Library Lovers discussion
2024 Reads and Reviews - Anything Goes
A Hope Divided – Alyssa Cole – 3***
Book number two in the Loyal League series of Civil-War-era romances. Healer and free woman Marlie Lynch meets Union soldier and prisoner-of-war Ewan McCall when she goes to tend to the men at the nearby prison. Before long they are fleeing together from the Home Guard. It’s a pretty typical romance.
LINK to my full review
Sex and Vanity – Kevin Kwan – 2**
There were a few over-the-top scenes that tickled my funny bone, and I gave it two stars for those. I realize that Kwan means these works to be satires of “crazy rich Asians” but I just find them tedious. The characters were uniformly vain and shallow, and I grew tired of their obsession with appearances.
LINK to my full review
One Of Us Is Lying – Karen M McManus – 3.5***
Five students are together in detention when one of them died. Who did it? This was a twisty mystery and the students surprised me with their insight and tenacity in trying to clear their names. Of course, there is the usual teenage drama as well as issues of dysfunctional families, and racism. Surprisingly I didn’t think all this teen drama distracted from the central plot. I certainly was kept guessing and didn’t figure out the culprit until the author chose to reveal the truth.
LINK to my full review
The Color Purple – Alice Walker - 5***** and a ❤
Walker’s choice to write the book as a series of letters (or diary entries) really gives the reader the chance to hear Celie. There are moments of despair, of sorrow, and a very few of joy. Celie is an extraordinary woman and watching her grow from a scared girl to a confident, in-charge woman is fascinating and uplifting.
LINK to my full review
The Oracle of Stamboul – Michael David Lukas – 4****
This work of historical fiction takes us to 19th-century Stamboul, seat of the Ottoman Empire (now, Istanbul, Turkey). Eleanora Cohen, a child prodigy, becomes a trusted advisor to the Sultan. She’s intelligent and an astute observer, but she is only a child. Still, she will have to rely on her own gifts to make her way. On the whole, I found this novel atmospheric and enchanting.
LINK to my full review
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The Paris Novel
Ruth Reichl
4/5 stars
I love Ruth Reichl but I thought this was a non-fiction book. However, it was a fictional book about Stella who has inherited some money from her mother so she who heads off for Paris and has some wonderful adventures and meets some wonderful people. Highly recommended!
One Hundred Saturdays – Michael Frank – 4****
Subtitle: Stella Levi and the Search for a Lost World. This is a memoir as related by Stella to Michael Frank, of her childhood and youth in Rhodes, her interment at various concentration camps (including Auschwitz), her survival and triumph after moving to the United States. I’m so glad she told her story and that I read it.
LINK to my full review
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Friend of My Youth
Alice Munro
3/5 stars
A wonderful collection of ten short fictional stories written by Alice Munro who reaches into the soul of her characters and bring out the best and the worse of them.
A Study in Scarlet – Arthur Conan Doyle – 3***
This novella introduced the reading public to Sherlock Holmes and his trusty sidekick, Dr Watson. The case hinges on a dead body found in a locked room; although the corpse shows no signs of having been attacked, Holmes is convinced it was murder. I found it a slower read than today’s mystery novels. But I was interested in getting to know Holmes and Watson. We learn how Holmes came to his method of deduction and begin to see the fast friendship that will develop between these two men.
LINK to my full review
Four Seasons In Rome – Anthony Doerr – 4****
Subtitle: On Twins, Insomnia, and the Biggest Funeral in the History of the World. This is Doerr’s memoir of a year he spent as a fellow at the American Academy of Arts and Letters. The award came with a studio in which to write, an apartment, and a stipend. And, of course, the experience of a year in Rome. I was completely delighted by his recollections.
LINK to my full review
Everything, Everything – Nicola Yoon – 3.5***
This YA romance had some significant serious issues to discuss. I really liked Maddy, who’s intelligent and mostly serene. Olly is more complex and guarded, which is understandable given his family situation. Can love (even teenage love) conquer all? Yoon certainly makes a good case.
LINK to my full review
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The Swimming-Pool Library
Alan Hollinghurst
3/5 stars
This is a coming-of-age story before AIDS of a young man who is gay and the relationships he has with his lovers and friends. Well written but a little long! 1988.
China Dolls – Lisa See – 4****
This work of historical fiction begins in 1938, following three young women – Helen Fong, Grace Lee and Ruby Tom – through World War II and the period shortly thereafter. I really enjoyed this book. I was in vested in these young women and their aspirations, and really enjoyed the detail See included from costumes to scenery to social issues – these elements really took me back to this era and culture
LINK to my full review
Book Concierge wrote: "Four Seasons In Rome
– Anthony Doerr – 4****
..."
I have that on hold at the library. Doerr is from Idaho, a local celeb.
I have a copy of Cloud Cuckoo Land but haven't been in the mood to tackle it.
Just finished
I highly recommend it!
Nerve – Dick Francis – 3***
This mystery/thriller opens with a bang, as a jockey shoots “himself, loudly and messily, in the center of the parade ring…” Is someone sabotaging jockeys? Who? And Why? Francis crafts a compelling psychological mystery. Jockey Rob Finn is tenacious, determined and smart in the way he goes about ferreting out information to build the case against an unlikely perpetrator. I came late to the Dick Francis fan club, but I’m glad I finally arrived.
LINK to my full review
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Thornyhold
Mary Stewart
4/5 stars
Gilly Ramsey inherits a home from her cousin and Gellis, an herbalist and decides to live there. The neighbors call it the witch's house. Gilly who is shy and a loner and she opens up to a young boy and his father. A sweet story! Books Off My Neverending Reading List
Breathless Homicidal Slime Mutants: The Art of the Paperback by Steven Brower4 stars!
Not to be missed! A compressed history of the paperback book, tucked in among many, many reproductions of the jacket art that made mass-market paperbacks impossible to ignore on the newsstand or in the drugstore. A wonderful read.
Out Of the Dust – Karen Hesse – 5***** and a ❤
Hesse can say so much in so few words. This is an extraordinary work of fiction, written entirely in verse. It's an emotionally evocative story of growing up in the harshness of poverty and tragedy, set during the Oklahoma Dust Bowl of the Great Depression.
LINK to my full review
Good Night, Irene – Luis Alberto Urrea – 5*****
This book of historical fiction is based on the life experiences of Urrea’s mother, who served as a Red Cross “Donut Dolly” during World War II. I have read many books by Urrea, so I knew he could write, but I was almost speechless at the end of this book. Whatever you do, do NOT skip the author’s note at the end where he relates how it took him some twenty years to come to grips with and write this novel as a testament to his mother’s experiences. This is truly a love letter to his mother.
LINK to my full review
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Who Cooked the Last Supper: The Women's History of the World
Rosalind Miles
4/5 stars
Fascinating true stories of women's history! A great read!
Non-Fiction
The Last Man was an unbelievably wordy read. This makes the author's better-known novel, Frankenstein, seem like Hemingway in comparison. Only 200 or so pages but it took forever to get through. 2 stars.A Love to Die for moved much faster for me. It's a fairly brief treatment of the hideous, hideous "Job Corps murder" of Colleen Slemmer. I was unsatisfied with the depth of coverage but as far as it went it was a very good read. It never bogged down and left me wanting more. 4 stars.
The Jasmine Project – Meredith Ireland – 3***
This was a cute rom-com with the family engineering a sort of “Bachelorette” competition for Jasmine Yap’s affections. They identify three likely candidates and watch carefully to see which one she will pick. But the road to HEA is full of obstacles. I liked that Ireland showed real growth in Jasmine’s character.
LINK to my full review
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Give Me a Sign – Anna Sortino – 4****
Lilah and the other counselors at Camp Grey Wolf are in many ways typical teenagers. But, they must also navigate a hearing world as Deaf or hearing-impaired individuals. I really enjoyed this book. Sortino is Deaf and passionate about seeing diverse characters portrayed in the media. This is her debut novel.
LINK to my full review
Somebody's Mother, Somebody's Daughter: True Stories from Victims and Survivors of the Yorkshire Ripper, by Carol Ann Lee5 extra-large stars!
Absolutely not to be missed. Brings the many victims and survivors of the Yorkshire Ripper front and center, the place they always should have occupied in this hideous story. Gives us just a taste of who they were and what the world lost when they died or found their lives diminished after injuries and emotional trauma. Does not protect the police from the many wrongs they did these women and the public at large. This is the real story of the case.
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Morning Glory
LaVyrle Spencer
A young widow meets a man recently and invites him into her home and help raise her kids and work on her property. Will it work out or not? I enjoyed it! 1989
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My Mama, Cass: A Memoir
Owen Elliot-Kugell
4/5 stars
Wonderful biography of Cass Eliot by her daughter. Definitely for fans of The Mamas and the Papas!
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Shift Happens: The History of Labor in the United States
J. Albert Mann
4/5 stars
This was a fascinating book about the history of labor in the United States. It discusses exploitation of workers including child workers, miners who wanted to unionize, textile workers wanting wages that would cover their expenses and have left over money and organizing Uber drivers. Non-fiction
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White House Wild Child: How Alice Roosevelt Broke All the Rules and Won the Heart of America
Shelley Fraser Mickle
4/5 stars
Interesting biography of Alice Roosevelt, daughter of Teddy Roosevelt!
Instructions For Dancing – Nicola Yoon – 3***
Evie doesn’t believe in love anymore. Not after her dad left and her parents divorced. But then she finds her way to a dance studio and the next thing she knows, Evie is paired with a boy named X, learning to waltz, fox-trot and tango. This is a charming YA romance with a young couple who have multiple family issues they have to navigate.
LINK to my full review
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The Chris Farley Show: A Biography in Three Acts
Tom Farley Jr.
3.5/5 stars
This is the biography of Chris Farley who made it big on Saturday Night Live and in films. However, his addictions doomed him and he died early! Well written but sad! A Dozen Film And TV Books
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The Haunted Forest Tour
James A. Moore
3.5/5 stars
This is the story of the Haunted Forest Tour. Riders will be amazed at the creatures on this Halloween night. However, something goes terribly wrong with the tour which is supposed to be very safe but the creatures in the night will see that won't be true! I enjoyed this book! Horror Novel
The Hive and the Honey – Paul Yoon – 3***
I like this kind of literary fiction. This is a collection of short stories, all featuring Koreans. The settings and time frame vary, from Europe to Asia to North America, from the 19th century to contemporary times. What they have in common is the way in which Yoon depicts his characters.
LINK to my full review
Free Fire – C J Box – 3***
Book number seven in the mystery series featuring Wyoming Game Warden Joe Pickett. Gosh but I love Pickett. He’s an astute observer, keeps his cards close to the chest, doesn’t take unnecessary chances, but doesn’t hesitate to go into dangerous situations when it’s called for. There are some hidden agendas regarding ecoterrorism, deals cut with major bioengineering firms, and possible drug dealing. Can he sort it out and discover the “real” culprit before a natural disaster occurs to wipe out all evidence?
LINK to my full review
Yours Cheerfully – A J Pearce – 4****
This is book two about Emmeline Lake, a young woman who was introduced to readers in Pearce’s DEAR MRS BIRD. I was completely charmed by Emmy in the first book and really like to see her continued growth as a woman and journalist. As Emmy meets the women on the line in a munitions factory, she begins to identify the societal and industrial prejudices that women are suffering, and then to advocate for solutions.
LINK to my full review
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The World Is Yours: The Story of Scarface
Glenn Kenny
This is the story of the making of the film Scarface starring Al Pacino. This is a pretty detailed account of things that happened during the shooting of the film and some history and the legacy of the film. 3/5 stars A Dozen Film and TV Books
Dragon Actually – G A Aiken – 3***
Welcome to the world of handsome warrior dragons and the bloodthirsty females who love them. The plot is thin, but it was a fast read and somewhat entertaining, if repetitive. I have to say I most enjoyed the family interplay between Fearghus, his siblings and parents.
LINK to my full review
Book Concierge wrote: " Dragon Actually
– G A Aiken – 3***
Welcome to the world of handsome warrior dragons and the bloodthirsty females who love them. The plot is thin, but it was..."
I read Aiken/Laurenston mostly because of the characters and how they interact. They are so much fun I can read them again and be amused again. She's one of my go to authors after reading too many serious, depressing, or disappointing books.
The Queen of Sugar Hill – ReShonda Tate – 3.5***
Subtitle: A Novel of Hattie McDaniel. Tate’s novel begins with the Oscar ceremony when McDaniel won for best supporting actress for her portrayal of Mammy in GONE WITH THE WIND. But Hattie McDaniel was so much more than that iconic role, and Tate gives us all of her. Having read this book, I have a new appreciation for the trailblazing that McDaniel and other Black actors of her generation did.
LINK to my full review
The Tunnels – Michelle Gagnon – 3***
Book One in the mystery series starring FBI agent Kelly Jones. A serial killer is targeting women on a New England college campus. This is a brutal, graphic murder mystery, and Jones is a tough lady who is up to the task. The pace is fast, the lead character is likeable, and the storyline held my attention, but I’m not sure I’d bother to read another in the series.
LINK to my full review
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56: Joe DiMaggio and the Last Magic Number in Sports
Kostya Kennedy
3/5 stars
Interesting sports book on Joe DiMaggio and his winning streak in the summer of 1941. Sports
Paradise, by Koji Suzuki
4 stars
A charming tale of ancient lovers, separated after one of them unknowingly breaks a tribal taboo, and all they go through to find each other again. A genuinely epic story.
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You Never Know: A Memoir
Tom Selleck
4/5 stars
This is his second autobiography, that I have read on him and his writing is very good. He talks about his life and his career. This also covers his time on Magnum PI. I wonder if he will write another book since this does not cover Blue Bloods (my husband's favorite show). A Dozen Film and TV Books
Sincerely, Sicily – Tamika Burgess – 3***
Sicily Jordan has looked forward to middle school with her besties, and their coordinated outfits. But shortly before school starts, she learns that she will be enrolled in a newer school, and she’ll have to wear a uniform! I thought this was really delightful. Sicily’s troubles range from “new school” blues to bullying to navigating a first crush to family drama around her chosen hairstyle to racism. I like the way Burgess dealt with Sicily’s conflicts, as well as the way she portrayed the girl’s awakening to her family’s background and culture as Black Panamanians. I’m going to recommend this to a couple of middle-schoolers I know.
LINK to my full review
All Systems Red – Martha Wells – 4****
Book one in the Murderbot Diaries series. Our narrator is an AI-android who calls itself Murderbot (because of “that incident” in its past). I really love this Murderbot! Probably my favorite non-human since I “met” Rocky in Project Hail Mary. It is often self-deprecating in its humor, and I loved the occasionally snarky remark. This is one loveable rogue! And I enjoyed watching the friendship develop between Murderbot and the human Dr Mensah. I think I will have to continue the series.
LINK to my full review
Our Missing Hearts – Celeste Ng – 4****
This was uncomfortably plausible. Ng holds a magnifying glass to current and past events and predicts the likely dystopian outcome, especially if the silent majority remains silent and complacent when “it doesn’t affect US.” Bird is a wonderful character, and I loved the network of librarians who were used to thwart the “powers that be.”
LINK to my full review
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What Dreams May Come
Richard Matheson
4/5 stars
This the story of Chris and his wife Annie. When Chris is killed from an accident, he discovers that life hasn't ended but he is now in Heaven. Annie has lost all hope without her husband and he will try to stop her horror of despair. Horror
A Death In Door County – Annelise Ryan – 3***
First in a new series featuring Morgan Carter, bookstore owner and cryptozoologist. Several bodies are found washed up on the beaches of Washington Island in Lake Michigan, all bearing unusual injuries that look like bites from a giant, unknown animal. I loved the setting in Wisconsin’s Door County, and I loved Morgan’s dog, Newt. The plot stretched credulity and the solution to the mystery felt rushed as well as implausible. Still, a fast read and moderately enjoyable.
LINK to my full review
The Affairs of the Falcóns – Melissa Rivero – 4****
Ana Falcón, her husband Lucho, and their two children have fled the political turmoil of their native Peru for the chance at a better life in New York City. My heart broke for Ana and her family. There is a lot going on and they can never catch a break. The ending is jarring and unsettling and ambiguous. I desperately want to know what happens next!
LINK to my full review
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The Mosquito Bowl: A Game of Life and Death in World War II
Buzz Bissinger
4/5 stars
This is the story of a group of the All American football players who entered WWII and served in the Marine Corp. This is the story of those players and who survived and who died. I enjoyed this book. Non-Fiction
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The Madwoman and the Roomba: My Year of Domestic Mayhem
Sandra Tsing Loh
4/5 stars
This was a very delightful book about her family experiences and of her domestic mayhems. I have never heard of her before but she has written several books and I am looking forward to reading more of her. Biography
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The Door
Magda Szabó
4/5 stars
This is the story of two neighbors in communist Hungary. One is Magda a writer and the other is Emerence, a peasant/housekeeper who will not allow anyone to come into her house. Slowly, Magda becomes a friend to her when Emerence becomes ill but will their relationship last? 1987