Library Lovers discussion
2024 Reads and Reviews - Anything Goes
A Lovely Girl: The Tragedy of Olga Duncan and the Trial of One of California's Most Notorious Killers, by Deborah Holt Larkin5 stars!
Absolutely do not miss this book. Wonderfully written; it never drags. Written from the perspective of the author as it was all happening, when she was 10. I thought I knew this story but there is so very much more in here than I've seen anywhere else. DO NOT SKIM THROUGH THIS BOOK. If you do you will miss far too many of the utterly crazy details. I hope this is a unique story.
The Bear’s Embrace – Patricia Van Tighem – 4****
While hiking in the Canadian wilderness, Patricia and her husband were attacked by a grizzly bear. This is Patricia’s memoir of the years of reconstructive surgery and depression (PTSD) she suffered following that incident. I found this gripping and interesting, a tale of survival, courage and triumph. But I was not prepared for the severity of mental health issues she would suffer as a result of the attack.
LINK to my full review
Fat Chance, Charlie Vega – Crystal Maldonado – 4****
This is a wonderful coming-of-age story that deals with body image, friendship, parent/child relationships, and societal expectations. Charlie is a strong young woman, mostly sure of herself, though plagued with self-doubt. Still, she’s smart, funny, kind, loyal and determined. I liked how Maldonado had the teens deal with expectations, whether those of friends, each other, parents, teachers, or their own. And I really liked how Charlie found a way to shine and show her considerable talent.
LINK to my full review
Mod
Unbecoming a Lady: The Forgotten Sluts and Shrews Who Shaped America
Therese Oneill
4/5 stars
This is quite an interesting look at women who have influenced the nation. The book covers several women, including Carrie Nation, Hetty Green (the first self-made lady billionaire) and Aimee Semple McPherson, a preacher who also faked her kidnapping. It was a short read but so fascinating. Non-Fiction
The Personal Librarian – Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray – 3***
As she has done with other women “lost in history,” Benedict shines a light on a little-recognized woman who had enormous influence on American culture. Belle da Costa Greene, a Black woman who passed as white to work as J P Morgan’s personal librarian. It’s an interesting history lesson and well told, if somewhat repetitive.
LINK to my full review
The Tuscan Child – Rhys Bowen – 3***
Bowen uses the ubiquitous dual timeline to tell this story that spans three decades: 1944 to 1973. Joanna finds some papers among her late father’s effects that indicate he had a love affair with a woman in Italy while serving as an RAF pilot in WW2. Joanna feels compelled to travel to the area where her father’s plane went down to find his lost love, Sofia, and to get answers to what really happened during the war. This was a fun, fast read with some intrigue to go along with the romance. And, I loved all the references to food!
LINK to my full review
One Italian Summer – Rebecca Serle – 3***
Katy has always been very close to her mother, Carol, and when her mother dies Katy is left feeling alone, abandoned and lost. At her husband’s suggestion, Katy decides to take the trip to Italy she and Carol had planned. I was fine with this story at the outset, though I thought Katy was very immature for a woman who is thirty. It held my attention, and it was a relatively fast read. But I’m not sure I’d recommend it.
LINK to my full review
Mod
Hail Mary: The Rise and Fall of the National Women's Football League
Lyndsey D'Arcangelo
3/5 stars
Interesting book about the National Women's Football League and the ups and downs of women playing professional football.
Surely You Can’t Be Serious – David Zucker, Jim Abrahams & Jerry Zucker – 3***
Subtitle: The True Story of Airplane! This is the creators’ memoir of how they came to think of the parody, and their (often naïve) efforts to get it written, produced, cast, made and distributed. Yes, I saw the surprise comedy blockbuster movie when it first came out. I remember little about it. I laughed and thought some bits were hilarious, but I also thought that much of the humor was juvenile and typical of middle-school boys.
LINK to my full review
Vanderbilt – Anderson Cooper & Katherine Howe – 4****
Subtitle: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty. Cooper, the son of “the last Vanderbilt” (Gloria Vanderbilt), and a trained journalist, looks at the family legacy in this work of nonfiction. On the whole, it held my attention, and I learned a few tidbits I hadn’t previously come across.
LINK to my full review
Mod
Vanderbilt
– Anderson Cooper & Katherine Howe – 4****
Subtitle: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty. Cooper, the son of “the last Vanderbilt” (Gloria Vande..."
I would read that book!
The Covenant of Water – Abraham Verghese – 5*****
An epic tale of one family in Kerala, India, over nearly eight decades, spanning the time frame from 1900 to 1977. Gosh, but Verghese can write! There is a lot of drama in this decades-long story. Verghese touches on classicism, colonialism, racism and sexism. But this is NOT an unhappy book. The family relationships are loving and tender. And that ending! My heart swelled.
LINK to my full review
Mod
The Wasp Factory
Iain Banks
3/5 stars
This a very dark story about a family of all men. Frank Cauldhame is 16 years old and a murderer, but no one knows about it. 1984
Ms Demeanor – Elinor Lipman – 3***
It begins when attorney Jane Morgan is spotted by a nosy neighbor with binoculars engaging in consensual sex on her rooftop patio. Soon she’s sentenced to six months of house confinement. And then she discovers there is another resident of her building also wearing an ankle monitor. Cute, modern, rom-com. I love Lipman’s sense of humor.
LINK to my full review
Mod
Still Here: The Madcap, Nervy, Singular Life of Elaine Stritch
Alexandra Jacobs
4/5 stars
What an interesting life and story the author weaves around Elaine Stritch, an actress who performed on TV, stage and in the movies for years! A Dozen Film and TV Books
Ruddy Gore - Kerry Greenwood – 3***
Book number seven in the delightful Phryne Fisher series of cozy mysteries set in 1920s Melbourne, Australia. I like Phryne as a character. She is her own woman and quite modern in her thinking. She’s independent, curious, observant and can take care of herself. She’s also beautiful and wealthy. And she quite enjoys time in the bedroom with a gentleman. Brava, Phryne!
LINK to my full review
First Gen – Alejandra Campoverdi– 3***
Campoverdi’s memoir details her experiences and that of her family, particularly the women. From growing up poor in a single-parent household with her grandmother, three aunts, and mother, the author writes about her path to success as a “First and only.” Her story is an interesting one, but I didn’t really identify with her experiences, and felt she was not fully identifying the causes of her feelings of inadequacy.
LINK to my full review
Mod
This Time Together: Laughter and Reflection
Carol Burnett
4/5 stars
Not a complete autobiography but Burnett relates tales of her life on her show, the celebrities she encountered on her show and audiences she who motivated her. If you are a Carol Burnett fan, you would enjoy this book.
Flying Solo – Linda Holmes – 3***
This was a fun rom-com / mystery / heist caper! Laurie comes back to her Maine hometown to clear out her great-aunt Dot’s home. When she finds a wooden duck decoy in a cedar chest, she can’t help but wonder why Dot would keep such an item. Her efforts to solve the mystery of Dot’s past lead to a con job, a heist, and a counter-con job. And she begins to rethink her “I’m a loner” philosophy as she reconnects with her friends from high school.
LINK to my full review
Julie wrote: "This Time Together: Laughter and Reflection
Carol Burnett
4/5 stars
Not a complete autobiography but B..."
Agree, and I did!
Mod
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer
Patrick Süskind
4/5 stars
This is quite an interesting dark story of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille who was born in Paris in 1738. He has no smell of himself but has an absolute sense of smell. He has made as mission to identify and isolate the perfect scent of all - life.
Rememberings by Sinead O'Connor4 stars
I was not very familiar with the author's music, but her life was interesting. She marches to her own drummer and does what she believes in and doesn't care what other people think. I listened to some of her music to become more familiar with her and she has a beautiful voice. I deducted one star because there was one section of her book that she talks about each album and the songs on the album and how she came about writing them or choosing them. Because I wasn't familiar with the songs, they weren't very interesting to me. The rest of the book was interesting and once in a while I had to laugh at her sassiness. Sadly, she passed away shortly after writing this memoir from natural causes.
Mod
The Little Liar
Mitch Albom
4/5 stars
A story of the holocaust and the young man, Nico Krispis from Greece who never told a lie yet convinced his countrymen to go to safety and jobs. But seeing them on the station he realizes they were being sent to Auschwitz. Well written! Books Off My Never-Ending Reading List
The Christie Affair – Nina de Gramont – 3.5***
On December 3, 1926, Agatha Christie drove away from her home after an argument with her husband. She would be missing for eleven days. This is a novel about marriage, about motherhood, about love, about grief, about how society punishes those who fail to follow the rules, about forgiveness and justice. De Gramont took the story in a direction I wasn’t expecting, and at first, I was unhappy, but eventually the two parallel stories merge in a fashion that fascinated me.
LINK to my full review
Royal Blood – Rhys Bowen – 3***
Book number four in the delightful Lady Georgiana Ranoch series of cozy mysteries takes us out of London and to a remote castle in the mountains of Romania for a royal wedding. I like this series. Georgie manages to get herself caught up in all sorts of intrigues. This episode in her life was a little over-the-top, though Georgie, of course, keeps her head and manages to help solve the case. She’s certainly resourceful! An entertaining quick read.
LINK to my full review
Into Love And Out Again – Elinor Lipman – 3.5***
This is a collection of short stories set in New York City. As the title implies, the focus is on love … falling in love, attraction, heartbreak, excitement, intimacy, falling out of love. This was Lipman’s debut work. I’ve become a fan of hers in the last few years and decided to go back and read some of her earlier works. She writes with wit and tenderness and eyes wide open to her characters’ flaws and gifts.
LINK to my full review
The Fortunes of Jaded Women – Carolyn Hyunh – 3***
Mai’s ancestor was cursed by a Vietnamese witch: the women would birth only daughters, never a son. Oh, what a tangled web of melodrama! In general, this is about family – especially an extended family whose members are always in each other’s business. They meddle, fight, make-up, mourn, and celebrate. Ultimately, they come together as a family, rising in unison, ready to conquer the world.
LINK to my full review
This Time Will Be Different – Misa Sigiura – 3.5***
This is a charming YA novel about family, social justice, friendship and loyalty. There’s also a little romance thrown in. CJ is a pretty mature teen. Although she frequently doubts herself, she usually follows her inner compass and makes solid decisions. Of course, this is a young adult novel, so there is bound to be some of the drama typical in teen life – prom-posals, mean girls, cliques, attractions based strictly on looks, best friends who maybe aren’t anymore.
LINK to my full review
Psychotherapy of Schizophrenia: The Treatment of Choice, Bertram Karon and Gary Van DenBosWhat a great read! It's a combination how-to and history of the medical profession's understanding of schizophrenia and what to do about it. I was intrigued to learn that the "schizophrenia is a physical disease" idea has been coming back periodically over the centuries and is always debunked again. The authors pick apart every type of delusion and hallucination and explain the roots of each, with case examples, talking about how to address all the bizarre manifestations of the syndrome. Lots of Freudian stuff to sort through here but remember, Freud was right on most of what he said. At no point do the authors descend into the stultifying scholarly language that puts me off so many books of this type. Great book, highly recommended.
Rebel – Beverly Jenkins – 3***
This bodice ripper is set in New Orleans during the reconstruction period after the Civil War. It's a typical romance with heaving bosoms, knees made weak by kisses, demure women and strong men who are talented and generous lovers. The action is fast, even if the plot is fairly predictable.
LINK to my full review
Mod
James Herriot's Dog Stories
James Herriot
4/5 stars
I think I have read most of Herriot's books and this one is as good as all of his other books. He is one of my favorite authors!
Mrs Jeffries On the Ball – Emily Brightwell – 3***
Book number five in the Victorian Mystery series starring Inspector Gerald Witherspoon and his very capable housekeeper, Mrs Jeffries. Victorian London is certainly a hotbed of crime but Mrs Jeffries and her staff are more than up to the task of ferreting out the information to make the Inspector look good when he solves the murder.
LINK to my full review
I have been listening to them and really enjoy them. Nice change from books that have a lot more gory details. The characters are really starting to feel like family. Have almost gone thru all of them and don't know what I will do next.
Mod
A Dark-Adapted Eye
Barbara Vine
4/5 stars
A death upends the lives of a family when Vera Hillyard was hanged for murdering a child in this unusual story of a family tragedy! 1986
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before – Jenny Han – 3***
This is a lovely coming-of-age novel featuring a trio of sisters, of which Lara Jean is the middle sister. Among the issues dealt with are sibling rivalry, teen crushes, sex, social media (and bullying), and conflicting feelings – whether for your sister or your boyfriend. I really liked Lara Jean. She mostly has her act together, but she is only sixteen. Still, she’s a good kid; she’s smart, talented, loyal, principled, and determined. And she has an open heart that is ready to learn about love and what it really means.
LINK to my full review
Trailed: One Woman's Quest to Solve the Shenandoah Murders, by Kathryn Miles5 stars!
An outstanding read capturing the highlights of some solid investigative work. Full of fascinating rabbit holes and thought-provoking questions about (for instance) what counts as a hate crime, and why a suspect does or doesn't get investigated. All this time I assumed that the Shenandoah murders went unsolved because of a lack of evidence. Was I ever wrong about that. Read this one!
Mod
This Is How You Lose the Time War
Amal El-Mohtar
2.5/5 stars
I was not impressed with this science fiction book in which a dying world which has two rivals trying to win a war. Science Fiction
The Underground Railroad – Colson Whitehead – 4****
Whitehead’s Pulitzer-Prize-winning novel is an extraordinary work of fiction. Unlike many novels set in the antebellum south, Whitehead’s imagination gives us a real railroad, traveling underground, through various states. As abolitionists and slave holders battle for supremacy, stations are closed or opened, sections of track are expanded or abandoned. Cora is a marvelous character - strong, resilient, smart, observant. Her desire for freedom never wanes; she will get there or die trying.
LINK to my full review
Mod
Station Eleven
Emily St. John Mandel
3/5 stars
This is a much darker fictional version of what we went through with Covid. Fortunately, we recovered. I enjoyed this book. Science Fiction
Leave the World Behind – Rumaan Alam – 4****
This grabbed me from page one and held on through the wonderfully ambiguous ending. It’s hard to say this is post-apocalyptic, though it’s certainly headed in that direction. Alam writes these characters so well. And gives the reader the same “unbalanced” sense that the characters feel – not knowing what is happening nor whom to trust. I’m left feeling unsettled and confused and curious and excited and desperate to know what is next.
LINK to my full review
Unfortunately Yours – Tessa Bailey – 1*
A rom-com set in the Napa Valley, with a kernel of a cute idea. But I did not find either Natalie or August remotely interesting. Of course, they have hot sex and achieve multiple orgasms. But these scenarios are so ridiculously unbelievable that I found them tedious to read. There was one very interesting metaphor for orgasm that earned it 1 star.
LINK to my full review
The Poet X – Elizabeth Acevedo – 5*****
In her debut novel, Acevedo tells the story of a teen from Harlem, who finds her voice in writing poetry, but who struggles against her mother’s expectations. I love poetry. I am in awe with how much a poet can convey in so few words. And Acevedo does a truly marvelous job in this novel-in-verse.
LINK to my full review
Mod
Recursion
Blake Crouch
3/5 stars
This is the science fiction story surrounding a New York City cop Barry Sutton and scientist Helena Smith. Smith wanted to have people to keep and remember their memories. However, her technology attacks the mind and changes the past and the world. Very interesting! Science Fiction
Mod
Woe: A Housecat's Story of Despair
Lucy Knisley
3/5 stars
Lucy Knisley writes and draws about her beloved cat Linney. Very short but very sweet!
A Hundred Flowers – Gail Tsukiyama – 4****
In this novel, Tsukiyama turns her attention to the mid-to-late 1950s and Mao’s Cultural Revolution in China. The story focuses on the Lee family, who do their best in difficult times to continue moving forward. The uncertainty is palpable. Yet, they face their circumstances with grace, dignity and courage.
LINK to my full review
Take My Hand – Dolen Perkins-Valdez – 4****
In 2016, Dr Civil Townsend, reflects on her time three decades previously when she worked with Montgomery (Alabama) Family Planning. Perkins-Valdez took inspiration from a shameful episode in America’s history, when poor, Black people were used as subjects for medical studies without their informed consent. Additionally, Perkins-Valdez looks at the class distinctions between poor, rural Blacks and the wealthier professional Blacks. Kudos to Perkins-Valdez for shining a light on these policies in our history.
LINK to my full review
Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder – Valerie Burns – 3***
Book one in a new cozy mystery series. Maddy Montgomery’s great aunt Octavia has left her a lakefront house, a bakery, and an English mastiff named Baby. Maddy’s barely in town for a day when there’s a murder IN the bakery. Who would want to frame her? The residents rally round, especially Sheriff April Johnson and veterinarian Michael Portman. Fast, entertaining read.
LINK to my full review
The Night Country, hy Stewart O'Nan4 enthusiastic stars!
An excellent ghost story. I have not found any novel more Halloweeny than this one. Well written and utterly satisfying. Don't miss it.
Mod
The Berry Pickers
Amanda Peters
4/5 stars
A family from Maine who travel and pick crops find their four-year-old daughter is missing and it tears the family apart. Each chapter reflects one of the family members thoughts, feelings and actions. Very well written! Books Off My Reading List
Library Lovers
Books mentioned in this topic
The Sewing Girl's Tale: A Story of Crime and Consequences in Revolutionary America (other topics)Hark! The Herald Angel Falls (other topics)
Frontier Christmas (other topics)
Jacqueline in Paris (other topics)
To Kill a Mockingbird (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Lawrence Ingrassia (other topics)Luis Alberto Urrea (other topics)
Luis Alberto Urrea (other topics)
James Kennedy (other topics)
Mai Mochizuki (other topics)
More...
The Starlite Drive-In – Marjorie Reynolds – 3.5***
The discovery of human bones when developers begin demolishing the old Starlite Drive-In site takes Callie Anne Benton back to her childhood. She was twelve the summer of 1956, when she experienced first love and began to understand the complexities of adult relationships. A great coming-of-age story that captivated me from beginning to end.
LINK to my full review