The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
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The Frederick Sisters Are Living the Dream – Jeannie Zusy – 3.5***
This is a novel of family in which the key events are the kinds of everyday disasters many families must deal with: a hospitalization, a teenager learning to drive, an accident, a holiday dinner that goes awry. The family dynamics in this book are spot on. Ginny may have some intellectual disabilities, but she is a master manipulator. Maggie, albeit the youngest, has taken on the role usually assigned to the oldest sibling. And the supporting cast includes two wonderful home health aides, Philomena and Lika. A lovely debut work.
LINK to my full review
The Spies of Shilling Lane – Jennifer Ryan – 3***
What a delightful romp! While this is a novel of espionage and daring deeds in a time of war, and the background of the blitz adds a consistent and real danger, there are many lighter moments to lessen the tension, and the focus is really on the characters and their personal journey rather than on the war. Ryan writes the formidable Mrs Braithwaite so the reader has no doubt that she will prevail. She may bumble and misconstrue most clues, but she is resolute and WILL find and rescue her darling daughter.
LINK to my full review
Eden Close – Anita Shreve – 3.5***
When his mother dies, Andrew, an advertising exec in New York City, returns to the family’s upstate New York farm for the funeral. Intending to stay only a few days, he gets caught up in memories of his childhood, of the girl next door, and of the tragic event that changed all their lives. There is some mystery to unravel here regarding that long-ago summer night. Andrew has always been a person who doesn’t really see things, even when they are right in front of him, and he will have to open his eyes to the truth before he can move forward.
LINK to my full review
The Adventure Of the Christmas Pudding – Agatha Christie – 3***
This is actually a collection of short stories, in which Hercule Poirot addresses a variety of cases, and Miss Jane Marple solves the final case. Agatha Christie is one of my go-to authors when I want a break from everyday life and heavier, more literary reads. I just plain enjoy them. I’m also a fan of short stories, and this fit the bill nicely for winter evenings … one story per night.
LINK to my full review
Secrets of a Summer Night – Lisa Kleypas – 3***
This is the first in the “wallflower” series featuring four young women of marriageable age but who are at risk of becoming spinsters if they don’t find a suitable mate. In this first outing, the girls decide to pool their resources to ensure that Annabelle (who is the oldest and most in need of a husband) snags her man. This is a typical regency romance with plenty of heaving bosoms, devastatingly handsome men, one or two scoundrels, and a clash between the classes. The plot may be predictable, but it’s still great fun to read. A lovely escape!
LINK to my full review
Buried In a Good Book – Tamara Berry – 3***
First in a new cozy mystery series featuring Tess Harlow, a mystery-book author, who leaves Seattle for the Northwoods cabin she inherited from her grandfather. But before she can settle in a loud explosion results in a rain of dead fish and body parts. There’s no shortage of suspects, including “Bigfoot,” to keep both Sheriff Boyd and Tess busy. A fun, fast read.
LINK to my full review
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Book Concierge wrote: " They Called Us Enemy
– George Takei – 4****
George Takei, best known as Lt Hikaru Sulu, science officer aboard the Spaceship Enterprise, recalls his c..."
I'm about to read this book. This was chosen as our campus one book this year and he will be speaking in a few weeks.
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
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
Can't believe I've never noticed this thread before - I'm really interested to see what other people are reading for the challenge. Thanks all for sharing your reviews.
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
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
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
The Perfect Story: How to Tell Stories that Inform, Influence, and Inspire.Has anyone read this one? I am excited to read it because I love storytelling. I practice the craft almost every other weekend while having smores over a campfire with my sons.
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
Billy wrote: "The Perfect Story: How to Tell Stories that Inform, Influence, and Inspire.Has anyone read this one? I am excited to read it because I love storytelling. I practice the craft almost every other w..."
What a special thing to share with your children! I loved sitting on my grandmother's front porch in the dark when the aunts and uncles would tell us stories!
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
The Burglar In the Closet – Lawrence Block – 3***
In this second episode of the series, Bernie Rhodenbarr gets roped into stealing from his dentist’s ex-wife. It seems like an easy score, until he gets locked into the lady’s closet. When he comes out, the lady is dead and the jewels are gone. There are plenty of suspects, including the World’s Greatest Dentist, but Bernie really needs to solve the case before the police turn on him as the most likely suspect. Gosh but I love Bernie! He’s a burglar with standards and ethics. And he’s a gentleman when it comes to the ladies.
LINK to my full review
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
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 Seasonal Reading Challenge
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The Department of Sensitive Crimes – Alexander McCall Smith – 3***
Gosh, but I enjoy visiting with Alexander McCall Smith’s characters! This is somewhat of a farce of police procedurals. Detective Ulf “the Wolf” Varg and his team certainly have “interesting” cases. There is no case too strange or confusing for this team. I particularly liked the case of the missing imaginary boyfriend!
LINK to my full review