What Are We Reading And Reviewing in August 2019?

Does anyone have a copy of Of Mice and Men...or The Cat In The Hat??

📌 - ★
Carol's Rich Library for August

Group Reads
📌Shadow Tyrants by Clive Cussler & Boyd Morrison -4.5★
📌The Black Echo by Michael Connelly - 4.5★

Pick a Winner...Make A friend
📌The Third Victim by Phillip Margolin

Other Ricjes
📌 The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond by Jaime Jo Wright - 3.5★
📌Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout - 3.5★
📌The Devil in Tartan by Elisabeth Ogilvie - 3★
📌The Black Train by by Edward Lee - 5★
📌Nothing Rhymes with Orange by Adam Rex - 4★
📌Never End by Ake Edwardson - 3.5★
📌Eve of Destruction by Martin Edwards - 3★
📌A Killer's Mind by Mike Omer- 5★
📌Heir of The Dog by Judi McCoy - 3★
📌Triple Pursuit by Ralph McInerny - 2.5★
📌The Wonder by Emma Donoghue - 4★
📌Close Encounters of The Furred Kind by Tom Cox - 3.5★
📌Don't Look Back by Karin Fossum - 4.5★
📌Book of a Hundred Bears by F. Durmont Smith - 5★
📌Hearts of The Missing by Carol Potenza- 4★
📌The Night Before by Wendy Walker- 4★
📌One Good Deed by David Baldacci- 4★
📌The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy E. Reichert - 3★
📌Have a Nice Day!: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks by by Mick Foley - 4★
📌The Chain by Adrian McKinty - 5★
📌Evil Games by Angela Marsons - 5★

Lynda and Oliver's August Reading List

Mystery
Backwater Bay - Steven Becker
Black Echo - Michael Connelly
Child's Play - Angela Marsons
I Am Watching You - Teresa Driscoll
In the Darkness - Mike Omer
Last Time I Lied - Riley Sager
Shadow Tyrants - Clive Cussler
Spiraled - Kendra Elliott
Taboo - Casey Hill
Tear Me Apart - J. T. Ellison
Tumbled Graves - Brenda Chapman
Under Currents - Nora Roberts
Zen Attitude - Sujata Massey

Other Than Mystery
Fiery Cross - Diana Gabaldon
Hillbilly Elegy - J. D. Vance
Library Book - Susan Orlean
Sands of Shark Island - Alexander McCall Smith
We Die Alone - David Howarth
Winter Men - Jesoer Bugge Ko!d

I can't believe it is almost August!

>1 Carol420: At different times I've owned copies of both books, but unfortunately not anymore. Wish I could help.

The only book I'm sure about so far for reading in August is A Study in Treason by Leonard Goldberg which I picked up from the library. I read the first book of the series a year or two ago and saw this was available and grabbed it.

The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond by Jaime Jo Wright
3.5★

For over a century, the town of Gossamer Grove has thrived on its charm and midwestern values, but Annalise Forsythe knows painful secrets, including her own, hover just beneath the pleasant faade. When a man is found dead in his run-down trailer home, Annalise inherits the trailer, along with the pictures, vintage obituaries, and old revival posters covering its walls. As she sorts through the collection, she's wholly unprepared for the ramifications of the dark and deadly secrets she'll uncover. A century earlier, Gossamer Grove has been stirred into chaos by the arrival of controversial and charismatic twin revivalists. The chaos takes a murderous turn when Libby Sheffield, working at her father's newspaper, receives an obituary for a reputable church deacon hours before his death. As she works with the deacon's son to unravel the mystery behind the crime, it becomes undeniably clear that a reckoning has come to town--but it isn't until another obituary arrives that they realize the true depths of the danger they've waded into. Two women, separated by a hundred years, must uncover the secrets within the borders of their own town before it's too late and they lose their future--or their very souls.

I just finished one book by the author that I really liked...maybe that was why I felt that this one was very much on the same theme as the first one. Again it had the same duel storyline that was 100 years apart as the first one. I actually got confused about which of the books I was reading. It seemed to take the characters way too long too get from point A to point B...and the religious theme was much more prominent. Jaime Jo Wright is a terrific writer and I do enjoy her books...but this was too much of the same thing.

The Third Victim by Phillip Margolin
Robin Lockwood series Book #1
5★

A woman stumbles onto a dark road in rural Oregon―tortured, battered, and bound. She tells a horrific story about being kidnapped, then tortured, until she finally managed to escape. She was the lucky one―two other women, with similar burns and bruises, were found dead. The surviving victim identifies the house where she was held captive and the owner, Alex Mason―a prominent local attorney―is arrested. Although he loudly insists upon his innocence, his wife’s statements about his sexual sadism and the physical evidence found at the scene, his summer home, is damning. Regina Barrister is a legendary criminal defense attorney, known as “The Sorceress” for her courtroom victories. But she’s got a secret, one that threatens her skill, her reputation, and, most of all, her clients. And she’s agreed to take on the seemingly impossible task of defending Alex Mason. Robin Lockwood, a young lawyer and former MMA fighter, has just left a clerkship at the Oregon Supreme Court to work for Regina Barrister. The Alex Mason trial is her first big one, a likely death penalty case, and she’s second chair to Regina. Increasingly, she’s worried her boss’s behavior and the details in the case against their client don’t quite add up.

I have wanted to read this series for awhile now and the "Make A Friend" challenge on Dusty's Treasure Trove finally got me moving...and I have to say the book was awesome. It started out slow in the beginning but it went at sonic speed from then on. It's an engrossing courtroom drama & mystery with great characters with an unexpected ending. I understand there are currently two more books out in this series. I will be looking for them. Highly recommend this one to anyone that love a good trial story or just a good mystery.

Nothing Rhymes With Orange by Adam Rex
4★

We all know nothing rhymes with orange, but how does that make Orange feel? Well, left out, obviously! When a fruit parade gets together to sing a song about how wonderful they are—and the song happens to rhyme—Orange can't help but feel like it's impossible to ever fit in. But when one particularly intuitive Apple notices how Orange is feeling, the entire English language begins to become a bit more inclusive. Beloved author-illustrator Adam Rex has created a hilarious yet poignant parable about feeling left out, celebrating difference, and the irrefutable fact that nothing rhymes with orange.

Poor old orange. He's waiting his turn to be in a rhyme but it just isn't happening. He used to not feel so left out since he had kumquat and current for company and they shared his misfortune of not having a rhyming word. Then the unthinkable happened. Kumquat and current found their place in a rhyme and once more little orange has to except that he has absolutely nothing that rhymes with him. It's a cute book and perfect for your child, grandchild, or the child that lives in all of us.

Fruit Of the Drunken Tree – Ingrid Rojas Contreras
Digital audiobook performed by Marisol Ramirez, Almarie Guerra and Ingrid Rojas Contreras.
5*****

Based on the author’s own life experiences, this novel tells the story of a family “safely” ensconced within their gated community in Bogotá, Columbia in the early to mid 1990s. Chula, the 7-year-old narrator, and her older sister Cassandra enjoy a relatively carefree life within the community. But just outside the walls of their compound, the infamous, and seemingly all powerful, drug lord Pablo Escobar continues his reign of terror with kidnappings, car bombs and assassinations.

I loved that Contreras used two different young women (girls, really) to narrate this story. The viewpoint alternates between Chula and Petrona, who is the family’s teen-aged maid. Chula has a naivete and innocence of youth, and of her upbringing in a relatively safe, secure and stable (if isolated) environment. Petrona, on the other hand, has suffered the indignities and deprivations of the poor and uneducated. The oldest of nine children who live in a slum, she has taken on the burden of being the breadwinner for her family at the tender age of thirteen. The way these two narrators see what is happening in their country is colored by their experiences – each of them having a limited viewpoint for different reasons. And those limitations make them vulnerable to manipulation, and result in some dangerous situations.

I was completely immersed and engaged in their story from beginning to end. Having both viewpoints I recognized the danger long before either of the narrators, but was still caught off guard a few times as twists and turns occurred in the plot. For the time I spent with these characters I had a glimpse of the uncertainty the citizens of Columbia must have felt.

It’s a strong debut for Contreras and I look forward to reading her future works.

The audiobook was masterfully performed by Marisol Ramirez, Almarie Guerra and Ingrid Rojas Contreras. Brava, ladies.

The Drowning Girl
Caitlin Kiernan
3/5 stars
This fantasy book revolves around a young woman, India Morgan Phelps (Imp) who is schizophrenic. With her mother dead, Imp struggles on her own. Working dead end jobs, writing stories and meeting people who may not be real makes up her life. She meets Eva one night but is Eva real or part of her schizophrenia. Though well written, I sometimes struggled with the writing style of the book though I feel the author was using that style to enhance the character’s schizophrenia.

What Pet Should I Get? / Dr. Seuss
4 stars

This was a book that Dr. Seuss started, but never finished. It was found later and published in 2015. The main part of the book consists of two kids in a pet store, trying to pick out which pet to bring home, as they are only allowed one. The second part is a publisher’s note that addresses how the book was found and a bit more of the background, and also a bit about Dr. Seuss’s personal life (and pets!), along with photos.

I was going to give the book itself 3.5 stars (good). I was initially disheartened when they were in a pet store and not adopting from a rescue… then I had to remind myself that it was originally written decades ago. The publisher’s note did address this, to my relief. I also didn’t like the rhyming as much as his other books, as it didn’t seem to flow as well, in my opinion, but I upped the rating for all the extra, really interesting, information provided in the publisher’s note. The story itself – I did like the ending. Which pet did they get?

A Royal Pain / Rhys Bowen
4 stars

This is the second book in this series. Georgie is a cousin to the Prince of Wales, and is 34th in line to the throne. Unfortunately, she and her brother don’t have much money. Georgie has moved into the family home (castle?) in London, where she has had to learn life without a maid and servants. It hasn’t been easy for Georgie. Things get a bit more complicated when the queen asks Georgie to host visiting royalty from Germany; the queen hopes the German princess will catch the Prince of Wales’ eye. In any case, things take a turn when people seem to start dying around them.

I really enjoyed this. I think I liked it better than the first one (at least from what I remember, anyway). There are humourous, lighthearted moments in the books. Though I am not necessarily a fan of some of her rich friends, I do like Georgie, as she’s had to learn to be more self-sufficient.

The Fifth Child
Doris Lessing
5/5 stars
A very happy couple from London marries, buys a new home and starts a family. Wanting to have a big family, they start having children and are quite content until Ben, their fifth child is born. Ben is not like the others and tries the patience of the whole family till they know they have to do something about him. Considered a horror novel, we initially place Ben as the evil one but is he really? This book really is an eye opening look at family dynamics and what people will do when they can only see one option open to them.

Book of a Hundred Bears by F. Dumont Smith
5★

I had nearly forgotten that I had this book until a challenge came up and I started looking for it. The book bears...no pun intended... the year of publication as 1909 and says that it's the 3rd reprint...so who knows when it was first released. My grandmother received the book from her mother when her family learned that she was leaving Ireland to come to America in 1926, but it had been in her family for 16 or 17 years before that...so I suspect that it was purchased new around 1910 or 1911 when she would have been 7 or 8 years old. She brought more books with her than clothes and my grandfather build her library shelves to house her treasured reads. Besides myself she had another granddaughter that loved to read and we read every book on the shelf including this one. I inherited this one along with a another..."The Wind In The Rosebush"... that my cousin and I nearly read the cover off of. This book painted a vivid picture of the American west and it's wildlife featuring mostly stories from Yellowstone National Park and every one has a species of bear ranging from black bears to grizzles. The author is a little confused as he thinks that bears would make good pets...but other than that the stories have survived over a hundred years. A good trip down memory lane.

Oops,my TBR seems to have disappeared! OK,try again......

Dusty's TBR for August
SF/F reads
Paolo Bacigalupi - Windup Girl ✔
Chad Oliver - Shadows in the Sun ✔
Andre Norton - Postmarked the Stars ✔
Charles Stross - Annihilation Score ✔
Andre Norton - People of the Crater ✔
Simon R Green - Into the Thinnest of Air ✔
Jack Dann (ed) - Timegates ✔
Arthur C Clarke - The Sentinel ✔

from other genres
Donna Leon -Death at La Fenice ✔
Judy Blume - Are You There, God? It's Me,Margaret ✔
Virginia Woolf - Mrs Dalloway ✔
Blake Pierce - Once Taken ✔
Dr Seuss - The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins ✔
Dr Seuss - Horton Hears a Who ✔
Tove Jansson - Moominland Midwinter✔
Dr Seuss - Horton Hatches the Egg ✔
C S Lewis - Voyage of the Dawn Treader ✔
Judith Cutler - Head Wound ✔
Kathleen Lines - Lavender's Blue ✔

>14 dustydigger: I thought I had seen one for you. Glad I'm not losing my mind...although there are some that would dispute that:)

The Night Sister / Jennifer McMahon
3.5 stars

Amy, Piper, and Margot were friends in the 1980s when they were young (Piper and Margot are also sisters); Jason was an outsider who was in love with Amy. Amy lived in a motel that had been in her family for a while. At that same motel in the 1950s, Amy’s mother, Rose, and Rose’s sister Sylvie grew up. Rose and Sylvie’s grandmother told them stories of “mares”, humans who changed into monsters, but their mother told them it was just her grandmother telling stories. At the same time, weird things happened at the motel… As adults, Amy is married and calls Jason (who is now married to Margot) in a panic to come talk to her; a week later, tragedy…

I listened to the audio, so that often has some influence. To be honest, I found the first half of the book a bit slow, and lost interest at times, but I did pick up most of what was going on. Half way through, the pace picked up for me, and for the last third, it was much more riveting, I thought. When I heard the twist at the end, I didn’t believe that could work from what had already been told in the story, so I thought re-listening (or reading) would be helpful to figuring it out, but ultimately, I think things did all get explained. Overall, I’m rating it “good”, averaging out the slowness of the start, with the fast-pace of the end.

Leaving Cheyenne by Larry McMurtry
★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 - 295 pages

Gideon Fry and Johnny McCloud are best friends, growing up on the Texas prairie before WWI. Each of the boys is in love with Molly Taylor. Gid is moral, upright, and hard-working. Johnny is more lackadaisical - he wants to be a cowpuncher, not a rancher. Molly wants freedom - rejecting the social mores of the time. The emotional novel traces the three friends from the late 1910's to the early 1960's, from a hardscrabble life on the plains to a more modern life. Gid tells the first section, declaring his love for Molly. Molly tells the second section (1940's.) Johnny tells the third section (early 1960's.)

I am definitely reading more McMurtry. Gid, Johnny, and Molly's lives paralleled the lives of my grandparents, going from horse-and-buggy to the space race. A fascinating time period to me.

A Geography of Blood / Candace Savage
4 stars

This starts off as a memoir. The author and her husband come across the town of Eastend, Saskatchewan, near Cypress Hills on their travels back home to Saskatoon from the U.S. They initially stayed for 2 weeks on vacation, but were drawn to the town enough to buy a house and live there part-time. While there, the author wrote about the landscape, the dinosaur history and the T-Rex Centre that is there, then started looking into the more recent history of the First Nations people who were there, but were driven off the land in the late 19th century once the white settlers started arriving. The last half of the book looks at the First Nations history of the area.

I probably would have given this 3.5 stars (good), except that I grew up only a couple of hours from Eastend, and have been there a few times. I can picture Eastend, the T-Rex Centre, Cypress Hills, the surrounding land, the ghost towns nearby that were mentioned... I’m sure I also once (though I didn’t remember it) learned the history of Chimney Coulee and the Cypress Hills Massacre. I’m pretty sure I’ve been to Chimney Coulee and can also picture that in my head. Good book, sad stuff about the First Nations people and everything that happened, but important to learn about.

The Devil In Tartan by Elizabeth Ogilvie
3★

In Brierbrae, Nova Scotia, while an attractive young woman works on the genealogy of a Scottish clan descended from the first Earl of Strathcorran, a series of near-fatal attacks are made against various male members of the clan.

Noel Paige and her 14 year old stepbrother travel to Brierbank in Nova Scotia to complete the genealogy Robbie's father was working on when he died. He was trying to trace the family back to Angus James Kendrum...the son of the fifth Earl of Strathcoran, who was massacred at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. I have visited Culloden with my grandfather and can remember being awed and a little scared that this rough and feisty Scot could be reduced to tears over a site that was 250 years old. I later learned that nearly every clan in the Highlands had been literally wiped off the face of the Earth in less than 30 minutes. So I was very interested in Noel's history search. There was also a touch of the supernatural as it seems some of the Culloden ghost were interested in seeing that Their 20th century ancestor learn everything about what happened that fateful day. A good story but would have earned a higher rating if there had been less of the 14 year olds :) and more of the history and the ghost. Now my question that I have always wondered about...Where do they get the men to pose for these covers??? :)

I had the wrong cover to begin with... but as you can see...it was MUCH more exciting than the real one

>15 Carol420: I thought I had seen one for you. Glad I'm not losing my mind..

hopefully you are still compos mentos,Carol,and its one of those LT elusive gremlins that just loves to remove my reading lists every so often! lol

Obsidian by Jennifer Armentrout
3.5★

Starting over sucks. When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring...until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up. And then he opened his mouth. Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something...unexpected happens. The hot alien living next door marks me. You heard me.... ALIEN. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.
If I don't kill him first, that is.

Supernatural space aliens living in West Virginia??? A bit of a stretch for the old imagination...even mine. I thought, when I found out about the "family next door"...that I probably would just gently close the covers of this one and say a few words over it before hauling it back to the library. For some reason I kept on reading. I soon found I had found a unique and entrancing story. The plot expands to a depth to where I wanted to keep going and find out how it played out. I really enjoyed what the author did when building the world that these aliens would share with the humans. She presented it in terms of how it could be if the events actually happened. I don't know if I will read another of these books...not because they're bad... they're just not my particular type of book... but I found this one to be very good company.

A Killer's Mind by Mike Omer
Zoe Bentley series Book #1
5★

Three Chicago women have been found strangled, embalmed, and posed as if still alive. Doubting the findings of the local PD’s profiler, The FBI calls on forensic psychologist Zoe Bentley to investigate. Zoe quickly gets off on the wrong foot with her new partner, Special Agent Tatum Gray. Zoe’s a hunter, intense and focused; Tatum’s a smug maverick with little respect for the rules. Together, they must descend into a serial killer’s psyche and untangle his twisted fantasies, or more women will die. But when the contents of three inconspicuous envelopes reveal a chilling connection to gruesome murders from Zoe’s childhood, suddenly the hunter becomes the hunted.

This was a new author for me...but I hope he's a fast writer because he has just become one of my favorite authors. I've already ordered the next book in this series. I really liked the two main characters...Zoe Bentley and Tatum Gray. They got started off wrong but by the end they were working well together to bring down a monster. The story actually featured two monsters...one from Zoe's past and one that is very much alive in the present. Another thing that was very satisfying about this writer is that he tied up loose ends but left just enough dangling to make you HAVE to see where this was going to go in the next one. Believable, well developed characters that you could actually like and root for. Write faster Mr. Omer...it won't take me long to get through book #2.

Jesus Land – Julia Scheeres
3.5***

This is a memoir of growing up with parents who adhered to a religious fundamentalism but who were abusive to their children. Scheeres was the youngest child in the family, and the last biological child born to her parents, who subsequently adopted two African American boys. David, was practically Julia’s twin, with only a month or so difference in their birthdates. They grew up as brother and sister, and shared dreams of one day growing up and moving to Florida together. When David and Julia were teens, they rebelled against their strict upbringing with the result that their parents sent them to a school in the Dominican Republic – a sort of “boot camp” to get them right with Jesus.

The first half of the book details their childhood and early school experiences. The racial prejudice aimed at David, and from which Julia tried to protect her brother, with the result that she was also ostracized in their small midwestern town.

The second half of the book focuses on the time they spent at Escuela Caribe, and what they had to endure there to “prove” to the people running the school and to their parents that they “deserved” to return to their home in Indiana.

Their mother was clearly neglectful, ignoring the children’s complaints of mistreatment at school, and barely providing them with food, shelter and clothing. But their father. He may have been a surgeon, but he was physically abusive, particularly to the adopted boys. Why was he never prosecuted!?!?!

Yet the love she and David shared, the unbreakable bond of brother and sister, shine through. Towards the end of their time at Escuela Caribe, she writes:
We are young, and we have our entire lives ahead of us. Together, we have survived racism and religion. Together, we are strong. Together, we can do anything.
Life may not be fair, but when you have someone to believe in, life can be managed, and sometimes, even miraculous.
After everything else falls away, we shall remain brother and sister. Family.

Never End by Ake Edwardson
Inspector Winter series Book #4
3.5 ★

It's summer in Sweden. As the coastal city of Gothenburg suffers through a heat wave, Chief Inspector Erik Winter broods over a series of unsolved rape-murders. The crimes bear an eerie resemblance to a five-year-old case that the mercurial detective has refused to let go cold. Has the same rapist reemerged to taunt him, or is a copycat at work? And can Winter find a common thread among the victims before there are more of them?

A good book with really interesting characters. Inspector Winter faces personal problems...don't they all? It must be one very troubled place to work as it seems that most of his colleagues also bring their home problems to work. The book could have used less of that and more of the team working together. I have read the Wallander books for years and watched all the series on DVD and found him a bit too moody at times where as Winter is more the hero type than what we usually encounter with most other Scandie detectives. He's much more focused on his career. Ake Edwardson is a new author for me and I found that he is really good at creating atmosphere and suspense. Like most translated books it probably lost something along the line...but not enough to not make this an enjoyable read.

Eve of Destruction by Martin Edwards
Harry Devlin series Book #5
3★

When Liverpool solicitor and detective Harry Devlin takes on a client who has been taping his wife's telephone conversations with her lover, he gets more than he bargained for. The first mystery is the identity of Becky's boyfriend, whose voice Harry finds oddly familiar. Then, as a case of adultery slides frighteningly into conspiracy to murder, a trespasser makes a shocking discovery: three dead bodies in a converted church. Who are they? Who has killed them, and why? Trapped in a maze where neither victims nor apparent culprit are who they seem to be, Harry must go into the dark places of the human heart to find the answers.

Harry likes offbeat criminal cases. His steadier partner...Jim Crusoe...says that "for Harry Devlin, even a bus ticket promised a plot twist." This time the bus nearly runs Harry over. Harry is no stranger to violent and unusual cases but even he's surprised when a client seeking a divorce play a tapes he recorded of his wife on the phone with her lover. He is shocked to see that he recognizes the man's voice...so he starts his own investigation without telling his client what he knows. Soon everything starts to come out following a series of brutal murders. You guessed it. They all point to Harry's client. "Eve of Destruction" is an energetic, no-frills mystery with characters that are well build and the book is composed of an enjoyable, and complex plo

The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin – Josh Berk
Digital audiobook performed by Jim Meskimen
3***

This is a humorous coming-of-age story with a bit of a mystery thrown in and featuring an unlikely hero. Will Halpin is deaf, overweight and struggling to make friends in his new school. He's left the safety of "deaf school" and chosen to mainstream at the local public high school, but the teachers can't (or won't) get the hang of always facing him so he can read lips. He is a skilled observer, however, and he jots his notes on his fellow students and teachers in a notebook. His one friend is the uber-dork Devon Smiley, and when the school's quarterback (and all-around jerk) "falls" down a mine shaft on a school field trip, they channel the Hardy Boys to investigate.

I’m glad to see a book that features a main character with a disability, who finds ways to deal effectively in a world that doesn’t always made accommodations for him. Will (and Devon) also have to deal with the usual drama of high school – bullies, the “in” crowd vs the nerds, teachers who don’t really care, unrequited love, and the universally hated showers after gym class.

It's a fast read, and I loved Will & Devon's humor.

Jim Meskimen does a fine job of narrating the audio version. He set a good pace and I was quickly caught up in the story line.

Wicked – Gregory Maguire
Audiobook narrated by John McDonough
2.5**

Subtitle: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

This is a re-telling of The Wizard of Oz, told from the viewpoint of Elphaba, the “Wicked” Witch of the West.

I’ve had this on my tbr since shortly after it came out, having been a long-time fan of the classic movie starring Judy Garland. But for whatever reason, I just never got around to reading Maguire’s version. I have never even seen the hit Broadway musical based on this book, though I certainly love some of the music from that show. I did read another of Maguire’s re-tellings - Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister (Cinderella) – with my F2F book club some years back. I liked it but wasn’t blown away; still I was predisposed to liking this book.

I thought Maguire’s book went just too far afield in directions I never expected. Some of the scenes were downright disturbing (for example: sex that involved dismemberment and cannibalism! ). I also thought the plot dragged in places. This wasn’t helped by the fact that I had just read another Oz re-telling whose plot moved MUCH faster.

Still, it’s definitely imaginative, and there are some scenes that really forced me to think about assumptions, first impressions, and entrenched behaviors. So, while I can’t say I particularly enjoyed the book, I am glad to have finally read it, and I’ll round up by rating to 3*.

John McDonogh does a fine job performing the audiobook. His diction is clear, and I was rarely confused about who was speaking. I did have a copy of the text handy, and did a little speed-reading for part of it when I felt the plot was moving too slowly. The text also has a map of Oz which was helpful.

The Black Train by Edward Lee
5★

Arriving at the Gast House, a Civil War-era bed and breakfast, Justin Collier finds his dreams of rest and relaxation shattered by strange voices, screams and an unspeakable horror in this place that harbors a carnal evil.

Welcome to a place that will make Hell seem like a Disneyland vacation. I hadn't read an Edward Lee novel in several years. Not because I don't like them because with a 5 star rating...I obviously do...but my library has said that they are just very hard to come by...just like some other authors that I really like. I had forgotten how graphically descriptive some of his horror scenes are...although he has toned this one down from his earlier ones. Anyone who reads Chris Carter has dealt with some graphically awful murders and characters...well...Chris Carter is like Mother Goose compared to some of Edward Lee. If you don't have a very strong stomach and are prone to nightmares...by pass them. If you like horror at it's best...run..don't walk to your nearest library or bookstore.

A Town Like Alice / Nevil Shute
3.5 stars

Jean is in her 20s when she is left an inheritance by an uncle she never knew; she is his only descendant. But, he didn’t trust women to take care of money, so it was left in a trust with the lawyer, Noel, until Jean turns 35. Noel gets to know Jean quite well and learns of her history as a prisoner of war in Malaya (Singapore) with other women and children who were forced to march on and on and on because there was no actual prison for them. Many died in the travels. Along the way, Jean met an Australian prisoner.

It was good. Odd point of view, told from Noel’s POV, though Jean was the main character, so it was pretty much her story told by him, but at a distance. There was racism (a heck of a lot to our 21st century eyes and ears), sexism, and the end, I thought, was pretty implausible. I don’t want to say too much, but Jean single-handedly doing as much as she did? I doubt it. Despite all that, though, it was a good story. The author’s note at the end was interesting – the prisoner march of women and children really did happen.

Miss Julia Renews Her Vows – Ann B Ross
3***

Book # 11 in the Miss Julia series, featuring a Southern lady of a certain age, who is prone to jumping to conclusions but always takes action to help those in need. This time out she’s juggling the demands of a “Christian psychologist” who’s been hired by her pastor to hold marriage enrichment sessions, and a false accusation of theft against her friend Etta Mae.

Miss Julia may be running off on all sorts of tangents and gets herself into a pickle more than once, but she has some capable assistance (sometimes unwittingly) from Sam, Lillian and young Lloyd. Even Mr Pickens, Emma Sue Ledbetter and Hazel Marie manage to contribute to the final solution.

I love the way these characters are written. Miss Julia is just a hoot, and she’s most entertaining when she’s in a dither about something. Her read on things may be completely wrong, but she always manages to arrive at the right conclusion, or at least to help the authorities find the real culprit. Visiting with Miss Julia and her friends is a pure joy.

Hold Tight / Harlan Coben
2011 review:
4.25 stars

Mike and Tia decide to put spy software on their 16-year old son's (Adam's) computer after he starts acting oddly, a few months after one of his best friends committed suicide. Adam appears to have some kind of secret... a big one. In the meantime, women are disappearing and being murdered. And much more...

Another very good book by Coben, although I didn't like it nearly as much as The Woods. He brought back a few of the characters from The Woods. As a Canadian, I did like the hockey references. Coben does a very good job of bringing together all the characters and various storylines going on in the book.

2019 Reread:
4 stars
Once again, I really liked this. It’s been long enough since I read this the first time that I really didn’t remember anything. Although some things came back to mind as I was reading them, any twists and turns were a surprise to me again this time around. There were a lot of characters, a lot going on, but I found the characters fairly easy to follow who was who. A drawback to writing about technology – already some of it has been surpassed by more technology!

Heir of The Dog by Judi McCoy
Dog Walker series Book #2
3★

Professional dog walker Ellie Engleman is more than just a pal to her pooches? she can also read their minds. When Ellie and her terrier mix Rudy find the corpse of a troubled-but-harmless park-dweller in Central Park, the dog walker becomes a prime suspect for murder. When it turns out Rudy is the sole beneficiary of the victim's inheritance, Ellie, Rudy, and Detective Sam Ryder follow the trail of clues to a key to a safety deposit box that just might point to the motive and help them sniff out the real killer.

I will admit that I talked to my dogs and my cats...and every other four-legged creature that owned me...as if they were human and couldn't wait to get my opinions on events and happening in our lives. I think that sometimes they might have answered me. That said... I completely understood Ellie talking to her dog...Rudy. However...when the police and others started "listening" to Rudy...I had to be a bit skeptical. On further thought I decided that Rudy was far smarter than any of these humans. I really don't think the books are meant to be taken seriously...and the two legged characters certainly aren't. They all came across as delusional on several levels. Actually when giving it some thought...I think Rudy may have written the book.

Hero of the Empire: The Boer War, a Daring Escape, and the Making of Winston Churchill
by Candice Millard
4.5/5 stars
Millard is one of my favorite authors and she doesn’t disappoint in this tale of Churchill’s escape after being captured during the Boer War in 1899 in South Africa while he was there as a news reporter. Highly recommended!

Summer Rental – Mary Kay Andrews
Digital audio read by Isabel Keating
3***

Three women who’ve been besties since kindergarten are each at a crossroads. Ellis was recently fired from her job and is now wondering if she’s made the right choices in life. Julia is a successful model but can barely hide her deep insecurities and is afraid to accept the love of a good man. Dorie is the Southern belle whose never had a problem attracting men, but her husband has just betrayed her, and she can’t face the decisions she needs to make. They rent a beach house on Nag’s Head for a month of rest and relaxation. Enter Maryn / Madison, who is running from a dangerous man and needs a place to hide. Add a sexy landlord, Ty, who lives in the former maid’s quarters over the garage.

This is a fun, quick-read book with a lots of girl talk, some romance, and a few twists and turns to keep things interesting. The bad guys will be vanquished. The good guys (and girls) will find success. And everything will end with a beautiful sunset and/or a rainbow. It’s not great literature, but it’s a perfect beach read. Grab some iced tea (or a mojito), your sunscreen and a beach chair and enjoy.

Isabel Keating narrated the audio version. She does a fine job. She sets a good pace and mostly keeps the many female characters distinct enough to not confuse the listener.

Shadow Tyrants by Clive Cussler & Boyd Morrison
4.5★

Nine Unknown Men--and now two rival factions of their descendants are fighting a mighty battle. Both sides think they are saving the world, but their tactics could very well bring about the end of humankind. Soon, Juan Cabrillo and his team of expert operatives aboard the Oregon find themselves trapped between two power-hungry adversaries, both of whom are willing to use shocking means to accomplish their goals. Cabrillo and the team must divide and conquer as they fight dual threats, which include a supercomputer at sea and satellites that can wipe out technology across the globe--including the high-tech weapons on board the Oregon. The crew must rely on their unique skills to stop the tyrants in their tracks and save the earth from a dynasty of terror.

The story begins in typical Cussler fashion, with a prologue set in the past that lays the groundwork for the conflict that drives the story. Two thousand years ago, an Eastern warlord charged nine of his most trusted allies with the safeguarding of potentially world-changing secrets recorded in the scrolls of knowledge. These allies became the "Nine Unknown", and their secrets were preserved and passed down over the generations. Unfortunately human nature being what it is...it seems that these nine don't really have humanities well being at heart but their own and their massive fortunes. Eight of the "Nine Unknown" have created a powerful AI known as The Colossus, through the use of which they plan to form a cabal which will rule the world, even if it means wreaking havoc in the process. The lone holdout among the nine believes The Colossus must be destroyed at all costs, and has formulated his own plan, one that involves killer satellites and also carries the potential for global devastation. With both factions convinced that any costs are worth the long-term benefits, it is up to our hero...Juan Cabrillo and his crew of the Oregon to intervene in time. If your computer doesn't work tomorrow or your car won't start...you'll know he failed.

Silver Sparrow / Tayari Jones
3.5 stars

Dana’s mother was married to her father, but only after he’d also married someone else. He wasn’t divorced; he was a bigamist. Dana and her mother knew this, as James lived with his other wife and daughter. But James’ other wife and daughter didn’t know about Dana and Gwen. Set mostly during the 1980s, we follow Dana in the first half of the book, as she struggles with why Chaurisse (James’ other daughter) always has first choice for everything, over Dana and his secret family. Dana and Chaurisse are the same age and Dana can’t help but be curious about her sister. The second half of the book is told from Chaurisse’s point of view.

I listened to the audio and it was good; the audio kept my attention. There was a separate narrator for each of the sisters. To be honest, I really don’t have a lot to say about this one, except I can’t say that I liked James much.

News of the World
Paulette Jiles
4/5 stars
After the Civil War, Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd is at loose ends. His job now involves traveling town to town in Texas reading newspaper stories in halls where people gather to listen. After one of his shows, he is offered a large sum to return Johanna, a young girl whose family was killed by Indians and then was taken and raised by them. She speaks no English but he reluctantly agrees to take her back to her kinsmen. This is a tale of two lost souls and what can happen from their connection. Lovely!

Hearts of The Missing by Carol Potenza
4★

When a young woman linked to a list of missing Fire-Sky tribal members commits suicide, Pueblo Police Sergeant Nicky Matthews is assigned to the case. As the investigation unfolds, she uncovers a threat that strikes at the very heart of what it means to be a Fire-Sky Native: victims chosen and murdered because of their genetic makeup. But these deaths are not just about a life taken. In a vengeful twist, the killer ensures the spirits of those targeted will wander forever, lost to their family, their People, and their ancestors. When those closest to Nicky are put in jeopardy, she must be willing to sacrifice everything―her career, her life, even her soul―to save the people she is sworn to protect.

Okay...I was fooled. I didn't know that the tribe was fictional. I did learn that the customs and rituals that she wrote about are based on a tribe in New Mexico that the author had researched through her sister-in-law who is a tribal police officer there. It's an interesting story plot that I don't think I have ever seen portrayed before. It revolves around scientific research, organ donors and organ theft as well as DNA. It seems that Carol Potenza is a biochemist so this part of the story is very well done but not so much that you need a degree to understand it. It starts out rather slow but the end is well worth sticking with it. Hope this is part of a planned series.

The Wrath & the Dawn – Renée Ahdieh
3***

Ahdieh took her inspiration from A Thousand and One Arabian Nights. The Caliph of Khorasan, Khalid, takes a new bride each night and then has her strangled with a silken cord in the morning. Sixteen-year-old Shahrzad volunteers to be next after her best friend falls victim to the Caliph's cruel policy; but she intends to avenge her friend’s death. She must use her wits to keep him from killing her, and so she begins to weave fantastic stories, ending each evening with a cliffhanger so that he will want to come back the next night to see what happens. She doesn’t expect to fall in love with him.

I was somewhat disappointed that the stories ended so soon in this retelling, and instead the novel focused on the "secret" that Khalid held which resulted in his killing his brides each night. I didn't believe in the love story either. These two seemed best matched in that they were quick to anger and were constantly misinterpreting what the other’s actions / words / looks meant. Of course, they are only teenagers, and this is a YA novel, after all.

Like the original Scheherazade, Ahdieh ends this story with a cliffhanger, hoping to ensure that the reader will return for the next installment.

Well, it was a relatively fast read and I can see why it's been so popular for the YA audience. But my reaction was decidedly 'meh.'

>36 LibraryCin:
Silver Sparrow was the first book by Jones that I read. I've since also read The Untelling. I have An American Marriage but haven't read it yet.

>40 BookConcierge: >36 LibraryCin: Loved An American Marriage but not read any others by her.

Close Encounters of The Furred Kind by Tom Cox
3.5★

If you really must move, try to get the cats to arrange their own transport. Focus on yourself instead. You'll have plenty to think about as it is, and the cats will only get in the way with their sarcasm and hairballs. I moved from Norfolk to Devon with four cats and it felt like such an impossible ordeal, part of me believes that I actually died somewhere along the way and am now living in some kind of afterlife: very much like real life, but a little slower moving, and with slightly clearer air. "That's just the West Country," I've been told, but I can't be 100% certain.

Tom relates his move to Devon from Norfolk in England with The Bear, Ralph, Shipley and Roscoe ... truly an adventure that should not be engaged by the weak of heart. The Bear is stoic as always. A new cat - George - tries to adopt Tom. The stories are laugh out loud funny... told as only a man owned by his cats can tell them...from the heart. The only thing that spoiled the book somewhat for me was the same thing that happened with the first book...the constant foul language.

Oops - duplicate ... don't see how to delete, only an edit option ...

>40 BookConcierge: >41 Andrew-theQM: I haven't read anything else by her.

Blackout / Connie Willis
4.5 stars

In 2060, time travel has been invented and is “regulated”. Historians are able to travel back in time to what they are studying, knowing that the laws of time travel will prevent them from changing anything, but they will be able to experience what they are studying first-hand! (I love this entire concept!)

Three historians are travelling back to 1940 in England. Polly is headed to London during the Blitz; Merope/Eileen heads to the countryside outside London, where she is able to work with and study some of the children who were evacuated from London. Mark is travelling back as an American reporter; he will also be outside London. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take long for them to realize something has gone wrong, and they are having trouble getting back when they should…

The start of this one was a bit confusing, but what was going on (the historians were being shuffled about with regards to the dates they would be leaving and the exact places they’d be travelling to) was also confusing for the characters. As a reader, I was trying to remember some of the characters from previous books, the terminology of the time travel, and get back into how it all works.

There were a lot of characters to introduce, as well, with multiple historians going back in time. However, once things got going, they really got going, at least for me. I didn’t want to stop reading; I wanted to just keep going to find out what happened. I really liked some of the “contemps” (the contemporary people living in their time) – I especially loved the actor Polly met. Luckily, I had seen somewhere ahead of time that this book does not conclude; it is continued in the next book, so I’m going to want to get to that sequel fairly soon.

The Night Before by Wendy Walker
4★

Laura Lochner has never been lucky in love. She falls too hard and too fast, always choosing the wrong men. Devastated by the end of her last relationship, she fled her Wall Street job and New York City apartment for her sister’s home in the Connecticut suburb where they both grew up. Though still haunted by the tragedy that’s defined her entire life, Laura is determined to take one more chance on love with a man she’s met on an Internet dating site. Rosie Ferro has spent most of her life worrying about her troubled sister. Fearless but fragile, Laura has always walked an emotional tightrope, and Rosie has always been there to catch her. Laura’s return, under mysterious circumstances, has cast a shadow over Rosie’s peaceful life with her husband and young son – a shadow that grows darker as Laura leaves the house for her blind date.
When Laura does not return home the following morning, Rosie fears the worst. She’s not responding to calls or texts, and she’s left no information about the man she planned to meet. As Rosie begins a desperate search to find her sister, she is not just worried about what this man might have done to Laura. She’s worried about what Laura may have done to him.

The story was interesting enough that it kept me reading and guessing the outcome. The characters were not the most likable people and they really weren't the brightest bulbs in the chandelier. I didn't really understand Laura at all. Overall...it was good for the suspense that it managed to keep going to the last page.

The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy E. Reichert
3★

In downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Lou works tirelessly to build her beloved yet struggling French restaurant, Luella’s, into a success. She cheerfully balances her demanding business and even more demanding fiancé…until the morning she discovers him in the buff—with an intern. Witty yet gruff British transplant Al is keeping himself employed and entertained by writing scathing reviews of local restaurants in the Milwaukee newspaper under a pseudonym. When an anonymous tip sends him to Luella’s, little does he know he’s arrived on the worst day of the chef’s life. The review practically writes itself: underdone fish, scorched sauce, distracted service—he unleashes his worst. The day that Al’s mean-spirited review of Luella’s runs, the two cross paths in a pub: Lou drowning her sorrows, and Al celebrating his latest publication. As they chat, Al playfully challenges Lou to show him the best of Milwaukee and she’s game—but only if they never discuss work, which Al readily agrees to. As they explore the city’s local delicacies and their mutual attraction, Lou’s restaurant faces closure, while Al’s column gains popularity. It’s only a matter of time before the two fall in love…but when the truth comes out, can Lou overlook the past to chase her future?

As most people on these sites know, I am not a fan of cozies...but if I need a book that has food on the cover, or food in the title, the cozy category is usually the quickest place to find it. I found this one to be a light, fun read. It reminded me very much of a movie that I saw once that had pretty much the same theme. Restaurant owner discovers her fiance with another woman...she's upset and not paying much attention as she cooks that night for a restaurant critic. He gives her a horrible review and her restaurant slowly goes down the drain. I had major doubts about her leading man. I found that he was on the creepy side and I couldn't quiet understand her sudden "love" for him after what he did without a second thought. Oh well...the book served it's purpose for me.

The Wonder by Emma Donoghue
4★

An English nurse brought to a small Irish village to observe what appears to be a miracle-a girl said to have survived without food for months-soon finds herself fighting to save the child's life. Tourists flock to the cabin of eleven-year-old Anna O'Donnell, who believes herself to be living off manna from heaven, and a journalist is sent to cover the sensation. Lib Wright, a veteran of Florence Nightingale's Crimean campaign, is hired to keep watch over the girl. A tale of two strangers who transform each other's lives, a powerful psychological thriller, and a story of love pitted against evil.

A rural Irish family claims that their eleven year old daughter has not eaten anything for four months, but somehow is miraculously thriving. The story takes place just after the end of the Great Potato Famine… so feelings are intense for the Irish and the presence of an English nurse only adds to them. Anna…the young girl is seen by the locals as special, blessed even…but is something else surrounding her? We begin to see that Anna is perhaps responding to pressures brought on by the adults around her arising from the religious fanaticism of the village but also from the love of family…especially as how this family is fairly dysfunctional. Lib, the nurse, arrives with total skepticism, assuming that the child is responsible for this hoax. Lib’s skepticism soon gives in to Anna's simplicity. The challenge then becomes how to keep this child alive? Almost every character has ulterior motives to want the phenomena to be real. Some are really horrifying. Everyone from the priest…the doctor… the innkeeper… even the parents. The book should cause the reader to stop and consider just how much children are influenced, for good or bad, by those around them.

The Summer Wives – Beatriz Williams
Book on CD narrated by Kristin Kelbly
3***

Williams sets this historical novel on the fictional Winthrop Island, where the year-round residents are the families of Portuguese fishermen, but whose governing group consists of the upper-class families who summer here. In the summer of 1951 Miranda Schuyler is introduced to this society when her widowed mother marries the high-class Hugh Fisher. His daughter, Isobel, introduces Miranda to the country-club set, and to Joseph Vargas, the son of a lobsterman. Years later Miranda, now a famous actress, return to the island after the break-up of her marriage. The Fisher estate has fallen into disrepair, and Joseph has recently escaped from prison where he’s been incarcerated since that summer when Miranda met him.

I love how Williams weaves the stories and intrigues of these characters together. There are plenty of secrets to go around and enough twists and turn to keep things interesting. I did find Miranda a bit irritating and wanted to slap Isobel more than once. And the mothers! Every one of them – Isobel’s mother, Miranda’s mother, Joseph’s mother – My stars, but they were a piece of work! Still, the story kept me interested and I eagerly kept going to see how Williams would tie it all together. Not sure why she needed to have that interlude with Miranda’s European husband, but whatever ….

Final verdict: a delicious soap-opera of a summer beach read.

Kristin Kelbly does a fine job of narrating the audiobook. She has a number of characters to voice and she manages to give them sufficiently unique voices so that I was never confused.

Mockingjay – Suzanne Collins
Audio read by Carolyn McCormick
3***

Book 3 in the Hunger Games Trilogy. It’s war with the Capitol and it seems that there has been a long-held and carefully planned revolt that everyone seems to have been involved in – EXCEPT Katniss, of course. Now she must figure out whom to trust and how to save those closest to her. Can she set aside her personal plans to lead the revolt, to become the people’s Mockingjay?

I’m not a great fan of dystopian / post-apocalyptic novels in general, and have only tolerated this series. I’m glad that Collins chose to make the central figure a strong female, but in this episode, I find Katniss a bit whiny at times.

As for the plot … well, it seems to me written for the big screen (and, yes, I know there is a hugely successful movie franchise of this series). Just doesn’t float my boat.

Carolyn McCormick does a fine job narrating the audio. She sets a good pace (helped, no doubt, by the way Collins writes the book), and I really like the voice she gives Katniss. 4**** for her performance.

One Good Deed by David Baldacci
Aloysius Archer series Book #1
4★

David Baldacci kicks off a new series with a new protagonist… Aloysius Archer…but just call him Archer. It’s also a theme that this author has worked well with before… historical crime fiction. The series is set in 1949 in the small Southern burg of Poca City. Archer arrives after having been released from prison with very little money and list of do’s and don’ts with the don’s far out numbering the do’s. Needing to quickly gain employment…one of the do’s. He agrees to work as, what we today would call, a “repo-man”. .A murder soon takes place and Archer finds himself under suspicion and he realizes that this could easily take him back to prison. With his freedom at risk he forms a learning relationship with Detective Irving Shaw to solve the crime that threatens to send him back into prison. The book is very slow paced and I found that I was becoming impatient for something to happen. David Baldacci is one of my favorite authors so I should have known that all would be revealed and resolved in due time. I believe this series will be as intriguing as all Mr. Baldacci's others.

>51 Carol420: And another series, quite the prolific author!

Into the Water / Paula Hawkins
4 stars

There’s a body of water that has been claiming women’s lives for centuries. In 2015, within a few months, 15-year old Lena’s best friend Katie, then Lena’s mom, both end up in that water. It appears to be suicide for both. Lena’s mom, Nel, has been writing about the deaths and that water. Nel was estranged from her younger sister, Jules, who has now come to look after the niece she’s never met.

It started off a bit slow, but I thought it picked up as it went on. A bit confusing, especially at the start, with not only a lot of characters, but each chapter being told from someone else’s viewpoint. Of course, it wasn’t a different character for every chapter all the way through, but it was difficult to get used to who was who at the start, and it seemed more so with the differing viewpoints, but it might just have been the number of characters overall. The chapters are short, which helps it feel faster to read. In any case, I quite liked it in the end. A few twists, but not too many, mostly at the very end.

Have A Nice Day; A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks by Mick Foley
4 ★

Mick Foley is a nice man, a family man who loves amusement parks and eating ice cream in bed. So how to explain those Japanese death matches in rings with explosives, golden thumbtacks and barbed wire instead of rope? The second-degree burn tissue? And the missing ear that was ripped off during a bout-in which he kept fighting? Here is an intimate glimpse into Mick Foley's mind, his history, his work and what some might call his pathology. Now with a bonus chapter summarizing the past 15 months-from his experience as a bestselling author through his parting thoughts before his final match. A tale of blood, sweat, tears and more blood-all in his own words-straight from the twisted genius behind Cactus Jack, Dude Love, and Mankind.

OH MY!...The length I will go to in order to complete a challenge. I just can’t stand to leave anything undone. That being said... I went in search of a book that featured "a sport or had a sport in the title"…and found this. Now I know some of you are shaking your heads and muttering under your breath…“You poor delusional soul. You STILL haven’t found a “sport…at least not a REAL sport. This is professional wrestling!” The author…Mick Foley, is the former Commissioner of the World Wrestling Federation and one of its biggest Superstars. He also loves amusement parks and is a history buff…so he can’t be all bad:) Right?. In addition he is a talented writer that put a lot of personality into this book…and he really does have a fascinating story to tell. He wrote the book in 1999 when he was first breaking into the business and really had no idea just how big the business was... or was going to be. I grew up going to matches in Tampa with my uncles and cousins. We, as kids, were fascinated with the “glamour” of it and how these grown men got to beat the stuffing’s out of one another and get away with it and actually walk away afterwards. Even if you aren't a dyed in the wool fan of the “sport”…you’ll recognize many of the names. The thing that stayed with me the most was the earnestness this man showed in telling the story of the sport that he has devoted his life to. He knows that it has a somewhat shady reputation. He doesn’t expect everyone to love it as he does...but to just to understand why it appeals to literally millions of seemingly intelligent people.

Fifty Things That Aren't My Fault: Essays from the Grown-up Years
Cathy Guisewite
3.5/5 stars
This book is written by Cathy Guisewite who wrote and drew the comic strip Cathy. It has essays about her life after she ended the comic strip. In this funny book she deals with some of the same issues that were in her comic strip (dating, weight gain, etc.) but also about her marriage that ended, her daughter whom she adopted and dealing with her elderly parents. Very enjoyable and relatable!

Bound – Donna Jo Napoli
4****

This YA novel is a retelling of the Cinderella story, set in the Ming dynasty era of China.

Xing Xing is bound to her Stepmother and half-sister. She is bound by tradition. She is bound to her ancestors, particularly her deceased parents. Her feet, however, are not bound. And she is also unusual in that her father believed in educating his daughters. While her half-sister Wei Ping showed no interest, Xing Xing thrived under her father’s tutelage and is an accomplished poet and a skilled calligrapher.

I loved the way this story unfolded. I learned from the author’s note at the end that the Cinderella myth is a common one through many cultures. And that she took her inspiration for this novel from the Chinese legendary folk tales. Still, Western readers will recognize many elements … from losing a shoe to evil stepmother to the prince’s search for “THE girl.”

I particularly appreciated the occasional poem which so eloquently expressed Xing Xing’s feelings. I’m a great fan of magical realism; Napoli incorporates this literary technique seamlessly.

The Last Olympian / Rick Riordan
2.5 stars

I can’t summarize the plot very well, because I missed much of it. I do know that there is some kind of prophecy, something that’s supposed to happen to Percy, or something that Percy’s supposed to do when he’s 16 (maybe both) - I think it’s something dangerous. His 16th birthday is coming real soon.

I wanted to give this 3 stars (ok), but I listened to the audio, and the audios of these books just don’t hold my attention, though I caught some things here and there. From what I gathered there was lots of fighting, but hard to pick out a plot. Or, maybe that’s the idea? I wish I had looked back at my reviews for the other books in the series for that reminder to not listen to the audios. I do (kind of) know how it wrapped up – at least some of the things that happened at the end with Percy’s friends, and an agreement made with the gods.

I see that the series continues with a focus on the Camp for the demi-gods. Might be more interesting; I’m not sure, but I’m thinking it’s just not worthwhile for me to continue. Oh, and I still only ever think of a cute blue Muppet every time I hear the name “Grover”! And shoot, now that I’ve actually read the plot summary, I feel like I should lower my rating to 2 stars because I caught so little of that…

The Brilliant Light of Amber Sunrise – Matthew Crow
3***

From the book jacket: Francis has plans to come into his own, forging his way in school and life, despite his loony, awkward, broken family … and noticeable lack of friends. Then he is diagnosed with leukemia. … In the hospital, Francis meets fellow patient Amber. Fierce, tough, one-of-a-kind Amber.

My reactions
I really liked the relationship that Francis had with his older brother. I never did figure out what was up with his Mom, but she grew on me by the end. (This was probably indicative of Francis’ maturation and the way he came to appreciate his mother more as he grew up.)

Amber was an enigma. I liked her bravery and outlandish refusal to conform. But I never really felt the love between her and Francis.

There are some scenes that had me rolling my eyes, but in general, as “teens-with-cancer-romance” genre books go, this is pretty entertaining. It held my attention and was a fairly fast read. And yes, I did tear up.

Daisy Jones & The Six
Taylor Jenkins Reid
5/5 stars
I loved this fictional book about a young female singer, Daisy Jones who hooks up with the male group The Six in the 1970’s to do concerts and albums. The story is told through the interviews of the people involved. This reminds me of all those retrospectives of actual singers. Wonderful!

iGen: Why Today's Super-Connected Kids are Growing up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy... / Jean M. Twenge
3.5 stars

The author is a psychologist who studies and compares generations. She calls the youngest generation “iGen”: this generation was born in 1995 and later, and they have only ever known a life with the Internet, and for many, smartphones. In this book, she looks at how the internet and social media (“new media” vs “old media” (tv, radio)) have affected them and their mental health. She also looks at communication, religion, politics, sex and dating, work and college, racism, and more. She believes that iGen is taking a much longer time to grow up; they have extended their childhoods.

Her previous book, Generation Me, looked at Millenials and I found it very interesting. Ditto for this one. I don’t have kids, but I still found this fascinating (and in some cases, horrifying – those “safe spaces” on college campuses? For anything that might offend anyone!). She includes a lot of statistics in the book; I like that she is able to compare the generations, but when all the generations were teens and young adults, due to surveys that have been done since the 1970s.

She also includes a lot of graphs, which are hard to read on my small Kobo screen, so print might be a better way to go if you want to look at the graphs. In addition to the statistics, though, she has done a lot of interviews, so she can take some of the stories from the interviews to highlight some of the findings from the stats (or show other perspectives) – the stats are averages. Overall, it’s a very interesting book.

The Julian Chapter: a Wonder Story / R.J. Palacio
3.5 stars

It’s been a few years since I read “Wonder”, but I really liked it. This is one of the shorter spin-offs, told from Julian’s point of view. Julian was the main bully toward Auggie, the boy who came to school with a severely disfigured face. We get to see a bit of Julian’s home life, and his possible motivation for the bullying.

I liked this. Seeing part of Julian’s home life included a visit to his grandmother in Paris, and I loved her story.

Fox 8
George Saunders
3.5/5 stars
I enjoy Saunders writing and found or heard about this book/short story/novelette about a Fox called Fox 8 who learns to read and understands human language. When he discovers a shopping mall, he goes to explore it but on his return to his home finds that the humans have done something horrendous! Quick read and very well done!

The Chain by Adrian McKinty
5★

Your phone rings. A stranger has kidnapped your child. To free them you must abduct someone else's child. Your child will be released when your victim's parents have kidnapped another child. if any part of this doesn't happen your child will be killed. Oh...you will also pay $25,000.00 in bitcoin before you get your child back. You are now part of The Chain.

This is one that will keep you up to the early hours of the morning because it become imperative that you find out what happens next. What a fiendishly clever and original idea Adrian McKinty has devised. I don't believe I have ever read a novel anything like it. The main character, Rachel will grab your heart immediately. She is without a doubt the last person that anyone should expect to be able to meet what the person behind this bizarre scheme demands. She's divorced, a cancer survivor, a working mother and struggling from payday to payday. You feel for her impossible dilemma. Empathy for a fellow human being is one of the ingredients that makes this thriller so extremely intriguing.

Capital Gaines – Chip Gaines
Digital audiobook read by the author
2**

SUBTITLE: Smart Things I Learned Doing Stupid Stuff

I’m a great fan of the HGTV show Fixer Upper. This is Chip Gaines telling the story of how he and his wife Joanna came to be the successful entrepreneurs that they are today.

One thing that has struck me in the TV show is how immaturely Chip behaves at times. And this book is FULL of his immaturity. I don’t find his antics, his teasing, his eating bugs, or many of the other stunts he pulls funny. I find them irritating. Take a look at that subtitle one more time; what I’m going to remember about this book will be the “doing stupid stuff.”

On the other hand, his sincere belief in “Go for it,” in taking life by the horns and going all out clearly comes through. I think he’d probably do well on the motivational speaking circuit.

Chip narrates the book himself. I can’t imagine anyone else doing a better job. Although, his Spanish pronunciation is dreadful! The “afterword” includes a couple of “testimonials” from employees, and they each read their own words, as well. If anything, especially in Elizabeth’s story, Gaines comes across as even more immature, but clearly his employees – at least these – love him.

In the Distance – Hernán Díaz
Book on CD narrated by Peter Berkrot.
5*****

In the mid-19th century a young teen sets out from Sweden with his older brother to America. Bound for New York, they get separated when changing ships, and Håkan, with no English, mistakenly takes a ship bound for San Francisco. Arriving at the height of the gold rush, and not fully understanding the breadth of the continent he must traverse, he is determined to earn his way East to reconnect with his brother Linus. Along the way he encounters a wide variety of characters – some helpful, many not – and learns to rely upon himself.

This is a Western unlike any other I’ve ever read. The “romance” of the West is nowhere to be found here. This is often a barren, dangerous place with few allies and many enemies. In places the novel takes a philosophical turn as Håkan ponders his fate and occasionally despairs of every achieving his goal. Håkan, himself, is the stuff of legend. For one thing, he continues to grow throughout the book, becoming a giant of a man; the stories of his escapades and his legend grow even bigger. The novel covers decades, taking Håkan from age fourteen to “white-haired” old age.

I loved the poetic writing though sometimes was frustrated by the lack of clear story arc. Also, occasionally Díaz writes entire passages in Swedish, with little or no translation. I suppose he wanted the reader to feel as lost as his character. A few times in the book, Díaz repeats entire passages verbatim a page or two after first introducing them. I think fans of Jose Saramago would like this book. My F2F book group had a spirited discussion, though most members did not like it.

My final verdict: Marvelous writing and a fascinating character.

Fat Cat At Large – Janet Cantrell
1*

From the book jacket: When she’s not dreaming up irresistible dessert bars for her Minneapolis treatery, Bar None Charity “Chase” Oliver is running after her cat, Quincy – a tubby tabby with a gift for sniffing out edibles. But what happens when this cat burglar leads Chase to the scene of a real crime?

My Reactions:
Great premise, set in a city I love, with a lovely cat. But this amateur sleuth is just too stupid to live. My stars but Chase got on my nerves. She is whiny and a terrible businesswoman. The supporting cast is anything but. Her business partner is keeping secrets from her and even suspects her of stealing. Her employees are at each other’s throats (literally having a “cat fight” in the front of the store before storming out), and the “hot” vet seems a little creepy to me.

Oh, well, it was a fast read and it satisfied a challenge, but I’m in no hurry to continue to series.

Goodnight Nobody / Jennifer Weiner
4 stars

Kate is a mom of three, living in the suburbs and feeling like she just doesn’t live up to the other moms, and none of them are interested in being friends with her. She misses her best friend Janie from when they lived in New York City; luckily, “Aunt” Janie comes to visit fairly often. When one of the other local moms (Kitty) invites Kate over to talk about something, Kate instead stumbles upon Kitty’s dead body in the kitchen, with a knife sticking out of her back. Kate and the other moms are worried when the police aren’t finding who did it. Kate, having a reporter background, decides to do some digging herself. While digging, Kate also learns that Kitty was in touch with an old crush of Kate’s in New York, and the digging brings them together.

I really enjoyed this. The ex-flame helping out makes for a slightly more interesting investigation. After taking a peek at some of the other reviews, I had no problem with Kate! I guess I “get” her infatuation with her former crush (though I am not married, so…), and I don’t have kids, so the fact that she wasn’t terribly happy with her current situation didn’t really bother me. In any case, I really enjoyed the story!

The Devil and Winnie Flynn – Micol Ostow
Illustrations by David Ostow
Audiobook narrated by Jessica Almasy
1*

From the book jacket Winnie Flynn doesn’t believe in ghosts. (Though she wouldn’t mind a visit from her mom, explaining why she took her own life.) When her mysterious aunt Maggie, a high-profile TV producer, recruits Winnie to spend a summer working as a production assistant on her current reality hit, Fantastic Fearsome, she suddenly finds herself in the one place her mother would never go: New Jersey.

My reactions
I read this only because I needed to fulfill a challenge for a paranormal read, and this YA novel was readily available at the library. Not a genre I gravitate towards.

Basically it’s a “woo-woo” teen horror flick book. I rolled my eyes so often I made myself dizzy. Didn’t find anything scary about it. Dialogue was stilted. And basic premise was terrible. At least on audio I could double the speed and get through it more quickly.

The text version is a sort of combination of traditional text novel and graphic novel, being illustrated by David Ostow. Some of these drawings are very detailed and I found them interesting.

Jessica Almasy did a credible job of narrating the audio, but she had mediocre material to work with. Not her fault. 3*** for her narration.

The Black Echo by Michael Connelly
Harry Bosch series Book #1
4.5★

For maverick LAPD homicide detective Harry Bosch, the body in the drainpipe at Mulholland Dam is more than another anonymous statistic. This one is personal . . . because the murdered man was a fellow Vietnam "tunnel rat" who had fought side by side with him in a hellish underground war. Now Bosch is about to relive the horror of Nam. From a dangerous maze of blind alleys to a daring criminal heist beneath the city, his survival instincts will once again be tested to their limit. Pitted against enemies inside his own department and forced to make the agonizing choice between justice and vengeance, Bosch goes on the hunt for a killer whose true face will shock him.

This is the first book in the Harry Bosch series and it provides the information that all the rest of the series will depend on…so even if you read out of order…READ THIS ONE FIRST. It tells the tale of a protracted and difficult investigation into a daring year-old bank heist. As the investigation unfolds, complications steadily arise. Harry is doggedly pursued by two thuggish, idiot detectives from Internal Affairs and he meets Eleanor Wish. The biggest problem I had with the book… and what lost it a half star…was that the chapters are "mammoth". Otherwise …I have read every word this author has ever written since 1991, and have to say that the Harry Bosch series is simply... in a word…outstanding. This one may well be the standard by which everything else Michael Connelly will ever write can, and will, be judged.

The Long Winter / Laura Ingalls Wilder
4.5 stars

The Ingalls family has come to the Dakotas and is homesteading there. When there are early signs of a really bad winter, Pa decides they should move into town and live in their store, which is better insulated against the cold to come. This turns out to be a good choice, as this particular winter turns out to have blizzard after blizzard after blizzard hit, with few breaks in between. Due to all the blizzards, trains can’t get through to bring additional supplies – food, coal (for heat), etc.

I love these books! The series is so much fun to reread. This one, I thought, was so good at describing/capturing the cold of the prairie winters. I grew up on the Canadian Prairies and it can be cold. Of course, we are now very lucky to have the heating we do. I can’t imagine that kind of cold inside the house or the isolation they would have felt at the time, as well, with the trains not able to get to them! This really is an amazing series.

Evil Games - Angela Marsons
DI Kim Stone series Book #2
5★

When a rapist is found mutilated in a brutal attack, Detective Kim Stone and her team are called in to bring a swift resolution. But, as more vengeful killings come to light, it soon becomes clear that there is someone far more sinister at work. With the investigation quickly gathering momentum, Kim finds herself exposed to great danger and in the sights of a lethal individual undertaking their own twisted experiment. Up against a sociopath who seems to know her every weakness, each move she makes could be deadly. As the body count starts to mount, Kim will have to dig deep to stop the killing. And this time—it's personal.

Another outstanding addition to the Kim Stone series. This time Kim and her team are facing a psychopathic psychiatrist who manipulates her patients into committing atrocious acts. I really like the way that the team works together to bring the culprit in instead of back-stabbing one another like some of the other departments in my books. So much more time can be devoted to the plot and the apprehension of the bad guy. Really looking forward to #3. These are mostly re-reads for me. The one good thing about getting older is that everything eventually is new to you:)

Contraband - Stuart Woods
Stone Barrington series Book #50
2.5★

Stone Barrington is getting some much-needed rest and relaxation in the Florida sun when trouble falls from the sky--literally. Intrigued by the suspicious circumstances surrounding this event, Stone joins forces with a sharp-witted and alluring local detective to investigate. But they run into a problem: the evidence keeps disappearing. From the laid-back Key West shores to the bustling Manhattan streets, Stone sets out to connect the dots between the crimes that seem to follow him wherever he travels. His investigations only lead to more questions, and shocking connections between old and new acquaintances. But as Stone must quickly learn, answers--and enemies--are often hiding in plain sight.

When this series first began many moons ago...I really liked it. Stone Barrington and Dino were partners in the NYPD...they investigated and solved crimes. When Stone went into private practice as an attorney it was still a good series. He had clients to defend and he still kept in touch with Dino and other interesting characters were added to the series. Then it seemed overnight the entire focus changed. Everyone was richer than God...Stone bought houses in seemingly every state and country in the world...and he became God's great gift to every woman he encountered. This book was literally 317 pages of sex with more descriptions than anyone ever needed. Come on...the man is 50 something years old. Surely he can't have that much stamina!

The Marseille Caper – Peter Mayle
Digital audio performed by Robin Sachs
3***

This is book two in the Sam Levitt crime caper series. I haven’t read the first one yet, and this book references what happened in that book, so perhaps I should have read them in order. But, C’est la vie!

Sam Levitt is a former corporate attorney who’s been hired to help promote a development in Marseille. Think James Bond with less danger and more emphasis on enjoying life. Beautiful (and smart) girls, fantastic yachts, private jets, mansions with gorgeous sea views, political intrigue, sumptuous repasts, and good wine. Not to mention a couple of Corsicans and a multi-lingual assistant, all adept at playing a role. Stir, add a dash of spice and Voila! ... A fast, fun, romp of a comedy crime caper.

Gosh, I miss Peter Mayle!

Robin Sachs does a fine job narrating the audio. He sets a good pace and I love his French accent.

Heidi / Johanna Spyri
3.5 stars

5-year old Heidi, an orphan, has been raised by her aunt since she was a baby, but now Heidi’s aunt feels that it’s time Heidi went to live with her grandfather on a mountain in the Swiss Alps. Heidi loves the mountain and the goats who belong to the goatherd neighbour, Peter. Heidi, later, is recruited to go to Frankfurt to be a companion to Clara, who is in a wheelchair. But, oh, she misses her mountain and her grandfather so much!

I remember that I read this as a child, and I loved it! I didn’t remember much about it, except that Heidi lived with her grandfather on a mountain. I remembered nothing else (until the characters were introduced: oh, yeah – Peter the goatherd and Clara, the girl in a wheelchair!). I started off thinking I’d rate this read of it (an audio) 4 stars, I decided on 3.5 (good). I suspect it might have been better to read it, rather than listen; however, fond memories remain. I did enjoy the reminder of what actually happened in the book (although it does seem I missed bits and pieces, here and there – I suspect I wouldn’t have if I’d not listened to the audio).

Wait Till Next Year: A Memoir
by Doris Kearns Goodwin
4/5 stars
Goodwin relates her life around the major events of the 1950’s including her love of the Brooklyn Dodgers and the hope that they will win the World Series, the changes in her neighborhood and her life in the Catholic Church. I thought this was wonderfully written and enjoyed learning about that time period through her eyes.

Kindred / Octavia Butler
2011 read: 4.5 stars

Dana is a 26-year old black woman married to a white man, Kevin. It is 1976. Suddenly, Dana finds herself on a slave plantation in the early 1800s. How did she get here and how does she get home again? Dana is pulled back and forth in time for varying amounts of time as she tries to figure out what's going on. She seems drawn to a white boy, Rufus, son of the plantation owner. Each time Dana is pulled back in time, she learns more and more about how to literally survive in this time, all the while witnessing and being right in the middle of, the horrors of slavery.

This was really good. I was drawn in right away and when I wasn't reading, I wanted to be. One thing that hadn't occurred to me until I was reading about that part was fitting back in to modern-day society after having been in such a radically different time and place for so long. The descriptions of the treatment of the slaves was horrifying and brought it all terrifyingly to life. This is one that did live up to the hype for me, and it will make my favourites list this year.

2019 reread: 5 stars

It’s not very often that a reread will result in a higher rating from me, but this one has. Maybe I’m just in a higher-rating mood, but wow! Warning: there is a lot of violence in this book, but I feel like that was the reality of slavery. And for a “modern-day” (from the 1970s, when the book was first written) woman to experience it… wow!

I read the 25th anniversary edition of the book (I’m pretty sure the same as I read last time), and I’m going to venture a guess (though it’s more tongue-in-cheek; I don’t really think this is why) that I docked the ½ star due to the boring, academically-written Reader’s Guide – it was kind of like an introduction or afterword to a classic (though I was glad it was in there after the book, not as an introduction – I hate those, since they usually give away some of what happens in the book!).

Blind Justice – Bruce Alexander
4****

Alexander has written a mystery featuring a real historical figure. Sir John Fielding was a celebrated magistrate in 18th century London. Blinded in a navy accident, he presided over the Bow Street Court, and was known for his ability to recognize criminals by the sound of their voices. He was also instrumental in founding London’s first professional police force, the Bow Street Runners.

Alexander’s novel relies on a young narrator. Thirteen-year-old Jeremy Proctor is an orphan who arrives in London and is the victim of scam artist who makes a living “catching thieves.” Sir John sees through the plot and offers to help Jeremy find a suitable position. But a “locked room” murder demands immediate attention, and Jeremy proves his worth as an assistant to Sir John.

I loved the characters in this book and found myself looking up various references to real people to get more back story. Alexander paints a vivid picture of 18th century London and the many injustices that her poor endured. Jeremy is a wonderful narrator – intelligent, studious, dedicated, eager to please, and observant. The supporting cast is top notch, especially: Mr Bailey, one of the constables in the Bow Street Runners; Mrs Gredge, the housekeeper; and Mr Donnelly, an Irish surgeon. There are several suspects and a few twists that keep the reader guessing.

I’ll read more of this series.

Thanks a Lot Mr. Kibblewhite - Roger Daltrey
5*****

Roger Daltrey is the voice of a generation. That generation was the first to rebel, to step out of the shadows of the Second World War . . . to invent the concept of the teenager. This is his story, from his birth during the air bombing of London in 1944, through tempestuous school days to his expulsion, at age fifteen, for a crime he did not commit (though he was guilty of many other misdemeanors he's gotten away with). Thanks to Mr. Kibblewhite, his draconian schoolmaster, it could all have ended there. The life of a factory worker beckoned.

Full disclosure: I had a huge crush on Tommy. Not necessarily on Roger Daltrey himself, but the character he played on the big screen, with that hair and that voice and the story itself. So when I made a second pilgrimage to New York this year, to the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the "Play It Loud" Exhibit, it seemed fitting that I bring this book with me. The Who's stage set-up was on display as was Pete Townshend's smashed guitar from a photo shoot.

And fortunately, this is a really enjoyable, well-written, honest autobiography. Roger Daltrey, like Greg Lake, grew up in a working-class, asbestos-infused neighborhood with many alternatives in his life that could have led to his working in a welding factory all his life, rather than becoming that distinctive voice in rock and roll music.

Daltrey brings in observations on his life (the shortened stature of children born in 1944 due to war-time food shortages) and music (the University of Sheffield's paper from 2005 on music and marginalized populations) as well as his family growing up in Shepherd's Bush, London, and their love for one another. And there is plenty of humor as well: he starts the book with a fainting episode that leads to his wondering how on earth he broke his back. The hospital had the X-Rays to prove it, and he had no memory of which of three falls might have done it!

There are also keen observations on his late bandmates, especially the self-destructive drive that led Keith Moon to an early, tragic death, and how John Entwistle died the way he would have wanted to. And there are the humanizing stories about life on the road in the early days, how their management team were so addicted to their own drugs that many of The Who's millions went up their noses, and the smaller venues where the band first played. And like Lake, Daltrey has been married to the same woman for decades.

The style is humanizing, there are plenty of slang terms, and it is easy to read without getting bogged down in self-effacement or band drama. And I am very, very glad that the Muses saw fit to bring Daltrey his first idea for a guitar (another humorous story) that led to a better guitar and finally to being a front-man for an iconic rock band.