made of the events. 1977
Iona Iverson’s Rules For Commuting – Clare Pooley – 3***
This is a delightful ensemble piece featuring Iona Iverson, a woman of a certain age, who has long held a position as an advice columnist, and the other regular riders of a particular tube route in London. I really liked all these characters, even the insufferable Piers, and enjoyed watching how their expanded circle of friendship affected each of them. I worried for some of them as their backstories unfolded and cheered them all on as they emerged from their troubles and all vowed to “be more Iona.” It’s my own new rallying cry!
LINK to my full review
The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead5 stars
Very powerful story of abuse in a boy's home in the 60's, made all the more powerful to find out the book was loosely based on a real life boy's home. Always hard to read about people having to endure horrific abuse just because of the color of their skin. A twist at the end that I didn't see coming.
The World That We Knew – Alice Hoffman – 4****
Hanni Kohn recognizes the imminent danger the Nazi’s pose, so she goes to a rabbi for help. But it is the rabbi’s daughter, Ettie, who offers to make the mystical golem who will protect Hanni’s daughter, Lea. Once Ava is brought to life, she will join with Lea and Ettie to escape to France. Although separated their paths are fated to intersect. I was skeptical about reading another WW2 story, but Hoffman’s writing captured my attention and kept me interested and engaged throughout
LINK to my full review
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All about Me!: My Remarkable Life in Show Business
Mel Brooks
4/5 stars
What a great book about all the films that Mel Brooks wrote and filmed! He also writes about his life growing up, his time in the military in WWII, how he got into show business and how he met his wife, the lovely Anne Bancroft and their relationship. Definitely for film fans!
Member of the Family: My Story of Charles Manson, Life Inside His Cult, and the Darkness That Ended the Sixties by Dianne Lake5 stars!
Just an excellent read. Dianne Lake's memoir of her life before, during, and after her 2-year stay with the Manson family. Full of insight and interesting details that didn't make it into any of the other books about this sorry episode in history. Don't miss this one.
The Chicken Sisters – K J Dell’Antonia – 3.5***
Two competing chicken restaurants founded a century ago by sisters are the subject of a reality-TV “food war.” In addition to the long-running family feud continues with a current “feud” of sorts between sisters Amanda and Mae. There are some family secrets that come out, a new hunky chef, a manipulative TV producer who wants more conflict, and more than one effort to sabotage the competition which all serve to keep the plot moving forward with surprises, twists and insights into the family dynamic. There can only be ONE winner of “Food Wars” and in this case, it’s the reader.
LINK to my full review
Mistress Of the Ritz – Melanie Benjamin – 3.5***
As she has done for many other women in history, Benjamin, turns her attention to a previously little-known woman who made a significant impact. This novel focuses on Blanche Auzello, a former American actress who was married to Claude Auzello, the manager of the Hotel Ritz in Paris, and their experiences during the Nazi occupation of Paris. I was completely caught up in the story from beginning to end. It’s worth reading the author’s note at the end to learn the few facts the author had on which to frame this engaging work of fiction.
LINK to my full review
Invisible Women – Caroline Criado Pérez – 5*****
Subtitle: Data Bias In a World Designed For Men. The author explores how the gender data gap harms women, sometimes with life-threatening results. Criado Pérez has done extensive research but she does more than just present her findings. Her writing is clear, logical, and compelling. Read this book!
LINK to my full review
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River of the Gods: Genius, Courage and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile
Candice Millard
4/5 stars
Millard relates the tale of English explorers Richard Burton and John Hanning Speke, along with the guide/slave Sidi Mubarak Bombay as they try to find the source of the Nile River in the 19th century and reap the rewards from the Royal Geographical Society who was offering a prize for those who found it first! However, the two men clashed, and this undertaking would prove too much as they separated. Fascinating!
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The River
Peter Heller
4/5 stars
Wynn and Jack take off canoeing in Canada and encounter a couple fighting but they disappear. Later on they find the woman injured and they can't leave her because a forest fire has taken over. They grab the woman and take her in their boat but are afraid that the husband may come after them. Heller doesn't disappoint in this novel.
The Criminal by Havelock Ellis3 stars
Quite an interesting attempt to quantify what makes a criminal a criminal. Ellis obviously did a great deal of reading on the subject and tried to put it all together in a way that made sense, but scientific inquiry looked very, very different in his day and a lot of the result is absolute spinach. Research samples are super tiny, hardly more than anecdotes by today's standards. Many of the unquestioned assumptions the researchers made are wildly off. There is no concept in here of cultural differences between groups of people. And wow, is this book ever racist. There are photographic plates and illustrations that don't seem to relate to the text. Long sections of the book treat of irrelevancies like whether or not someone has tattoos, and whether convicts were brave or scared when they went to their executions. The great hero of this book is Cesare Lombroso, who seriously thought he had proven that the shape of a person's head and face could tell you at a glance whether someone was a criminal or not, if that gives you an idea. With all, that said, this kind of thinking did form the foundation of today's scientific methods. I came away hoping that a hundred years from now readers will not look back at today's scientific research and fall off their chairs laughing.
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The Bitterroots
C.J. Box
4/5 stars
Cassie Dewell, who is now living and working in Montana as a private investigator in her own practice. Asked to investigate a rape, she now has to come up against the Kleinsassers’ family dynasty and Blake Kleinsasser, the one who is accused of raping his niece. Hard to put down!
I just started Homicide: A Forensic Psychology Casebook because it's a short-term library loan and I need to read it quickly, even though I have 11 other books open. It turns out to be a forensic-psychology textbook packed with interesting information. One really cool item is a list of how you should present yourself as a psychological interviewer depending on whether the suspect is paranoid, inadequate, psychopathic, a disgruntled revenge killer, etc. in order to get the most information out of the interview.
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The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man: A Memoir
Paul Newman
4/5 stars
Wonderful autobiography written by Newman about his life but in between his chapters, his family and friends also contributed their thoughts. They then were compiled by Stewart Stern. I liked the way they set this up and enjoyed reading about him.
Queen of America – Luis Alberto Urrea – 4****
Urrea picks up where he left off in The Hummingbird’s Daughter and continues the story of his great aunt, Teresita Urrea, “The Saint of Cabora” or “Mexican Joan of Arc.” Teresita is in turns sheltered and looked after, abused, taken advantage of, earning and taking charge of her celebrity, and finding peace. Set against the backdrop of historical events in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Urrea gives us a woman who has earned a place in history and legend.
LINK to my full review
The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba – Chanel Cleeton – 3***
For her fourth book featuring a member of the Perez family, Cleeton turned to history and one exceptional Cuban woman – Evangelina Cisneros – who was instrumental in the fight to liberate Cuba from Spanish rule. Basing most of the novel of actual events, Cleeton filled in with two fictional characters: journalist Grace Harrington, and Marina Perez, a Cuban caught in the conflict between Spain and those seeing independence for the island.
LINK to my full review
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Elementary, She Read – Vicki Delany – 3***
First in a new (to me, at least) series starring Gemma Doyle who is helping her great uncle Arthur run his bookshop. This has all the elements of a successful cozy mystery series, including a cute pet (in this case the black cat named Moriarty and a best friend who runs a complimentary business. I loved all the book references, and thought the basic premise was sufficiently plausible to keep me interested and engaged.
LINK to my full review
Murderous Minds Volume 1: Stories of Real Life Murderers That Escaped the Headlines by Ryan Becker3 reluctant stars
I have to give this one a "meh" rating for several reasons. For one, these are not, as claimed, mostly little-known cases. Several of them made national headlines and one of them, the Kimes family, has 3 or 4 books written about their crimes. Names are misspelled in here and there is a lot of clumsy writing, my favorite example being "she was a grandmother with grandchildren." It makes me wonder what else the author got wrong. But with all that said, a couple of these cases were new to me and interesting to read about.
The Barbizon – Paulina Bren – 4****
Subtitle: The Hotel That Set Women Free. Bren has done her research and chronicles the history of the iconic hotel from its construction in 1927 to its conversion to multi-million dollar condominiums in 2007. As she tells the story of the hotel, she tells the story of women in America, of their hopes, dreams and aspirations as contrasted with society’s expectations and the structured roles assigned to “proper” women.
LINK to my full review
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Deliberate Cruelty: Truman Capote, the Millionaire's Wife, and the Murder of the Century
Roseanne Montillo
4/5 stars
This was the fascinating, true story about the death of a millionaire's wife, Ann Woodward in the 50's and the role Truman Capote figured into her death.
The Gunslinger – Stephen King – 2.5**
This is the first in the novels that comprise King’s epic odyssey “Dark Tower” series. In it, he introduces the reader to Roland Deschain, a “gunslinger. ” Haunted and determined, Roland wanders a bleak landscape in search of the man in black, determined to eradicate evil. There is something about Roland that makes me want to follow him, that makes me believe that he is “a good guy” and the kind of hero I want to cheer for. Still, I’m left with more questions than answers, and a general sense of unease. I have no desire to continue the series to find out what happens next.
LINK to my full review
Hidden Valley Road – Robert Kolker – 3.5***
Subtitle: Inside the Mind of an American Family. The Galvin family certainly seemed the quintessential successful post-WW2, Eisenhower-era family, but six of their twelve children were diagnosed with schizophrenia. They became the subjects of numerous research projects. I don’t think I would have read this book were it not for my F2F book group. I found interesting and informative, but it was not always compelling.
LINK to my full review
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Laughing Matters
Larry Gelbart
3/5 stars
Larry Gelbart, who brought the series M*A*S*H to television, relates his career in show business, the movies and TV Series he was involved in and the people he worked with. I liked it but parts of it dragged on.
Blackbird House – Alice Hoffman – 3***
This is a collection of vignettes, spanning two-plus centuries, all set in the same house / farm on the tip of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. beginning when the area was still a British colony and ending in the early 21st century. I found these stories enchanting and mesmerizing, though I’m hard pressed to say what exactly it was about them that so charmed me. Maybe that is the magic of Hoffman’s storytelling.
LINK to my full review
The Unconsoled –Kazuo Ishiguro – 3***
This is a story about Ryder, an internationally renowned pianist, who arrives in an unnamed European city to give a concert he has no memory of agreeing to give. Ishiguro is a brilliant writer, but this was a really challenging work. It is the stuff of dreams, or perhaps nightmares. People come and go, and Ryder (not to mention the reader) is left trying to puzzle out what is happening.
LINK to my full review
Lucky In Love – Kasie West – 3***
This is a pretty typical YA romance. The interesting twist, of course, is Maddie’s status as a BIG lottery winner, and that definitely does complicate things for her. I really liked Maddie. She’s young and inexperienced but generally has a pretty good head on her shoulders. She values family relationships and true friendships. All in all, it’s a fast, fun read.
LINK to my full review
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Last Chain On Billie: How One Extraordinary Elephant Escaped the Big Top
Carol Bradley
4/5 stars
Bradley relates the tale of the elephant Billie who was captured in Asia and taken to the states to perform in circuses in the most horrible of conditions and who eventually with a lot of help is released into an animal sanctuary. The author also details the cause of animal rights, those who helped and those who tried to rig the system in their favor.
The Eyes of the Dragon – Stephen King – 3.5***
Well, this was a fairy tale I never expected from Stephen King. I was reminded of a number of classic fairy tales, adventure quests and such that enthralled and entertained me when I was a child. This story speaks directly to the child that still dwells inside me. It allows me to suspend disbelief while I cheer for the hero and hiss at the villain.
LINK to my full review
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Battleship: A Daring Heiress, a Teenage Jockey, and America's Horse
Dorothy Ours
4/5 stars
This is a fascinating true story, mainly set in the 30's and 40's, that features Marion duPont, a wealthy woman who lived for her horses and the racing industry; Bruce Hobbs, a 17-year-old jockey who was raised by his father who was also a jockey and a horse named Battleship who becomes the unlikely hero of this book. Very interesting!
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An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed – Helene Tursten – 3***
Book two in a very short series featuring nearly-90-year-old Maud and the people who irritate and annoy her and deserve what they get. This picks up where the first book left off, and the plot alternates between her current trip to South Africa and memories of past encounters, where she got even with those who crossed her. Maud’s an astute observer and prides herself on being a quick thinker. And, of course, who pays any attention to a little old lady?
LINK to my full review