Who Could That Be At This Hour? by Lemony Snicket - this is the beginning of a new series of children's books. I really enjoyed A Series of Unfortunate Events and this time instead of being the narrator, Lemony is the main character. This series is subtitled All the Wrong Questions and ends with a question cliffhanger. I'm looking forward to reading the next one.
3 stars
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The Beast by Faye Kellerman - this book annoyed me right away by throwing me in a scene that really had no bearing on the book. And you had to have read her previous book to know what was going on. So that causes it to lose one star. Anyway, an elderly, very wealthy recluse is found dead in his apartment along with his very much alive tiger. The mystery part of the story really kept me going and I was surprised at the end. But there was too much side story that had nothing to do with the mystery.
3 stars
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Chanel Bonfire by Wendy Lawless - a memoir of the authors childhood with a mother who was probably narcissistic and definitely an alcoholic. And suicidal. I don't know why books like this fascinate me so much, I always read them with a sense of horror. Maybe because they're the polar opposite of my childhood. I really liked the author's style, it keeps you reading. Some language.
4 stars
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The Light in the Ruins by Chris Bohjalian - I loved the way this book flowed. It alternates between 1943 and 1955 in Italy. During the war an Italian family loses their villa and several members of their family. And in 1955 someone starts killing the remaining members. It's not really a mystery in the typical sense, but the story of the family and then one of the police officers in particular. Really had me going and I had no idea who the killer was. Totally surprised.
5 stars
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Sunday, August 11, 2013
August 4-10, 2013
Room No. 10 by Ake Edwardson - I was irritated to find that this is the latest book in a series that I've missed. I feel I missed some back story because of that. I didn't find the characters sympathetic, but the mystery really kept me going. Crimes committed almost 20 years apart have the common point of a room in a run down hotel. Rather dark as seems to be the case in most Swedish books.
4 stars
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Death Angel by Linda Fairstein - another author that seems to be phoning it in, this is the 15th in the series. I don't know why I keep reading them other than my ocd need to read everything in a series. I don't really like the main character, I think she thinks too highly of herself. What was interesting about this book was the history of Central Park and because of that it got
3 stars
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Misterioso by Arne Dahl - another dark Swedish mystery. If I were to go strictly by the mystery books I've read set in Sweden I would think them not a very happy people. A serial killer is killing the rich and powerful and a new agency is set up to investigate. A pretty good police procedural. This was written in 1999, but not translated until 2011. The first in a series. Sex but seems to be thrown in because it's expected. Rather clinical.
4 stars
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The Universe Versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extence - A 10 yo boy is hit in the head by a meteorite. He's already "different" and this makes him more so. He meets an elderly man and life takes an even more interesting turn. I love the way this author writes. I found it funny, sad and interesting even though I don't agree with his thoughts on God and life after death. And now I might read some Kurt Vonnegut. Language and marijuana use, also another issue that could be a deal-breaker for some. Pm me if you want to know a spoiler before reading. I read this in one sitting.
5 stars
4 stars
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Death Angel by Linda Fairstein - another author that seems to be phoning it in, this is the 15th in the series. I don't know why I keep reading them other than my ocd need to read everything in a series. I don't really like the main character, I think she thinks too highly of herself. What was interesting about this book was the history of Central Park and because of that it got
3 stars
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Misterioso by Arne Dahl - another dark Swedish mystery. If I were to go strictly by the mystery books I've read set in Sweden I would think them not a very happy people. A serial killer is killing the rich and powerful and a new agency is set up to investigate. A pretty good police procedural. This was written in 1999, but not translated until 2011. The first in a series. Sex but seems to be thrown in because it's expected. Rather clinical.
4 stars
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Universe Versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extence - A 10 yo boy is hit in the head by a meteorite. He's already "different" and this makes him more so. He meets an elderly man and life takes an even more interesting turn. I love the way this author writes. I found it funny, sad and interesting even though I don't agree with his thoughts on God and life after death. And now I might read some Kurt Vonnegut. Language and marijuana use, also another issue that could be a deal-breaker for some. Pm me if you want to know a spoiler before reading. I read this in one sitting.
5 stars
Saturday, August 3, 2013
July 28-Aug 3, 2013
The Missing File by D.A. Mishani - I really thought I was going to like this book set in Israel by a first-time Israeli author. The story of a missing boy is told from two viewpoints, one the dispirited police detective investigating the case. And I did like it, right up until the end where it is not resolved and says to be continued. And I never did understand the title - I don't know if that was a translation issue or not. So it was 4 stars until the end.
2 stars
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Winger by Andrew Smith - a young adult book that is funny, touching and disturbing. Winger is the nickname of a 14 yo boy in boarding school who is very smart so he's two grades ahead of his peers. I guess it's a typical coming of age story but I loved the writing. Language, thoughts of sex, innuendo and sex jokes. Probably fairly true to life, especially considering the setting. Loved it but couldn't quite give it 5 stars.
4.5 stars
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Call the Midwife:Farewell to the East End by Jennifer Worth - the last of the books the tv series Call the Midwife is based on. This was the most graphic of the books but it's all told in a very matter of fact way. I thought this was better than the second book, not as many history lessons and more stories of the people she lived and worked with. There is also a nice wrap up of what happened to her colleagues.
3 stars
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Slouching Toward Adulthood: Observations From the Not-So-Empty Nest by Sally Koslow - I read a fiction book by this author and thought I would enjoy her observations on the adult child at home. She calls them adultescents and has lots of statistics to back up her thoughts.
3 stars
2 stars
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Winger by Andrew Smith - a young adult book that is funny, touching and disturbing. Winger is the nickname of a 14 yo boy in boarding school who is very smart so he's two grades ahead of his peers. I guess it's a typical coming of age story but I loved the writing. Language, thoughts of sex, innuendo and sex jokes. Probably fairly true to life, especially considering the setting. Loved it but couldn't quite give it 5 stars.
4.5 stars
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Call the Midwife:Farewell to the East End by Jennifer Worth - the last of the books the tv series Call the Midwife is based on. This was the most graphic of the books but it's all told in a very matter of fact way. I thought this was better than the second book, not as many history lessons and more stories of the people she lived and worked with. There is also a nice wrap up of what happened to her colleagues.
3 stars
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Slouching Toward Adulthood: Observations From the Not-So-Empty Nest by Sally Koslow - I read a fiction book by this author and thought I would enjoy her observations on the adult child at home. She calls them adultescents and has lots of statistics to back up her thoughts.
3 stars
Monday, July 22, 2013
July 21-27, 2013
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card - it took me two weeks to read this book. I put it down halfway through and finally decided to finish it. Too much military strategy for me. Very young children are tested to see if they can become the one commander of the space force to win against the buggers. Lots of cruelty by adults and other children. In his forward the author himself says you either love it or hate it. I don't think I hate but now I'm not sure I'll see the movie.
2 stars
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The Ides of April by Lindsey Davis - I've read several of the books in this series about Marcus Didius Falco, an informer in ancient Rome. Now the series has been rebooted with his adopted daughter, Flavia Albia, taking over the role of informer. I miss her parents and their relationship. It takes awhile for the story to get going and I found it rather confusing. Also, I guessed a crucial reveal about halfway through and also guessed the perpetrator. So this didn't really hold my interest.
2 stars
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The Widow Waltz by Sally Koslow - a well-off woman finds herself suddenly a widow and the money her husband promised would be there to take care of her has disappeared. She and her two almost adult daughters must learn to live a new life and pull together. The ending was unexpected and I'm not sure I believe it.
3.5 stars
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Stranded by Alex Kava - finally, a mystery that kept me going right till the end (although I guessed the killer early on, but wasn't sure). This is part of the Maggie O'Dell series about an FBI agent who tracks serial killers. She and her partner are looking for a serial killer who targets people at rest areas along the highway. Don't think I'll be able to stop at one after dark again. Just a tinge of gruesome.
4 stars
2 stars
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The Ides of April by Lindsey Davis - I've read several of the books in this series about Marcus Didius Falco, an informer in ancient Rome. Now the series has been rebooted with his adopted daughter, Flavia Albia, taking over the role of informer. I miss her parents and their relationship. It takes awhile for the story to get going and I found it rather confusing. Also, I guessed a crucial reveal about halfway through and also guessed the perpetrator. So this didn't really hold my interest.
2 stars
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The Widow Waltz by Sally Koslow - a well-off woman finds herself suddenly a widow and the money her husband promised would be there to take care of her has disappeared. She and her two almost adult daughters must learn to live a new life and pull together. The ending was unexpected and I'm not sure I believe it.
3.5 stars
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Stranded by Alex Kava - finally, a mystery that kept me going right till the end (although I guessed the killer early on, but wasn't sure). This is part of the Maggie O'Dell series about an FBI agent who tracks serial killers. She and her partner are looking for a serial killer who targets people at rest areas along the highway. Don't think I'll be able to stop at one after dark again. Just a tinge of gruesome.
4 stars
Sunday, July 21, 2013
July 14-20, 2013
Diners, Drive-in, Dives: The Funky Finds in Flavortown by Guy Fieri - a collection of some of the places from the show with a short thought from Guy, a couple of lines from members of his Krew, sometimes something from the owners about how the show changed their business and then a recipe. Most of the recipes are not really something that would be easy to make at home. This book would be better used as a travel guide and I think many people do that. In the back is a list of all the places the show has been, not just the ones in the book.
3 stars
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TransAtlantic by Colum McCann - this is a book that is getting rave reviews but I didn't enjoy it. I spent most of the book wondering what it was about and when I would get to the story. It weaves real people and events from 1845 to 2012 and moves from Ireland to North America. The author writes beautiful sentences but what are they about?
2 stars
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Her: A Memoir by Christa Parravani - a true story of a woman dealing with the death of her twin sister. This was a very raw, let it all out book. The author pulls no punches when telling the depths each sister went to dealing with their various issues. 50% of twins die within a couple of years of their twins death. I came away with the idea that perhaps their relationship was not a healthy twin relationship but I don't know what it's like to be an identical twin.
3 stars
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A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams - this is a glorified Harlequin romance novel. The writing is nice but it's basically a girl loves boy/ loses boy over misunderstanding/ finds boy again. And it wraps up in a true hurricane story in 1938. There are sex scenes but not salacious.
3 stars
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Dad is Fat by Jim Gaffigan - if you're not a fan of Jim Gaffigan's comedy you probably won't like this book. Very short chapters about raising 5 children in New York in a 2 bedroom apt. I really enjoyed his chapter on people's reaction to his having 5 children. I also like his obvious love and admiration for his wife. Because I laughed out loud a few times it gets
4 stars
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Shadows of the Workhouse by Jennifer Worth - this is the second of the three books Call the Midwife are based on. I didn't think this was quite as good as the first, there wasn't as much nursing. It was more of an in depth look at three cases. She does go into quite a lot of detail about the workhouses and that was horrific.
3 stars
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Diary of a Stage Mother's Daughter:A Memoir by Melissa Frances - Melissa was on Little House On the Prairie the last two years of the show. This book tells of her and her sister's life constantly trying to please their mother but not knowing what was going to set her off. Melissa liked acting but she didn't like how her mother's love was lavished or withheld depending on her performance.
4 stars
3 stars
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TransAtlantic by Colum McCann - this is a book that is getting rave reviews but I didn't enjoy it. I spent most of the book wondering what it was about and when I would get to the story. It weaves real people and events from 1845 to 2012 and moves from Ireland to North America. The author writes beautiful sentences but what are they about?
2 stars
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Her: A Memoir by Christa Parravani - a true story of a woman dealing with the death of her twin sister. This was a very raw, let it all out book. The author pulls no punches when telling the depths each sister went to dealing with their various issues. 50% of twins die within a couple of years of their twins death. I came away with the idea that perhaps their relationship was not a healthy twin relationship but I don't know what it's like to be an identical twin.
3 stars
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams - this is a glorified Harlequin romance novel. The writing is nice but it's basically a girl loves boy/ loses boy over misunderstanding/ finds boy again. And it wraps up in a true hurricane story in 1938. There are sex scenes but not salacious.
3 stars
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dad is Fat by Jim Gaffigan - if you're not a fan of Jim Gaffigan's comedy you probably won't like this book. Very short chapters about raising 5 children in New York in a 2 bedroom apt. I really enjoyed his chapter on people's reaction to his having 5 children. I also like his obvious love and admiration for his wife. Because I laughed out loud a few times it gets
4 stars
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shadows of the Workhouse by Jennifer Worth - this is the second of the three books Call the Midwife are based on. I didn't think this was quite as good as the first, there wasn't as much nursing. It was more of an in depth look at three cases. She does go into quite a lot of detail about the workhouses and that was horrific.
3 stars
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diary of a Stage Mother's Daughter:A Memoir by Melissa Frances - Melissa was on Little House On the Prairie the last two years of the show. This book tells of her and her sister's life constantly trying to please their mother but not knowing what was going to set her off. Melissa liked acting but she didn't like how her mother's love was lavished or withheld depending on her performance.
4 stars
Sunday, July 14, 2013
July 7-13, 2013
Calculated in Death by J.D. Robb - another in the series of futuristic Eve Dallas books. I like these for the author's take on a slightly (2060) future era and on the relationships Eve has built over time. This time Eve is investigating the supposed mugging of an accountant. There are sex scenes between Eve and her husband - I skip right past them and they've become very formulaic.
3 stars
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Carrie and Me by Carol Burnett - Carol's daughter, Carrie, died of cancer in her late 30's. In this book she tells of their troubled relationship during Carrie's teen years. Then the rest is mostly a series of emails to each other. The second half of the book is a short story written by Carrie that was unfinished when she died. I was a little disappointed in this book, I didn't feel it had a lot of depth. But then I wouldn't be able to write a book about a dead daughter at all. And the fictional story is just eh.
2 stars
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The Raft by S.A. Bodeen - a young adult book that reads like a young adult book, very short chapters. A young girl is on a cargo plane that crashes and is adrift on the ocean with no food or water. The co-pilot is unconscious and she must make decisions on her own.
3 stars
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The Gods of Gotham by Lyndsay Faye - 1845, the New York police force has just been formed and Timothy Wilde unexpectedly finds himself a member of the force. He's thrust into an investigation of the disappearance and possible murder of several children. I wanted to give this 5 stars but it's very dark. Probably fairly accurate for the times. The politics, immigrant tension and reaction to poverty seem very familiar.
4 stars
3 stars
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Carrie and Me by Carol Burnett - Carol's daughter, Carrie, died of cancer in her late 30's. In this book she tells of their troubled relationship during Carrie's teen years. Then the rest is mostly a series of emails to each other. The second half of the book is a short story written by Carrie that was unfinished when she died. I was a little disappointed in this book, I didn't feel it had a lot of depth. But then I wouldn't be able to write a book about a dead daughter at all. And the fictional story is just eh.
2 stars
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Raft by S.A. Bodeen - a young adult book that reads like a young adult book, very short chapters. A young girl is on a cargo plane that crashes and is adrift on the ocean with no food or water. The co-pilot is unconscious and she must make decisions on her own.
3 stars
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Gods of Gotham by Lyndsay Faye - 1845, the New York police force has just been formed and Timothy Wilde unexpectedly finds himself a member of the force. He's thrust into an investigation of the disappearance and possible murder of several children. I wanted to give this 5 stars but it's very dark. Probably fairly accurate for the times. The politics, immigrant tension and reaction to poverty seem very familiar.
4 stars
Sunday, July 7, 2013
June 30-July 6, 2013
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson - a woman dies and relives parts of her life with different possibilities over and over. Not really reincarnation since she is the same person every time. Takes place during the I and II World Wars. I'm not really sure how I feel about this book. It's the kind of quirky book I usually like but something about the end bothered me.
4 stars
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The World's Strongest Librarian: A Memoir of Tourette's, Faith, Strength, and the Power of Family by Josh Hanagarne - absolutely loved this book. He makes his parents sound wonderful, which is so refreshing. I felt he was pretty honest about his struggles. He does talk quite a bit about being a Mormon and his struggle with that. Gives some definition to what being a Mormon means that I found very interesting. I liked this book so much I actually sent an email to the author (which I've never done) and he answered within the hour!
5 stars
4 stars
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The World's Strongest Librarian: A Memoir of Tourette's, Faith, Strength, and the Power of Family by Josh Hanagarne - absolutely loved this book. He makes his parents sound wonderful, which is so refreshing. I felt he was pretty honest about his struggles. He does talk quite a bit about being a Mormon and his struggle with that. Gives some definition to what being a Mormon means that I found very interesting. I liked this book so much I actually sent an email to the author (which I've never done) and he answered within the hour!
5 stars
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