Library Lovers discussion
Archived
>
2023 Reads and Reviews - Anything Goes
Know My Name, by Chanel Miller5 stars! No, make that 7 stars.
I have never found another book like this one. Chanel takes us through what feels like every minute of her terrible, humiliating experiences at the hands of Brock Turner and the public pillorying that followed, in the news, in the courtroom, at work, everywhere she went for the next five years, utterly changed by an experience that she (luckily) can't remember. I loved the way she tore away all Brock's evasions and lies, how she found support in so many places, how she finally jettisoned her doubts about herself and saw it all clearly again. Read this wrenching story. It will change you, in a good way.
The Last Chance Library – Freya Sampson – 3***
This was just lovely. June’s growth throughout the book is wonderful to see. I also like how initial impressions of people are sometimes proven quite wrong, and how the various relationships / friendships developed. The cast of supporting characters give a sense of community to the novel. It was a charming diversion from everyday life – perfect for when you want a cozy read with a happy ending.
LINK to my full review
Mod
Young Master Darcy: A Lesson in Honour
Pamela Aidan
4/5 stars
Pamela Aidan explores the life of Master Darcy as a teen in 1797. His mother is ill and he is struggling with her illness as the Christmas season begins and he has to return to Pemberly and the expectations of his family. Books by Pamela Aidan
Gaudy Night – Dorothy L Sayers – 2.5**
Book # 10 in the Lord Peter Wimsey series focuses not on Peter, but on Harriet Vane. She is attending an event as an alumnae of Shrewsbury College at Oxford, but what promised to be a pleasant, if awkward, homecoming, turns decidedly ominous with a series of destructive “pranks” and malicious, vile graffiti. Harriet does her best, but has to call in Lord Peter to solve the case. I found it slow-moving and dull.
LINK to my full review
Treasure Island – Robert Louis Stevenson – 3.5***
A classic coming-of-age adventure tale set in the 18th century. Shiver me timbers, but this was good! There are intrigues, dangers, plots, mutinies, battles, and double-crosses galore to keep the reader engaged and turning pages. And if danger isn’t enough, there are the added lures of the tropics and of treasure. If the story line is somewhat farfetched, well, who cares. It’s fun and exciting.
LINK to my full review
Mod
These Three Remain
Pamela Aidan
4/5 stars
I do love the original book and the movie of Pride and Prejudice and was so happy to find this four-book series. The books encompassed Fitzwilliam Darcy as the lead character and which tells his side of the story. Highly recommended!
Mod
We Don't Need Roads: The Making of the Back to the Future Trilogy
Caseen Gaines
4/5 stars
Wonderful book about the Back To The Future Trilogy. Gaines writes a thorough synopsis of the movies and what has been going on with the films and actors, and how the movies impacted on the public and fans. Books About Film and Television
The Narrowboat Summer – Anne Youngson – 4****
This was a charming coming-of-middle-age book. As Eve and Sally help out Anastasia by taking the boat through a series of canals and locks to dry dock for servicing, they get know one another and, more importantly, themselves. I’m not sure this would be the life for me, but I sure enjoyed spending some time with them, and imaging myself lulled to sleep by the gentle rocking of waves, or feeling the sun on my skin as we gently moved through the canals.
LINK to my full review
The Dog Who Came In From the Cold – Alexander McCall Smith – 3***
Book Two in the Corduroy Mansions series, starring Pimlico terrier Freddie de la Hay. I love these ensemble works that Alexander McCall Smith writes, where we get to the residents of a building or neighborhood over time.
LINK to my full review
You’re Not You – Michelle Wildgen – 4****
This was at times very difficult to read. I could see Bec identifying more and more with Kate, and Kate relying on Bec as one would a best friend rather than an employed helper. And yet, Kate, kept a certain distance, because only she could, after all, truly experience the debilitating and ultimately terminal condition that is ALS. It’s a great debut, and I’d be interested in reading more of her works.
LINK to my full review
Harlem Shuffle – Colson Whitehead – 4****
Whitehead is a talented writer and I love the characters he creates. I was invested in Ray and Elizabeth. I worried for his safety several times, especially in the last third of the book. I could feel his fear and anxiety when things went wrong. I may not have agreed with all of Ray’s decisions, but I certainly came to understand why he acted as he did. He had his own code and he stuck to it. The novel spans five years, from 1959 to 1964, and Harlem is practically a character. Whitehead’s descriptions completely transported me to that time and place.
LINK to my full review
Mod
Bones: An Alex Delaware Novel
Jonathan Kellerman
4/5 stars
When several murdered prostitutes and a young pianist are found in L.A.'s Bird Marsh preserve, Detective Milo Sturgis contacts his friend and colleague - psychologist Alex Delaware to help him on the case.
The Cat Who Saved Books – Sōsuke Natsukawa – 3***
This is a modern fairy tale and coming-of-age story that explores the long-lasting effects books can have on us. I really enjoyed this fantasy read. Rintaro is a great character, somewhat lost and needing to find his path on life’s journey, he is a person any reader can relate to. Set in a bookshop, the fable is full of literary references, which I greatly enjoyed.
LINK to my full review
Mod
Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex
Mary Roach
4/5 stars
I have read several books by Mary Roach who writes about non-fiction subjects and she is never boring. This book talks about all things surrounding the science of sex. Very interesting!
Fallen Women – Sandra Dallas – 3***
When wealthy New York socialite Beret Osmundsen learns that her estranged sister was murdered in a brothel, there is nothing for her to do but go to Denver and seek answers. Dallas is well-known for her historical fiction, focusing on women in the 19th and early 20th century. Here she gives a very realistic view of 1880s Denver and the brothels that flourished there, as well as taking the reader inside the nouveau riche mansions of the city’s elite. The actual mystery plot isn’t all that well executed, but the historical detail and some of the characters really kept my interest up.
LINK to my full review
Julie wrote: "Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex
Mary Roach
4/5 stars
I have read several books by Mary R..."
Love Mary Roach!
Uncommon Type – Tom Hanks – 4****
The stories in this collection are connected in that each story features a typewriter in some way. The stories are varied, from tender romance to science fiction, to family drama. Some are contemporary, some historical, some set in the future. They vary, too, in the emotions they evoke: tenderness, humor, awe, compassion. Clearly, Hanks is a gifted writer, and I look forward to reading more of his works. I’d love to see what he does with a novel.
LINK to my full review
The Daughters of Juárez – Teresa Rodríguez – 4****
Subtitle: A True Story of Serial Murder South of the Border. Beginning in 1993, the residents of Juárez, Mexico, just across the Rio Grande from El Paso, Texas, became aware of a disturbing frequency of murders of young women. Some estimate that at least 350 women were murdered between 1993 and 2005. It seems that the machismo culture put little value on these women. But Rodríguez makes it clear that there was considerable corruption and/or ineptitude among authorities. The most disturbing thing to me is that the book leaves the reader with more questions than answers.
LINK to my full review
Mod
Fortune and Glory
Janet Evanovich
3/5 stars
Stephanie is back! However, her grandmother's new husband, Jimmy Roselli died on their wedding night and leaving a hidden fortune. Stephanie and her grandmother are now searching for the money along with several others and Gabriela Rose, a soldier of fortune. Will they find it before anyone else does?
Big Panda and Tiny Dragon – James Norbury – 4****
”Which is more important,” asked Big Panda, “the journey or the destination?”
“The company,” said Tiny Dragon
And so, two unlikely friends set off on a journey of discovery. They have no specific plan and go where life leads them over the course of four seasons. The story is told through Norbury’s wonderful drawings and the pair’s quiet conversations. There were times when I just sat and looked at one of those drawings and let my mind take me where it wanted. How refreshing!
LINK to my full review
Mod
John Hughes: A Life in Film: The Genius Behind Ferris Bueller, The Breakfast Club, Home Alone, and more
Kirk Honeycutt
4/5 stars
Kirk Honeycutt recaps and discusses the films of John Hughes. This book does also talk about his life but not in an in-depth way. I enjoyed it.
They Called Us Enemy – George Takei – 4****
George Takei, best known as Lt Hikaru Sulu, science officer aboard the Spaceship Enterprise, recalls his childhood growing up in an internment camp after the US government required that even US-born persons of Japanese ancestry be treated as “enemy” during World War II. I found the graphic novel format really engaging and accessible. Becker’s illustrations were excellent; not too dark so it was still easy to read the text. The facial expressions she gave the characters really helped to convey the emotions they were feeling.
LINK to my full review
Her Last Flight – Beatriz Williams – 3.5***
This work of historical fiction was clearly influenced by the real saga of Amelia Earhart, though it is NOT her story. Although I’ve come to dislike the dual timeline so popular in historical fiction, Williams handles it very well in this case. And it did serve to heighten interest and intrigue. I couldn’t help but try to fit the puzzle together, but I was as surprised as Janey to learn the full truth of the story.
LINK to my full review
Less – Andrew Sean Greer – 3***
Novelist Arthur Less is almost fifty, can’t seem to get his writing mojo back, and now his recent ex-boyfriend is getting married! So, Arthur does the logical thing. He runs away from his troubles on an around-the-world lecture tour. This won the Pulitzer for fiction and I’m not sure why. I never warmed to Arthur. There were episodes in his journey that I really liked and that kept me reading, but it’s not a prize-winner in my opinion.
LINK to my full review
The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina – Zoraida Córdova – 3.5***
This is unlike anything I’ve read before. Part family saga, part paranormal horror, part fantasy, part historical fiction, part quest, part love story. I’m so grateful that there is a family tree in the beginning, as I referred to it several times to clarify relationships of Orquídea’s many descendants. I was fascinated by the story but I think I need to re-read it to fully absorb the magic of Córdova’s storytelling.
LINK to my full review
Mod
The Confessions of Max Tivoli
Andrew Sean Greer
4/5 stars
In the early 20th century we meet Max Tivoli who was an unusual character. He was born in San Francisco but lived his life backwards. He started out as an older person and dies as a child. However, he falls in love with the lovely Alice, a beautiful woman who he meets several times in his lifetime, her never knowing that Max will always be in her life. Nicely written!
Hiroshima – John Hersey – 4****
First published in 1946, Hersey recounts the story of the first atomic bomb dropped on the city of Hiroshima, through the recollections of six survivors. The tale begins with the residents starting their day on an August morning, completely unaware of the devastation to come. Hersey follows them from the initial experiences to long-term aftermath. It's a gripping story, made more so by the personal accounts.
LINK to my full review
The Postscript Murders – Elly Griffiths – 3.5***
This is book two in the series featuring Detective Sergeant Harbinder Kaur, but it can easily be read as a stand alone. DS Kaur is “assisted” by three amateur sleuths: Natalka (Ukrainian immigrant and caretaker for the dead woman), Benjamin (former monk and now owner of a coffee shop), and Edwin (80-year-old neighbor of the deceased). This is the first book by Griffiths that I’ve read; it won’t be the last.
LINK to my full review
Mod
My Lucky Life in and Out of Show Business
Dick Van Dyke
4/5 stars
This is not a current book about Dick Van Dyke but he writes about the highlights of his career in TV and film and talks about his family life up to 2011. I always admired him and this was a very enjoyable book.
Mod
The Old Man and the Gun: And Other Tales of True Crime
David Grann
3/5 stars
Interesting book on true crime! There are three stories of crime in this book. The first one was The Old Man and The Gun which was made into a movie with Robert Redford. True Crime and The Chameleon were next. The second story was just okay but I really enjoyed the The Chameleon and The Old Man and The Gun.
Razor Girl – Carl Hiaasen – 3***
I love reading Hiaasen’s ridiculously crazy plots, featuring the NOT-tourist-friendly Florida. The action is fast, furious, and totally insane. The bad guys are frequently three cards short of a full deck. The women almost always get the best of the men. Hiaasen has a gift for drawing this reader into his wildly improbable plots. And I enjoy the ride every time!
LINK to my full review
Mod
Silver Screen Fiend: Learning About Life from an Addiction to Film
Patton Oswalt
3/5 stars
Actor/Writer/Standup Comedian Patton Oswalt talks about his love of films and that he had seen three times a week through the nineties at the New Beverly Cinema. Interesting!
The Code Breaker – Walter Isaacson – 5*****
This is an engaging, interesting, informative and thought-provoking biography cum history. While the focus is on Jennifer Doudna, Isaacson gives almost equal time to the many other researchers who contributed to the scientific discoveries and applications. He takes time to address ethical questions on the applications of new technology, and ends with the international cooperation required to address COVID19.
LINK to my full review
Hamnet – Maggie O’Farrell – 5*****
Wow. You think you know where a story is headed because you know something of the historical figures depicted, and then an author completely surprises you. O’Farrell focuses the story on Agnes, the wife, mother, sister, daughter, stepdaughter, and daughter-in-law. The writing is beautiful and engaging. I kept reading passages aloud. The last 20 pages or so were simply marvelous. And the last line … perfect.
LINK to my full review
Mod
Losing My Virginity: How I've Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way
Richard Branson
4/5 stars
Richard Branson talks about his life, his businesses and making a fortune. This was a very interesting look at how he dealt with all of his businesses. This was published in 1998 so it would be interesting to read what has happened to him since 1998.
The Diving Pool – Yoko Ogawa – 4****
The subtitle calls them “three novellas”, but none is longer than 56 pages, so they are more accurately categorized as short stories. Regardless, I really enjoyed this collection; each was very different from the other two, but all dealt with relationships. It is the kind of literary fiction I love.
LINK to my full review
Horse – Geraldine Brooks – 5*****
The novel is based on the real story of the horse known as Lexington, his extraordinary racing career, and even more extraordinary career as a stud. But it is more than a story of racing; it is a novel about race and racism, not just in the 19th century, but in contemporary America, as well. Moving back and forth between the contemporary discoveries of the horse’s skeleton and painted portrait, to the events in antebellum Kentucky, she weaves a story that I found compelling, fascinating and moving.
LINK to my full review
Mod
Meet Me by the Fountain: An Inside History of the Mall
Alexandra Lange
3/5 stars
Lange writes about the history of the shopping malls and the high and lows of being in the business of building and running malls. Not the most fascinating book I have ever read.
Cloud Cuckoo Land – Anthony Doerr – 5*****
It’s hard to describe this book. It is equal parts historical, contemporary and futuristic. It took me a while to get into the rhythm of Doerr’s storytelling. I was so confused at the beginning by the changing scenarios and could not imagine how he would weave this into a cohesive story. But I’m glad I persevered, and I finally saw how intricately he managed to weave these stories together. The teenagers, who are lonely and/or alone, find solace in an ancient fantasy and ultimately in reaching out to others.
LINK to my full review
Mod
My Word is My Bond
Roger Moore
4/5 stars
Roger Moore, actor and James Bond portrayer talks about his life, family, his film career and his philanthropic endeavors. This covers his life up to 2008. He died in May 23, 2017. Very well written and he definitely led a very interesting life! Books About Film and Television
Red Knife – William Kent Krueger – 3.5***
This is book # 8 in the Cork O’Connor series. Cork is a marvelous central character, and I also like Sheriff Dross, a woman Cork originally hired back when HE was the sheriff. The plot deals with vigilantism, gun control, disaffected teens, drug cartels and family dynamics. Krueger writes a fast-paced, intricate mystery with plenty of suspects, and enough twists and turns to keep even the most diligent reader guessing.
LINK to my full review
An Irish Country Girl – Patrick Taylor – 3***
On Christmas Eve, Mrs Kinky Kincaid, Dr O’Reilly’s unflappable housekeeper, welcomes a group of young carolers into the doctor’s house to warm up. While they enjoy a hot drink, Mrs Kincaid tells them a tale of her girlhood, and how she found her gift of “sight.” Taylor has written a very atmospheric book. I could practically feel the cold of a snowy day, smell the smoke of a welcoming fire, and hear the banshee’s wails or the eerie sounds of bagpipes.
LINK to my full review
Rules Of Prey – John Sandford – 4****
There’s a serial killer on the loose in the Twin Cities. This is the first book in the Lucas Davenport series. He’s a lieutenant with the Minneapolis Police, and also a creator of computer games which have made him very wealthy. The “maddog” may be a very smart killer, but Davenport is smarter. Sandford is really skilled at writing a taut, suspenseful, psychological thriller. We always know the identity of the killer, so it’s not a typical mystery. But, boy oh boy, is this an exciting ride!
LINK to my full review
The Opposite House – Helen Oyeyemi – 2.5*
I appreciated many of the passages of Oyeyemi’s writing, but the book as a whole didn’t really work for me. The story meandered too much for me to keep track of what was happening; I found myself re-reading sections to get a grasp on it. I am usually a fan of magical realism, but in this case the other-worldly aspect of much of the magical realism simply confused me.
LINK to my full review
Mod
Hangman
Faye Kellerman
4/5 stars
This is the 19th book in the Decker/Lazarus series which I have been reading for years and I still enjoy them. In this book Decker is asked to look after a young man, Gabe while his mother Terry is gone and then goes missing. Among other things, Decker is also on the case of a nurse who left work and later found hung. Compelling!
Echo Mountain – Lauren Wolk – 3.5***
Set during the Great Depression, Wolk’s novel shows the effects on one family when they lose their home in town and are forced to start over in a cabin on Echo Mountain. This is a lovely adventure story, focused on family, prejudice and discovery. Ellie is a great character – brave, tender, intelligent, resilient, eager to learn, open to new possibilities, and determined.
LINK to my full review
--------- * * * * * * * * --------
Better Nate Than Ever – Tim Federle – 3.5***
This was a wonderful coming-of-age story with a great big heart. Nate is a great kid – funny, intelligent, resourceful, brave. He has a chance at his dream, and he is going to go after it with all he’s got. The scenes are sometimes tender and sometimes a bit frightening, but there is also plenty of humor, and a sense of hope. Nate is so easy to cheer for. The book ends on a cliffhanger, setting up a sequel. Normally, I hate this device, but it was really the perfect ending for the book.
LINK to my full review
All Aboard the Schooltrain – Glenda Armand – 4****
This picture book tells an important story of America’s 20th century history, when many Black families left the Southern states in response to restrictions imposed by Jim Crow laws and sought greater opportunity in the North, Midwest or West. Armand took inspiration from her mother’s own experiences growing up in, and later, leaving, Louisiana. Keisha Morris’s illustrations use vibrant colors. I loved the facial expressions; there was such joy and obvious love in this family!
LINK to my full review
Finding Nouf – Zoë Ferraris – 4****
This was a wonderful debut psychological thriller. I particularly appreciated the setting in Saudi Arabia, and the use of a female lab technician who has some decidedly “modern” sensibilities. While the central murder bears investigation, the push-pull partnership between Katya and devoutly Muslim desert guide, Nayir, is what really keeps the book interesting.
LINK to my full review
The Checklist Manifesto – Atul Gawande – 4****
Subtitle: How to Get Things Right. Gawande became well-known for his original book of essays Complications: A Surgeon’s Notes on an Imperfect Science , in which he outlined some of the difficulties faced by modern-day surgeons. In this book he explains how a tool used in many industries to ensure that complex procedures are carried out in a “best practices” way consistently might be (and has been) applied to the complexities of modern medicine. It’s interesting but lacks the personal impact of Being Mortal .
LINK to my full review
Library Lovers
Books mentioned in this topic
Great Expectations (other topics)On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft (other topics)
The Last Ride of the Pony Express: My 2,000-mile Horseback Journey into the Old West (other topics)
Ubik (other topics)
Before the Coffee Gets Cold (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Philip K. Dick (other topics)Mitch Albom (other topics)
Bruce Springsteen (other topics)
Peggy Rowe (other topics)
Meg Haston (other topics)
More...
The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II
Denise Kiernan
4/5 stars
Interesting story about the women who left their homes to come to Oak Ridge, Tennesse in the Appalachian Mountains to help with the winning of the World War II effort. The women did not know at the time what they were doing at this secretive site till the end of the war. Well written!