WHAT ARE YOU READING AND WHY!! Showing 9,251-9,300 of 10,669

[Barbara]

I finished When She Was Good by Philip Roth. Lucy Nelson had a difficult childhood with a timid mother and an alcoholic father. Even so Lucy planned to attend college and worked hard to make it happen. Things were going okay until Lucy met young army vet Roy. Roy urged Lucy to "trust him" and she was soon pregnant and reluctantly married.
Having her own ambitions thwarted Lucy seemed determined to ruin Roy’s life as well. Their poisonous union makes up the bulk of the story.
The book isn’t fun to read. In the beginning I felt sorry for Lucy, seeing her as the unhappy victim of a raw deal. However Lucy became a repellent character. And Roy - though he "made his own bed" and got a bit of what he deserved - was a wimp, incapable of standing up to his controlling wife….until he did. This led to major drama in which Lucy evolved into a true sociopath.
Though it’s interesting to read about these characters and their horrid marriage I can’t recommend the book. Philip Roth’s later work is better.

[Barbara]

I finished The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston. From the late 1960’s to the 1980’s a serial killer stalked Florence, murdering couples and mutilating the female victims. Over the years, numerous men became suspects, many were jailed, and some were put on trial - but the killer (dubbed "the monster of Florence") has not yet been caught.
Douglas Preston, an American crime novelist, decided to write a non-fiction book about the monster in collaboration with Italian journalist Mario Spezi.
According to the authors there are probably many reasons the monster of Florence wasn’t caught. First, there was a lot of shoddy police work in which crime scenes weren’t secured. Second, there was an inept judicial system in which the major players cared more about advancing their careers than convicting the right person.
A fascinating part of the book depicts the harassment of Preston and Spezi by the police and the judiciary, perhaps in an attempt to stop the publication of this book - which casts officials in an unflattering light.
Preston and Spezi believe they know the identity of the monster and present a convincing case – but perhaps it’s too late for justice to prevail.
Good book.

[Fiona (Titch)]

Since I was last on here, I've read Tick Tock - James Patterson, My Soul to Take - Rachel Vincent and The Gift: A Christmas Miracle - Joanne Clancy. Now I can't decide between When God Was a Rabbit - Sarah Winman or Before I Go To Sleep - S.J. Watson.

[KOMET]

I'm thoroughly immersed in reading a highly fascinating book, "Grace and Power: The Private World of the Kennedy White House" by Sally Bedell Smith. Very well-researched and written, this book has deepened my fascination with President Kennedy and his Administration.

[Brian]

I'm reading Neil Gaiman's American Gods and Andrew Smith's100 Sideways Miles. American Gods because I'm a big fan of Gaiman's and it's one of the few I haven't read. I like the mix of realism and the fantastic and myth. 100 Miles Sideways because I read Winger and thought it was great, particularly the humor and characters. Very vivid.

[Barbara]

I finished The Cinderella Killer by Simon Brett. Charles Paris, actor and amateur sleuth, is cast in a pantomime of Cinderella in London. The star of the show is American actor Kenny Polizzi who headlined a smash TV comedy years before.
Rehearsals for the pantomime are difficult and the set seethes with jealousy and hard feelings. To add to the trouble, Kenny’s stalker and his estranged wife soon show up in London - as does his agent, who’s been known to enable Kenny’s alcohol and drug problems.
Soon enough cast members start to die and Charles has the bad luck to find the bodies. He decides to help the police by doing his own investigation of the crimes.
Charles' usual antics (drinking and neglecting his wife) are mildly amusing in this light mystery. The parts I liked best (and which made me laugh) were the snippets of critics' reviews of Charles' shows. Seems the poor guy hasn't done a good job yet. This is an okay mystery, a pleasant way to wile away a few hours.

[Fiona (Titch)]

Last night I finished Before I Go To Sleep - S.J. Watson and now I am reading The Trafficked - Lee Weeks.

[Barbara]

I finished Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami. Tsukuru Tazaki, 36, is moderately wealthy and designs railroad stations - a job he's wanted since childhood. But Tsukuru is lonely and can't see a happy future. Part of the problem is a trauma Tsukuru experienced as a teen. In high school Tsukuru was part of a close group of friends - 2 girls and 3 boys - that spent all their free time together. Soon after Tsukuru started college however, the group shut him out with no explanation.
The resulting depression almost killed Tsukuru. He recovered but avoided visiting his home town, rarely saw his family, and was afraid to trust people for fear of being hurt again.
At the urging of a woman he's dating, Tsukuru decides to confront his friends - one at a time- to discover what happened years ago. The story moves back and forth between the past and the present and we learn about Tsukuru's friends, college years, career, and so on.
Parts of the story seem like magical realism; Tsukuru has vivid erotic dreams about the girls in his teen group and a male college friend - and has difficulty separating these dreams from reality.
Tsukuru tracks down his old friends and gets an explanation for their behavior which helps him move on. However, the book is slow-moving and Tsukuru is too laid back a character for my taste. Tsukuru should have acted sooner to discover why his friends abandoned him and - when he got the explanation - his reaction should have been more dramatic.
Murikami does a good job with ambience and characters.
Not a bad book but not really my cup of tea. Fans of Murikami would probably enjoy the book more than I did.

[Barbara]

I finished The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman. Australian WWI vet Tom Sherbourne marries young Isabel and they move to the isolated island of Janus Rock where Tom is the lighthouse keeper. They have sporadic contact with the mainland via supply boats and occasional shore leaves.
A few years later, while Isabel is mourning after 3 miscarriages, a boat lights on the shore of Janus Island. It contains a dead man and a baby. Tom wants to report the incident, as required, but Isabel convinces him to keep mum. So Tom buries the man's body and the couple proceed to raise the baby, who they call Lucy, as their own.
A couple of years later Tom, Isabel, and Lucy vist the mainland. Isabel's parents are thrilled with their grandchild. During the visit, however, Tom and Isabel learn about the baby's parents. Hannah - a local resident - lost her husband Frank and infant two years before when Frank took the baby out on a boat and never returned. Hannah is almost insane from grief and is constantly searching for news about her missing family.
Tom, who has a guilty conscience, tells Isabel they must tell the truth. But Isabel, insisting that she's only concerned about Lucy's happiness, refuses. So the family returns to Janus Island.
Events take their course and the lie is eventually exposed with difficult consequences for all concerned.
Stedman does a wonderful job with descriptions and the characters are well-rounded, realistic, and compelling.
The story made me uncomfortable as stealing someone's child is an awful thing and I couldn't sympathize with Isabel's bogus rationalizations. For me the book was just okay: well written but too slow-moving, with a troubling story line.

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

I am currently reading this classic Anthony Trollope book. I just love his novels. So witty and biting. Hard to believe it was written over 150 years ago!!

[Howard]

Given I’m an author, as a rule I don’t publish reviews for fear my motives may be called into question, but I’m breaking my long-established protocol for this splendid little book by Lance Greenfield, I believe his first novel, entitled ELEVEN MILES.

This stylized biography is a true gem, and for many reasons:

The simplicity of the prose is deceiving, sucking you into the story of a young African girl with an ease that belies belief, and this effortlessly pushes the narrative forward, something as a writer I always strive to do.

The characters’ development, each diverse and compelling, not only holds your interest but also propels an ever-increasing forward motion, and this, given the over-all plot, is an excellent metaphor for the larger theme, a most striking literary device, which again is something I appreciate but rarely see, and so enjoyed very much in this book.

Yet the most compelling aspect of ELEVEN MILES for me was the universal nature of this personalized story, for the situations therein, expertly portrayed and completely unique to the setting, nevertheless flawlessly engendered concerns and emotions that are fundamental to the collective human condition regardless of time or location, and this brilliant aspect of the work is something I truly admire.

I cannot recommend this book more highly; it’s delightful.

Here's the link :

http://www.amazon.com/Eleven-Miles-La...

[Helena]

Howard,
Which African country is the setting. I'm currently in Ethiopia and was curious.

[Howard]

Helena, the setting is Botswana.

Enjoy your African trip; I did with this book.

[KOMET]

Speaking of the Africa theme, I strongly recommend the novel "Sakkara" by Noel Barber, who IMHO, is deserving of a wider audience. (The man can WRITE.)

The setting of the novel is in Egypt between the years 1919 and 1952. Amid a changing, evolving society, 2 people - one English and the other Egyptian - meet and defying the odds and obstacles set against them, find love, though not without peril and tragedy.

[Barbara]

Howard wrote: "Given I’m an author, as a rule I don’t publish reviews for fear my motives may be called into question, but I’m breaking my long-established protocol for this splendid little book by Lance Greenfie..."

Looks like an inspiring story.

[Barbara]

I finished The Bone Orchard by Paul Doiron. Sgt. Kathy Frost and her partner, Maine game wardens, are forced to shoot a disfigured Gulf War veteran, Jimmy Gammon, in self-defense. However, Jimmy's family and friends, as well as other veterans are infuriated and a few days later Kathy is shot and wounded. Mike Bowditch - an ex-game warden who was visiting Kathy - was on the spot and was also injured. Mike - who quit being a warden because of friction with a commanding officer - feels compelled to look into the case.
Mike - who is now a hunting/fishing guide - has a lot of time on his hands which he uses to hang out, visit people, and talk a lot. To me it seemed like many scenes were extraneous to the story and slowed down the action.
There are plenty of suspects for Mike to consider and he keeps on and solves the case - but the solution seems out of left field and isn't quite satisfying.
This was the first book I've read in the series and I think perhaps previous ones were better. This one was just too meandering.

[Fiona (Titch)]

I have read The Trafficked - Lee Weeks. Which I found really good and took me a while to read but enjoyable writing lol. I have since started and gave up on Slaughterhouse-Five - Kurt Vonnegut. Which I never thought of as a book. I've also listened to The Paper Magician - Charlie N. Holmberg. I am now reading Fall of Night - Rachel Caine and 13:24: A Story of Faith and Obsession - M. Dolon Hickmon.

[Barbara]

I finished Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See. The story revolves around Lily and Snow Flower, two girls in rural China who become laogong (official best friends). The girls have their feet bound on the same day (a horrifying ordeal), visit on occasion, and frequently write each other in a language called Nu Shu or women's writing.
In time the girls marry, have children, and face the challenges of being a woman in 19th century China. Wives' jobs were to have sons and that was all they were good for.
Secrets in Snow Flower's life challenge the friendship but the girls' maintain their bond. Eventually Lily makes a fortunate marriage while Snow Flower marries into a low family. Lily produces 2 strong sons while Snow Flower endures difficult pregnancies - and when she finally has a son - he is a weakling. In time both women produce more children and plan for their daughters to be laogong.
As Snow Flower's difficulties come to weigh heavily on her Lily is constantly counseling her friend to behave correctly, be a good wife, obey her husband, placate her mother-in-law, and continue to get pregnant. Events conspire to produce a crisis between the friends where their true feelings are dramatically exposed.
It was interesting to read about the Chinese culture of the time but the book is slow and the characters aren't likable. I was also reminded that the devaluation of women continues in China today - where female infants are often discarded. This ensures that many men can't find women to marry. One would think - with the one child policy - the Chinese gov't would have seen this coming.
For those interested in learning about 19th century China I'd recommend reading a non-fiction book and skipping this one.

[[deleted user]]

@rick, I thought I was the only one that did that! I'm currently reading Spirit Bound, and will be following it up with Last Sacrifice.

Also, my Christmas books came in! Attachments by Rainbow Rowell, Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi, and City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare :D

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Gabriela wrote: "@rick, I thought I was the only one that did that! I'm currently reading Spirit Bound, and will be following it up with Last Sacrifice.

Also, my Christmas books came in! Attachments by Rainbow Ro..."

I love "journeying" from one book to another..espeically when they have been written over 100 years apart!

Currently reading

[Fiona (Titch)]

I finished and loved Fall of Night - Rachel Caine. Her books are marvellous, shame Daylighters is her final book of this series. But that is what I will read next on Kindle 1. I gave up on 13:24: A Story of Faith and Obsession - M. Dolon Hickmon due to the Child Abuse I was reading in the story. I couldn't cope with the storyline as it was, so I said so (that was from Netgalley). So I will put Follow The Leader - Mel Sherratt on Kindle 2 to read afterwards.

[Barbara]

I finished Dick Francis's Damage by Felix Francis. Someone wants to disrupt British horseracing. Mandatory testing after a big race reveals that many horses - from stables across the UK - have been tainted with an illegal substance. Soon the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) receives a message - pay 5 million pounds or horseracing will be brought to its knees.
Jeff Hinkley, undercover investigator for the BHA, is tasked with investigating and stopping the extortionist. Jeff takes steps to stop the attacks but the horse doper finds other ways to disrupt big races. Jeff and some BHA members want to inform the police but others fear the publicity will ruin horseracing.
During all this Jeff is also contending with personal issues: his sister has cancer, he's a little tired of his girlfriend, and his step-nephew has been accused of selling drugs.
Like his father (Dick Francis), Felix Francis sprinkles the story with interesting tidbits about horsetracks, racing, trainers, jockeys, betting, and the people who govern the sport. I enjoyed the story and Jeff Hinkley is an engaging character - clever and a master of disguise.
The resolution of the story is somewhat predictable and unsatisfying but it's still an enjoyable book, recommended for mystery lovers.

[KOMET]

Yesterday, I finished reading "A Desire Path" by Jan Shapin.



It's a rare gem of a novel. It offers an intriguing blend of political beliefs and personalities from the perspectives of 3 ordinary people whose lives paralleled the labor union movement of the New Deal Era, the “Red Scare” period of the late 1940s and early 1950s, and on to the Civil Rights Movement and the tumultuous 1960s.

The novel begins in Washington in 1934 with 3 people chatting excitedly over dinner in the Tollman house. There is Andy Craige, a labor organizer from Arkansas, who worked for the United Mine Workers; Anna Mae Sloan, a journalist and writer with strong leftist convictions, whose political consciousness began in the 1910s and were heightened during the decade she spent in the Soviet Union. While not a Communist, Anna Mae saw her role as extolling the virtues of the Soviet system, though she wasn’t blind to its shortcomings. And there is Ilse Tollman, who hails from an affluent background in New England and is married to a lawyer making a name for himself in the Roosevelt Administration while representing labor interests in private practice. Andy had previously known Anna Mae (who liked to feel that she could charm the socks off of any man she fancied and get her way with others in furtherance of her career) and wasn’t exactly thrilled to see that she was there. The last thing he wanted to do was “talk to Anna Mae, from whom he had parted on not very good terms some dozen years before. But he did want to meet this Ilse Tollman, whose name rang a bell, and when he voiced that thought they all had a good laugh --- tollman, rang-a-bell.”

This meeting between Andy and Ilse would prove to be pivotal in shaping the course of both of their lives. For what began there as a budding, mutual attraction developed into a fiery, passionate love affair. What I liked most about this novel was the way it was fairly evenly told through the eyes of Andy, Anna Mae, and Ilse. As a reader, I got a tangible sense and deep appreciation of the 3 of them as individuals because of the challenges they faced over time for their political convictions and life choices. This is no polemical tale which makes some novels heavily layered with political ideology and belief a bit hard to ingest and enjoy. Here is a novel about real people who want to make something meaningful of their lives through involvement in larger political movements that defined the eras through which they lived, loved, and struggled to survive and thrive.

“A Desire Path” is illustrative of the dynamics associated with the “human triangle” and what is perhaps its inherent stresses. This makes for a richly engaging novel.

[Fiona (Titch)]

Early hours this morning, I finished Follow The Leader - Mel Sherratt, which I found really enthralling. I've also read and finished Daylighters & Fall of Night - Rachel Caine which I absolutely adored, but unfortunately it was the last 2 books in the series, 13:24: A Story of Faith and Obsession - M. Dolon Hickmon, I disliked the book for the extra part which was to do with child abuse. Now I am going to read The Woman In Black - Kerry Wilkinson.

[Michael]

Just finished "The Burning Room" Harry Bosch is in the LAPD Open-Unsolved unit and works on the case of a killing of a mariachi musician.

Love these suspenseful stories by Michael Connelly.

[Barbara]

I finished Sycamore Row by John Grisham. Seth Hubbard of Clanton, Mississippi - suffering from cancer - commits suicide. First, however, Seth writes a handwritten will that cuts out his family and leaves his estate to his black housekeeper, Lettie Lang. In a letter mailed just before he died, Seth asks attorney Jake Brigance to fight to the death to preserve this new will - which he expects will be contested by his his son Herschel and daughter Ramona.
This starts a legal circus and the fight over the will makes up the crux of the story. All sides decide to have a jury trial to determine if the handwritten will is legal and binding - that is, if Seth was of sound mind when he prepared the will and not unduly influenced by Lettie. One of the Hubbard family lawyers unearths information about Lettie's past and about Seth that he thinks will derail Lettie's claim. There's plenty of suspense leading up to the revelation of this information at the trial.
The courtroom scenes are interesting (if a bit slow)and the characters are well-written, compelling, and realistic.
A big question in everyone's mind (both the characters and the reader) is 'why did Seth do this'? Eventually, this question does seem to be answered. Still, I kept thinking 'Seth could just have given Lettie the money before he committed suicide and saved everyone a lot of bother.' Why he didn't do this is never satisfactorally answered (for me, anyway).
Overall, this is an enjoyable and informative legal thriller.

[Barbara]

Michael wrote: "Just finished "The Burning Room" Harry Bosch is in the LAPD Open-Unsolved unit and works on the case of a killing of a mariachi musician.

Love these suspensefu..."

I'm also a big fan of Michael Connelly

[KOMET]

Two days ago, I began reading "Zen Attitude" --- a thriller set in late 1990s Japan - by Sujata Massey. Really enjoying reading this novel. It's shaping up to be one of the best I've read so far this year.



Sujata Massey

[Carly]

Accordion Crimes - reading with Jeff (husband). We've read it before.

It's a good story.

[Barbara]

I finished Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty. Three mothers bond on kindergarten orientation day at Pirriwee Public School in Australia. The three moms central to the story are: Madeleine, a fashonista who's mother to kindergartner Chloe and teenager Abigail; Jane, a troubled single mother of kindergartner Ziggy; and Celeste, a gorgeous married woman with twin kindergartners, Josh and Max.
The drama begins when the moms pick up their kindergartners from orientation and Amabella - daughter of uptight mom Renata - says Ziggy hurt her. Ziggy denies this and refuses to apologize. Eventually this and other incidents lead to a petition requesting Ziggy's suspension. Feisty Madeleine is incensed, Celeste is sympathetic, and Jane is worried - could Ziggy really be a bully?.
Meanwhile, we learn that Ziggy was conceived from a disastrous one-night stand; that Celeste is in an abusive marriage; and that Madeleine is furious with her ex-husband and having problems with her daughter. All this leads up to a tragic occurrence at 'Trivia Night', a school fundraiser.
The story jumps back and forth between trivia night and the events leading up to it using narrative storytelling as well as snippets of conversation and inteviews. Liane Moriarity builds the suspense as we get closer and closer to trivia night, where all the elements of the story come together to cause the tragedy.
The book - which has many interesting characters - grabs and holds your attention, has the right amounts of drama and humor, and has a believable and satisfying climax.
Good book, highly recommended.

[Brick]

I'm currently reading Roadmarks. This is the first time I've read Zelanzy and already dig his writing! Much like what I love to read, the story is quite bizarre.

[Barbara]

I finished The Good, the Bad, and the Emus by Donna Andrews. Meg Lanslow gets pulled into a murder inquiry when she sets out to learn about her unknown grandmother. Granny Cordelia, an unwed mom, gave up Meg's dad for adoption and walked away. Now Meg's grandpa has hired a detective to find Cordelia. Assisting with the search Meg meets Cordelia's sister Annabel, who says Cordelia was killed in a generator explosion that she believes was murder. Annabel convinces Meg to investigate.
It also happens that Annabel and Cordelia were involved in trying to rescue a flock of emus released from a failed farm. Meg gets her grandfather, Dr. Montgomery Blake - a wildlife enthusiast - interested in the project and he soon arrives with a small army of helpers. The emu rescuers and Meg's family all camp out on Annabel's property. The do-gooders plan to round up the emus for a sanctuary while Meg plans to look into Cordelia's death. All this creates a humorous madhouse atmosphere.
Soon enough a mysterious flagon of scotch and box of chocolates - both laced with deadly poison - make an appearance, apparently targeting Dr. Blake and Annabel. This adds to the mayhem.
Much of the hectic goings on in the book are extraneous to the central mystery - which is eventually solved in a believable enough fashion. A fun light mystery to spend a few hours with.

[Fiona (Titch)]

I've listened to No-One Ever Has Sex On A Tuesday - Tracy Bloom.

[Barbara]

I finished Mrs. Queen Takes the Train by William Kuhn. Queen Elizabeth is feeling depressed when she visits her London stables on a blustery day. Rebecca, who tends the horses, lends the sovereign her hoody jacket and the unrecognizable Queen takes off for Scotland to visit her beloved Britannia - the former royal yacht that's now a tourist attraction.
The royal staff makes frantic plans to catch up with the Queen and return her to Buckingham Palace. Though this is a work of fiction the feelings attributed to the Queen ring true. She is reeling from her children's divorces and is bewildered by the public's hostility to her following Princess Diana's death. Computers, twitter, and facebook also puzzle the Queen. In short, the world is changing and the Queen can't keep up.
The book contains both drama and humor. We learn about the background of each of the royal staff, including war experiences, homosexuality, financial worries, personal problems, etc. But the Queen's 'escape' has fun aspects as well. At different times the Queen is mistaken for a cleaning lady, a drinker, and a homeless person.
The author did his research and the scenes in the palace - as well as the thoughts and feelings attributed to the Queen - seem real. From the Queen's point of view her life isn't much fun; her royal duties require her to constantly attend functions she doesn't enjoy and make small talk with people who aren't interesting.
I thought the story was engaging but it moved too slowly. Several times I felt bored and thought about abandoning the book but I kept going - and I'm glad I did. I think I have a little more insight into the Queen's life now.

[Peggy]

Michael wrote: "Just finished "The Burning Room" Harry Bosch is in the LAPD Open-Unsolved unit and works on the case of a killing of a mariachi musician.

Love these suspensefu..."
I'm with you! I also just finished this book and loved it. Connelly does such a great job weaving in bits of L.A.'s history along with the mystery.

[Alex]

I have just read The 21 Day Debt Revolution, by Jonathan Alexander Scott. It was only $2.99 on Kindle and is a really easy to read book. It gives the reader a 21 day plan to help turn their life around from being reliant on debt to living a debt free lifestyle. I am going to follow this plan and completely change my life!

If you're interested, the link is here: http://bit.ly/JASct21Dy

[Barbara]

I'm reading The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters because I read some positive reviews. It's a disturbing story.

[KOMET]

I'm now in the midst of reading "Mystical Paths" by Susan Howatch. It is the 5th novel in 'The Starbridge Series', which I've greatly enjoyed reading over the past 10 years. (The setting is Britain in 1968. A time in which the Church of England -- along with much of the society -- is in flux. Family dynamics and psychological conflicts are played out among a variety of fascinating characters, not least Nicholas Darrow, a man with psychic powers soon to be a priest in the Church of England.)

[Judith]

I am reading Hotel Florida by Amanda Vaill. It is a non-fiction work people who sheltered in the Madrid hotel during the Spanish Civil War and the politics surrounding their actions. Among the characters are (of course) Ernest Hemmingway, Martha Gelhorn and Robert Capa.

[Barbara]

I finished The Reckoning by Rennie Airth. Retiree Oswald Gibson is shot in Sussex, England while he's fishing. The killing is similar to the recent murder of an elderly doctor in Scotland. Investigation reveals that before his death Oswald wrote - but didn't send - a letter inquring about John Madden, a former Scotland Yard detective. As more old men are killed DI Styles of Scotland Yard asks retired John Madden to help with the investigation.
It's discovered that 30 years before, during WWI, all the dead men were soldiers and served in the same region of France as did John Madden - though Madden has no memory of the victims. It turns out that all the men were involved in the same unfortunate army incident. Styles and his team try to learn more about the the occurrence but the records are sealed.
The detectives question acquaintances of the victims and gather clues that explain the killing rampage. The murderer, though, is adept at concealing identity and is difficult to catch. This leads to an engaging game of cat and mouse between Scotland Yard and the murderer.
Eventually all is revealed and the killer is cornered. The story brings home the horror of war and the suffering caused by PTSD, which was unrecognized during WWI. The characters in the story are well-rounded and the story held my attention. Plus, it was good to see one of the early (fictional) female detectives hold her own at Scotland Yard.

[Barbara]

I finished The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters. Formerly well-off Frances Wray and her mother are having financial troubles in post-WWI London. To conserve money they let the help go and 26-year-old Frances does the cooking and cleaning. Not the life she desired.
To help pay bills the Wrays rent part of their house to paying guests, Leonard and Lillian Barber - an upwardly mobile twenty-something couple. Living in the same house, Frances and Lillian become friendly, with chats and walks and picnics. Eventually Lllian takes Frances to a relative's birthday party - where there's drinking, dancing, and flirting. Leonard also seems to like Frances, and hangs around to talk to her whenever he can. Proximity and attraction lead to a relationship that ultimately results in a terrible accident, a police investigation, and a trial.
The author is adept at depicting emotions and the characters feelings seem authentic. That said, I didn't like many of the characters. Frances is pushy and selfish, Lillian is manipulative and obtuse, and Leonard is a bully and a lech.
To me the story was disturbing but this is a good book that's well-written and worth reading. Plus it contains subject matter that's good fodder for book clubs.

[Judith]

Just ordered The Paying Guest from the library.

[Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews]

I just finished reading THE POCKET WIFE by Susan Crawford.

A psychological thriller with exquisitely descriptive writing. I enjoyed the book.

Have you read it yet?

Review will be on my blog on March 17.

http://silversolara.blogspot.com

Giveaway going on at my blog for Valentine's Day if you want to stop by.

http://silversolara.blogspot.com/2015...

Hope you can stop by for the fun.

[Terrence]

I am finishing up Mastery by Robert Greene. I have read all of the previous editions and this one is just as good as was 48 Laws of Power.

[Trakena]

I'm currently reading My Soul To Take by Rachel Vincent. It's a YA where a girl can see and predict who's going to die next. I'm right at the beginning, so I'm not sure what it will be like yet.

[KOMET]

I'm thoroughly enjoying reading "Lucky Break" by Esther Freud. It's set in the UK in the early 1990s and follows the budding careers of a number of aspiring drama students at the School of Drama Arts. What's more: the story arc traces the lives of these people over the next decade as they struggle to establish their careers and have meaningful personal relationships in "a world of ruthless ambition, uncertain alliances and the many-sided holy grail of Success."

I'm fascinated by the lives of people who devote themselves to careers in the arts (not an easy thing to do).

[Barbara]

I finished Fin & Lady: A Novel by Cathleen Schine. In the early 1960s, 24-old Lady Hadley takes over the care of her half-brother Fin Hadley when he's orphaned at 11. Lady is a free spirit due to a generous trust fund.
Lady and Fin soon move to Greenwich Village where Fin is exposed to Lady's eccentric lifestyle, which includes several boyfriends and lots of partying. Fin also becomes an advocate of Lady's political views. This is the era of the Viet Nam War and of the assassinations of JFK, Robert Kennedy, and Martin Luther King - and there's plenty to protest about. Fin accompanies Lady to rallies and marches and considers it all fun.
During all this Lady is looking for love/someone to marry, but has little luck.
The book doesn't have a plot as such. Instead it's a character study of Lady, Fin, their black housekeeper Mabel, and their friends. The closest relationship in the story, though, is between Lady and Fin - who have a tight, loving bond.
Lady's whims eventually result in a summer in Capri, which sets up a big change in everyone's life.
The story was slow in places but overall it was an okay book with some interesting characters.

[Shelley]

I was interested to see the Japanese book referred to above, because I'm just rereading Shogun, which is actually better than I remember it, although in retrospect I wonder how Richard Chamberlain felt about playing a character who becomes enraged at being thought gay.

And I'm about to reread Thorn Birds, in honor of the author who was given such an insulting obit in Australia.

Neither one great literature, but both admirable books.

Shelley
http://dustbowlstory.wordpress.com

[Barbara]

Shelley wrote: "I was interested to see the Japanese book referred to above, because I'm just rereading Shogun, which is actually better than I remember it, although in retrospect I wonder how Richard Chamberlain ..."

I read Shogun a while back and thought it was very good. It's interesting to get a look at a culture so different from ours.

[Barbara]

I finished Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography by Neil Patrick Harris. The book takes us from Harris's childhood with a loving family in New Mexico to his current success in show business.
Harris started his acting career at a young age. He also developed an interest in magic, and there are some nifty card tricks in the book. Harris has had much success in his career. In addition to two TV series ('Doogie Howser, M.D'. and 'How I Met Your Mother'), he starred in stage productions, did guest spots on TV series, starred in TV movies, was in big-screen films, hosted award shows, etc.
Harris never seems arrogant but rather comes across as a talented, hard-working guy who's had good luck.
One of the most detailed stories in the book is about Harris's starring role in the Broadway production of "Hedwig and the Angry Inch." He also describes how he and the writers prepared musical numbers when he hosted award shows like the Tony Awards and the Oscars - a feat that was very creative and entertaining.
Harris talks openly about being gay and his tale about meeting the love of his life - actor/writer David Burtka - is engaging, as is the story of their becoming parents to two children.
The book isn't a text on how to succeed in show business but rather an overview of Harris's life and career. The 'alternate autobiographies' (fictional) are humorous, though some are gritty and end badly. Overall, I liked the book. Neil Patrick Harris fans will probably enjoy it.