75 Books...More or Less! discussion
Archive (2011 Completed)
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Alecia's 2011 challenge
Book #29, The Informant by Thomas Perry 2.5/5starsAs I keep reading Thomas Perry's books, there is a similarity to his main characters and writing style that I've begun to note. Although this book has a ruthless cold-blooded killer as a protagonist (along with a female Justice Department Official), there are similarities between The Butcher's Boy (this novel's main character) and his Jane Whitefield heroine. Although this Butcher's Boy is a cold-blooded, ruthless killer, his thought processes and actions are detailed much like Whitefield's in that series. I find myself getting lulled by Perry's very dry, detail-laden prose. I think what's missing in his novels is "juice",or some kind of passion in his characters or in the telling of his stories. I find them too dry, with too much mundane detail crammed into every inch of his character's thought processes. Another cold-blooded killer from Richard Stark, in his Parker series, has much the same premise. But Stark's prose is sparer, and therefore the stories move along at a much smoother and enjoyable pace, at least for me.
I liked the resolutions of this novel, but I found the reading somewhat tedious.
Book # 30 I Think I Love You by Allison Peirson 2.5/5 starsI liked the premise of I Think I Love You, but I found myself straining to finish it. Pierson describes the intensity of female adolescent obsession with teen idols very well. The idol in question in this book is David Cassidy. But I found the details and the story line to be a bit precious at times. And I thought the way the threads of the story line in Part Two were tied together were a little too pat for my taste. I like the real interview the author has with David Cassidy at the end of the book, when both author and Cassidy are older. It seems she was quite a fan of his when she was a teen, and this interview seemed to have inspired the writing of this book.
Book # 31 A Spy By Nature by Charles Cumming 3/5 starsThis is the 2nd novel I have read by Charles Cumming, and his first novel. I had read The Trinity Six (his latest) and enjoyed it. Although spy novels are not my "thing", I find Cumming's writing style very accessible and engaging. In A Spy by Nature, the plotting is not as good as his latest novel, so he has clearly evolved from then to now. But reading this shows me what a good writer he was and the raw material is there to turn him into the even better one he is today. I would read him again
Book # 32 The Fifth Witness by Michael Connelly 3/5 starsI have read all of Connelly's books and I like the Mickey Haller (Lincoln Lawyer) character. The Fifth Witness, however, seems to lack the suspense and twisting plot line that usually works so well for Connelly. Except for a twist at the end (that I saw coming), this novel is basically a court room drama, and a rather dry one at that. There is not enough outside the court room action going on to give it any spice. Although well-written, this was not among his better works.
Book # 33 A Drop of the Hard Stuff by Lawrence Block 3/5 starsI was so happy to see this new Matthew Scudder book, A Drop of the Hard Stuff. I do believe I've read the whole series, and Lawrence Block is one of my favorite writers in the mystery genre. In this one, Matthew is getting older (as am I!)and the novel opens with him sitting in a bar having a long late-night talk with his old friend, Mick Ballou (Matt, still sober after all these years, is drinking a club soda). They are discussing the path not taken in life, and Matt launches into a story about an old childhood friend from the Bronx, Jack Ellery. Ellery chose a criminal path, Scudder a life of policework. Jack and Matt meet up again years later in AA, and Matt spends most of the rest of this novel attending AA meetings, trying to stay sober (the story takes place when he approaching his 1st year of sobriety) and trying to solve Jack Ellery's murder. Since the story he is telling takes place about 30-40 years ago, Scudder solves crimes the old-fashioned way, with legwork and phone calls. It's vintage Scudder, and quite enjoyable. This novel is less action and much more philosophizing, with a lot of AA meetings and sobriety stories thrown in.
Book # 34 Faith: a novel by Jennifer Haigh 3/5 starsI like Jennifer Haigh a lot, and really liked her first novel, Mrs. Kimble. She is a very engaging writer, able to draw the reader in to tell whatever story she wants to tell. I did not think Faith: a novel was up to the standards of her other works. The story of a priest's disgrace and how it rips apart his family is a good premise. But the way the narrative is cross-cut was a little off-putting to me. And, although I was moved at the end, I didn't think the "meat" of the novel was enough to really thrill me as a reader. I do always enjoy reading her, though, and although not my favorite, this was still a worthy book.
Mod
Yes, it did get good reviews, and I always enjoy reading Jennifer Haigh. But, as I said, this one was not one of my favorites. I will enjoy hearing your feedback. I am currently reading Jean Thompson's book, The Year We Left Home, and so far I am very impressed with her writing. This, too got very good reviews.
Mod
This is my first time reading her also. But I had read good things about this new book and took it from the library. I'm so glad I did.
Book # 35 The Year We Left Home by Jean Thompson 4/5 starsI am very happy to have read Jean Thompson for tthe first time, as I will now want to read some of her previous novels. I really like her writing. She shows wisdom tempered with humor in the way she portrays this family through the years. The book follows several members of the Erikson family through the final decades of the twentieth century. The continuity of their lives is handled nicely, even when there are large gaps in the years in-between. Yes, it's been done before, but it's always a pleasure to read this kind of novel when it's done so well.
Book # 36 Townie by Andre Dubus III 3/5 starsMemoirs are generally not my "thing", but I loved the House of Sand and Fog and Townie was also highly recommended to me. This memoir of a hardscrabble, neglect-filled childhood is not that different from others I have read in the same vein. Only the details are changed. I did not find Dubus's writing in this as flowing as his fiction. The book is very heavily weighted on his relationship with his namesake/father Andre Dubus II. His father left his mother and four children to go off with another woman. The circumstances of his upbringing are very difficult, and Dubus II is pretty much an absentee father, busy with his own writing and other failed marriages producing yet two more children. There is poverty, street fighting, drugs, the rape of Andre's sister, and other traumas his family endures. I just didn't find this to rise above other memoirs, and sometimes I found the descriptions of all of Dubus III's fights repetitive and meandering. I was amazed and somewhat admiring of how his family mostly stayed together as a cohesive unit after all of their hardships and bad feelings. I had even more admiration for him and his siblings for going to college and pursuing worthy careers and expressing their creativity. In the end, this book seems to be an ode/love story to his father, an attempt to reconcile his conflicted feelings of love and abandonment.
Book # 37 Lights Out by Jason Starr 2/5 starsI usually like Jason Starr's kind of "trashy" (in a good way) noir tales. But I didn't think this one was up to his usual work. It especially lost me in the many chapters where he used colloquial English when the gang members are talking. Sometimes this works just fine, but in this case, it felt strained to me. I'll still be reading him in the future.
Book # 38 Hollywood Crows by Joseph Wambaugh 4/5 starsI have been reading Wambaugh's "Hollywood" police procedurals in no particular order. They are all very good reads, and this one is no exception. I am reminded of Ed McBain's police procedurals set with separate plot lines and recurring characters. McBain's series was set in a fictional city, and Wambaugh's in the very real Hollywood, also with recurring characters. The dialogue and characters are good, as are the separate plot lines, which sometimes turn very noirish. I like an author where I feel like I'm in "good hands". This is one of those authors.
Book # 39 The Jugger by Richard Stark 3/5 starsReading Richard Stark's Parker series is one of my favorite things to do, especially while on vacation. I've only got a few left, so I'm enjoying each one. The Jugger was a little different. There actually was no money to score for Parker. He's trying to save his other identity, Charles Willis, from being discovered and ruined. He's worked hard to maintain this cover name, and when it is threatened by incidents in this book, Parker needs to solve this problem. This entails some murders (some done by Parker)in order to get the job done. The ending is somewhat of a surprise, as the reader thinks everything is neatly tied up. I love the opening sentence to this book: " When the knock came at the door, Parker was just turning to the obituary page."
Book # 40 Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens 2/5 starsI won an advanced reader's edition of this book through goodreads. I was very happy as I had really liked Chevy Steven's pevious book, Still Missing, and had given it 4 stars. This book, however, is a different story. Stevens still uses a female narrator who again is in peril, and again has chapters where she "talks" to her shrink about what has transpired. I think Stevens tries to "seduce" the reader with her protagonist's likeability, but it didn't work on me.
Sara was adopted into a family that she never feels like she belongs in. She's also a single mother of a 6 year old and has a fiancee who conveniently has a job that keeps taking him away during her times of peril. Sara finally finds out who her birth mother is, and then finds out this birth mother was raped by the so-called "Campsite Killer". This serial killer is her birth father. The rest of the book is about this serial killer's contacting Sara, and her relations with the two police officers assigned to her case. I found it unconvincing and melodramatic.
Alecia wrote: "Book # 40 Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens 2/5 starsI won an advanced reader's edition of this book through goodreads. I was very happy as I had really liked Chevy Steven's pevious book, Still Mi..."
I entered the current giveaway for this book on a whim. I didn't really like her first book. Not that it was a bad book, just not my taste. Maybe this won't be either, but I figure if I win a copy I'll give it a chance before writing off the author for good. If not, I'm not going to lose sleep over it.
Book # 41 Hold This Pose by Karin SpirnThis is a self-published novel that the author is currently editing with the help of an agent.
Book # 42 The Spanish Game 3/5 stars by Charles CummingThis is a sequel to A Spy By Nature, and I think it is a helpful glimpse into the character of Alec Milius if that book is read first. Now Alec is a bitter expat (he's British) living in Madrid. What follows is a complicated, twisty plot that I found hard to comprehend (I usuallly find the plots in spy novels hard to follow). This one is based heavily on the Basque Separatist Movement. But, sometimes the twists are enough for me without fully comprehending the "why's" (I have always found this to be so in James Bond movies). Cumming is a very good, accessible writer. Alec's first person narrative draws the reader in, and his spying game seems to be an intuitive one. Sometimes Alec's paranoia is wrong, and sometimes he is spot-on. This keeps the reader on edge...when is he correct to be suspicious and when is he mistaken? I like this writer and I will read more.
Book # 43 the Green Eagle Score by Richard Stark 4/5 starsAs my list of the Parker series by Richard Stark narrows down to it's inevitable end, I savor each one that is left, one by one. This one is another enjoyable read. Parker does not do his usual string of bloodless murders in this novel. Usually there is a high body count in these books, but for some reason, in this one, not as much of that going on. The plot is fun, as Parker and the cohorts he gathers for this heist, are planning to rob a US airforce base. As usual, trouble comes from unanticipated sources.
Book # 44 A Drink Before The War by Dennis Lehane 2/5 starsI have thoroughly enjoyed Dennis Lehane's later work, including Mystic River and Moonlight Mile. This is his first novel introducing Patrick Kenzie and his partner/love interest, Angie. I think his writing has come a long way since this one. I found influences of Robert Parker's writing in this book (not a bad thing), but I think he was trying to find his own voice. That he did eventually find it is wonderful, and I look forward to reading his new novels as they come out.
Book # 45 The Tourist by Olen Steinhauer 2/5 starsThis was a dry read for me. It had a twisty plot that seemed twisty just for the sake of being so. I found the plot incomprehensible and the characters very one-dimensional. I wouldn't read Steinhauer again. Though I'm admittedly not spy novel fan, I have read books in this genre that I've liked better
Mod
Did you like it as well as his later novels? As I said in my review, I think he's come a long way. I agree with you, I just love him now!
Mod
Book # 46 The Rich Part of Life by Jim Korkoris 4/5 starsI had read Jim Korkoris's novel, In Pursuit of Other Interests earlier this year. I enjoyed it so much that when I was going on vacation, I looked for earlier paperback books he had written to bring with me. I found The Rich Part of Life, which is his first novel. I again laughed our loud while I was reading this one, just as I did in the previous one. Although it falters a bit with some of the characters, and it's a bit predictable, I found it a delightful story. It's told through the voice of Theo, an 11 year old boy. Theo's father is a distant, preoccupied professor who is obsessed with the Civil War. Theo and his younger brother Tommy (aka The Nose Picker) have recently lost their mother in a car accident, and the family is trying to recover from this loss. Theo's father wins the lottery, a big one of 190 million dollars. This sets the novel going and the money turns out to be a weighty character on it's own, presenting problems, and changing the family's life in a dramatic way. Korkoris is a very good writer, and I look forward to reading more of his work.
Book # 47 Long Gone by Alafair Burke 2/5 starsThis book was not for me. It had a multi-threaded plot, and the writing was pretty good, it just never really engaged me.
Book # 48 This Beautiful Life by Helen Schulman 3.5/5 starsI thought this was quite a powerful, rather short novel. I admit that I was torn between giving it 3 and 4 stars, and probably a rating of 3.5 would be more accurate as to how I felt. But I did find it a strong piece of writing, so I'm rounding it out to 4 stars.
Richard and Liz Bergamot are living a very nice life in Manhattan, after moving from Ithaca with their two children. Jake is 15 and Coco is 6. Both attend tony private schools. But when Jake recieves and forwards a sexually explicit video from a 13 year old girl, all hell breaks loose in their family's lives. This story is a bit of a train-wreck, a cross between Tom Wolfe and Tom Perrotta. It is a very topical and troubling story.
Book # 49 Northwest Corner by John Burnham Schwartz 3/5 starsI was a big fan of Reservation Road. This is a sequel to that book, set about 12 years after the tragedy that was the previous novel's centerpiece. I loved Reservation Road, and thought that the back and forth chapters worked well and served the tense, unutterably sad story line very well. The author uses that same techique in this book, but to less success. Although I still admire John Burnham Schwartz's writing, the story in Northwest Corner is much less compelling than Reservation Road. There is much less tension, and somehow the same characters all those years later are less interesting. I also found the plot a little unconvincing.
Book # 50 Exposure by Therese Fowler 4/5 starsI just finished reading this book on the heels of finishing This Beautiful Life, another new novel about "sexting". They are both very different, in writing and plotting. Actually, they are both very good novels. What I did find an interesting coincidence, is that both authors had each novel's main characters living at one time in Ithaca, NY, and remembering the lives they led there fondly. Exposure is told in a more "traditional" storytelling manner. This is my first time reading Therese Fowler, and I would try another book by her, as she is a very good writer. Her sensitivity to young love, her storytelling techniques, and her ability to draw the reader in make reading this book very worthwhile. I think this is basically a story of young love told in our current times, with the endless high-tech possiblilities and dangers that are now an unavoidable part of our lives.
Book # 51 The End of Everything by Megan Abbott 3.5/5 starsWhat a disturbing and thought-provoking book! I think I would actually give this a 3.5 rating for Megan Abbott's courage in tackling the difficult subject matters in this novel from the viewpoint of the 13 year old narrator, Lizzie. The subject matters touched on are pedophilia, incest, awakening sexuality and perceptions of family life. The mystery of the disappearance of Lizzie's best friend, Evie, opens the doors to other mysteries, providing a provocative telling of this story.
Alecia wrote: "Book # 51 The End of Everything by Megan Abbott 3.5/5 starsWhat a disturbing and thought-provoking book! I think I would actually give this a 3.5 rating for Megan Abbott's courage in tackling t..."
You're much kinder than I. I really loathed this one and was disgusted by the "awakening sexuality". I'm no prude but I thought the author went over the top in the details of a 13 yr old's sexual fantasies involving her friend's dad and her sexual encounters. This is one book I should have researched a bit before picking up. Based on the cover and description I thought I was picking up a light mystery, lol
It's interesting to read your thoughts, as I did find myself uncomfortable reading parts of this book. And although this is the first book I have read by this author, I think she is known for her noir mysteries. So it is understandable that you would think this was just a mystery, as did I.
Book # 52 The Astral by Kate Christensen 2.5/5 starsThe writing in this book is quite good, so giving it just 2 stars was difficult. I would actually give it 2.5 stars. The story, as told by it's narrator, Harry Quirk, just didn't grab me. It's not that it was not enjoyable reading, it's more that I couldn't understand the point of telling the story at all. Harry's marriage is crumbling, as his wife has unjustly accused him of having an affair with his best female friend. His two children are rather interesting characters, but the story itself seems to have been done before. While stories can be retold many times by different authors in different ways and still be worthy reading, this one just didn't have that extra touch to make it stand out. I did like how Kate Christensen wrote in a male voice, and found it quite convincing.
Book # 53 The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson 3/5 starsAlthough reluctant to read The Family Fang because I feared it might be too quirky for my taste, I am glad I did read it. The novel turned out to be very clever and touching, as well as quite quirky, indeed.
Camille and Caleb Fang are performance artists, and their live pieces (which they record) inspire mayhem, craziness, and sometimes terror. Their children are Annie (child A), and Buster (child B). This is really Annie and Buster's story, as they were brought up to be a part of these performance pieces, and their chaotic childhood has made their adult lives very tenuous and frail. Their childhood always came in a distant second place to their parent's desire to create "great art". There is both humor and pathos in this story, and the whole concept is quite interesting.
Book #54 Tigerlily's Orchids by Ruth Rendell 2.5/5 starsI have been reading Ruth Rendell's novels for well over 20 years, and was originally a fan.I would give this book a 2.5/5 rating because Rendell is such a good writer. But lately, I find her books somewhat tedious, and very light on the "mystery". And that would be OK, except there tend to be too many characters (at least in this book), and these characters usually have many flaws and obsessions which are referred to again and again as the story reverts back and forth. I found this a meandering tale, but I did like the idea of looking at all of the residents who reside in this particular building, and seeing what makes them tick. The building remains as a "main character" while the tenants keep moving in and out.
Book # 55 The Pack by Jason Starr 3/5 starsI have read a few books by Jason Starr, and will continue to read more. Some are better than others. Despite the fact that this one has a fantasy/werewolf theme (that is not my "thing"), this is one of his better novels. Starr always does a good job with the characterizations of his protagonists. They seem to always be flawed young men who hit some kind of downward spiral when the stories begin. This one is no different.
Simon Burns thinks he is on the fast track in his advertising agency job, where he is unceremoniously dumped when the novel begins. Since he and his wife are barely making ends meet with their Manhattan apartment and 3 year old son, Simon becomes a stay-at-home Dad for Jeremy, while his wife continues at her job. They make cutbacks, and Simons spends lots of time at the park, where he meets three other Dads and their children. As he feels welcomed by "the Pack", his life begins to really change. Aside from the ending,which I wasn't crazy about, I found this to be quite an enjoyable, readable book.
Book # 56 Galveston by Nic Pizzolatto 4/5 starsWhat a good read this was! The prose is terrific. Although this is definitely in the noir genre, it stands apart from others because of the really good , sometimes quite beautiful,writing. I was surprised this was a first novel, and I look forward to more from this author.
Book # 57 The Plunder Squad by Richard Stark 4/5 starsOnce again, reading a Parker novel is, for me, a guarantee of excellent, tight prose, a fantastic amoral "hero", and wonderful plotting. I love the way these books usually start, no wait, and take the reader right into the action. Here is the first sentence: " Hearing the click behind him, Parker threw his glass straight back over his right shoulder, and dove off his chair to the left." I also love Parker's disdain for small talk amongst his companions in crime, only doing so at a bare minimum because it is expected of him. This novel is a study in frustration, as one after another, Parker's heists do not work out. But, somehow, he retains his icy, determined demeanor throughout.
Book # 58 Bury Me Deep by Megan Abbott 4/5 starsMegan Abbott is a terrific writer, and I look forward to reading her other novels. It seems her novels are period noir pieces (except for her most recent, The End of Everything, which is set in the present day). Bury Me Deep is set in 1931, and is Abbott's reimagining of the true crime case of Winnie Ruth Judd, the "Trunk Murdress". In this novel, Winnie becomes Marion Seeley, a young woman abandoned in Phoenix by her doctor husband. He has drug addiction problems and has gone to Mexico. He is letting her fend for herself while she has a job at a medical clinic there. She is basically an innocent, who becomes friends with two other women, fast party-girls. They open up a whole new world to her with wild parties, drugs and alcohol. She falls hard for the married rogue, Joe Lanigan, and the story unfolds with wonderful, lyrical prose.
Book # 59 The Choiring of the Trees by Donald Harington 3/5 starsWell, this, as they say, is a very good "yarn". The story is a very detailed, sometimes a bit meandering, tale of Nail Chism, who in 1914 was convicted and sentenced to the electric chair ("ole sparky")for the rape of a 13 year old girl. The setting is the backwoods of the Ozarks, and there are many interesting cultural (and gastronimical) details that add to the texture of this story. The reader knows right from the beginning that Nail is innocent, and we strongly suspect who the actual rapist is. But the book has a very detailed and graphic account of Nail's time in the horrible prison, and those parts are quite gripping. The heroine in this book also has an interesting back story. For me, though, the book felt a little long, and I wasn't sure about the voice of the narrator, a rather peripheral character. But it's a good read, and the writing is sometimes quite lyrical.
Book # 60 Queenpin by Megan Abbott 4/5 starsThis is the third Megan Abbott book I've read, and all I can say is...keep 'em coming. Her period noir novels have a hard-boiled narration by a woman in a world usually populated by men. Women are usually the peripheral characters, but not in these books. Here the women are the stars of this down and dirty show, and the men are peripheral. The dialogue is snappy and the "broads" are tough. The young woman who is narrating this story is taken under the wing of Gloria Denton, a former showgirl (with apparently great "gams") who is her icy cold, cunning mob-connected mentor, introducing her to a world of casinos, racetracks, and lots of money. I loved the use of colors Abbott uses throughout the book describing the outfits these two women wear. Describing Gloria's closet of clothes "...rows of satiny luscious fabrics, from gauzy to thick brocade, eggshell to midnight blue. And next to this finery, she had a long row of stiff, tailored suits in pastels. These she wore to the races."
Book # 61 Dead Simple by Peter James 2.5/5 starsAlthough this was an "easy read" and doesn't particularly insult the reader's intelligence, it was still a rather predictable story. I bought this from a limited selection of books while away, and it passed the time and was bearable. It's about a stag night prank gone terribly wrong (the groom is buried alive as a "joke"...already they've lost me) and also major betrayals between the main characters. It does move right along, so for that reason, I'd give it a 2.5/5stars.
Book # 62 The Outfit by Richard Stark 4/5 starsParker takes on the mob, and, as always, it was a really good read.
Mod
Book # 63 The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff 3.5/5 starsI thought that this book was at times 4 stars and at times 3 stars. Therefore, a truer rating would be 3.5 stars. There are two "19th wife" stories being told in this book. The story in present day time is a sort of mystery, narrated by a young man who was kicked out of the fold when he was 14. The other story is set in the 19th century, and includes Brigham Young as a character. At times I was very engrossed, and at times I found the narration (mainly the 19th century narrators) somewhat tedious and wordy. Ebershoff uses the multi-narrator technique when telling his historical narrative. This sometimes caused some confusion, but was basically presented well. It also gave me a slightly disjointed feeling, moving back and forth between the parallel stories. But the subject of polygamy, and it's effects on spouses and family, is a fascinating one. The Morman faith is explored here also, as well as the effort to separate the general LDS faith from the "Firsts", or those who still practice polygamy.
Andrea wrote: "Alecia, I was thinking about you the other day! Lehane is going to be speaking at our local library in October. It the annual trustee's meeting. I tried to get a ticket and it sold out in a flash! ..."I would love to hear him speak. I really do like his writing, and always look forward to his next book. Better luck next time! Who knows, maybe someone won't be able to go and you can make it.
Book # 64 Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris 3.5/5 starsI hesitated between 3 and 4 stars as my rating for this one (I'd settle on 3.5, if possible). But because the first person plural works (for me) so well, I overlooked parts that became a little tedious. For instance, I had some trouble keeping up with all of the characters. Sometimes "Jim" and "Joe" ran into each other in my head, as did some of the female characters. But, overall, I thought about it quite a bit, and looked forward to reading it. Although it wasn't "funny" per se, the humour mixed with the pathos worked for me. I have worked in an office, and, for anyone who has, the dynamics, office politics, and different personalities presented in this novel should ring true. It is a little "Catch-22-ish", and that's a good thing. I thought Ferris's later novel, The Unnamed, was even more successful than this one.
Book #65 Out of Time by Michael Z. Lewin 3/5 starsI bought this book while in France in an English book store. I've never heard of this author, but it was quite a nicely written mystery. If I ever see any more books by Lewin, I'd give them a try.
75 Books...More or Less!
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Spy Novels are usually not my thing. But The Trinity Six was a very good read, and I would try another book by Charles Cumming. Sam Gaddis is a very smart "everyman" protagonist, who just happens to be an academic at UCL, a British University. He has written a book, a comparative study of Peter the Great and the current (fictional) Russian president. Sam is fluent in Russian, and turns into a very crafty, brave hero. The plotting and tension held my interest, and the characters had some depth.