sjmccreary reads in 2010

What perfect timing - was just wondering when the new group would be started only to discover that it was today! Thanks for waiting for me, Doc.

Last year was my first year in the group, and it quickly became my home base at LT. This is where I got to talk about each and every book I read, regardless of whether it counted for some other challenge or not. Trash and literature and everything in between. I love it here.

Last year I set a goal of 75 X 2 = 150 books. I never kept track before, but I believe that would have been a record-breaking pace for me. I think I'll come very close but will fall a little short. I was on track until a couple of weeks ago, and don't expect that I'll catch up in time for New Year's. I think for 2010 I will try to read a little less, so as to have more time for the other wonderful things in life. Only a little less. I'm going to set a goal of 120 books in 2010 - ten per month.

I like to include a short "review" for each book I read, and I love it when folks drop in to leave their 2 cents' worth. I'll be coming to visit you, too. Until January...

Welcome back!

Glad to see you back, Sandy!

starring your thread, Sandy!

Got you starred, Sandy. My 2010 reading goal is less, too. It might end up being the same amount of reading time but just resulting in fewer books.

Glad you're back, too!!

This is where I got to talk about each and every book I read, regardless of whether it counted for some other challenge or not. Trash and literature and everything in between. I love it here.

My sentiments exactly!

I've starred your thread, and look forward to seeing (and commenting on) what you read!

Glad to be coming back, and hoping to see all my old friends and make lots of new ones, too.

Well, I'm old...and I'm a friend...so I am starring you!

#8 lol! glad you're here!

Looking forward to seeing what all you read in 2010!

Welcome! I'm glad you're here.

Hello there!

Count me in as another one who's old and a friend!

Just starting to go through all the threads and find old friends - and if you're looking for 2 cents worth, don't forget I do that too on my blog! (Tutu's Two Cents) LOL....I'm excited about finding all my old and some new friends...

Hi! I think I've seen you in the alpha challenge and I've starred ya here. Happy reading.

This has been a very slow reading month, what with Christmas and family and work and all. But, I'm looking forward to getting back to normal in another week or so. I'm glad that there will be lots of friends to visit with here. I finally found this thread - had been lost in the crowd with everyone setting up for the new year - and wanted to greet everyone who stopped by and thank you for all the welcomes and good wishes.

Good luck! I'll look forward to reading and commenting on those reviews of yours this year.

I missed the lesson on how to do the link to a specific message, but my introduction is msg #48 on the introductions thread: http://www.librarything.com/topic/79114

Finally getting started...

Book #1



U is for Undertow by Sue Grafton

In this installment, 38-year old PI Kinsey Milhone is asked to look into an unsolved 21-year old kidnapping case when a young man suddenly remembers something he witnessed as a boy. Looking into the details of the case forces her to confront people and places and memories from her own high school days - before she became the confident and accomplished woman she is now.

This has been an amazing series. Twenty-one books now, and the quality of the writing has been pretty constant. I love that it is set in the 1980's - a time that I clearly remember, yet is so different from today. No one had cell phones or personal computers. There were still pay phones on every corner. Kinsey made notes on index cards and used a real typewriter to write reports. The fax machine was the biggest gee-whiz gadget around. I also enjoy reading descriptions of the the details of the California countryside surrounding the fictional Santa Teresa - a thinly disguised Santa Barbara. Kinsey spends more time writing reports and doing research in the library or courthouse than she does chasing bad guys. Her personal life is spent cleaning house and having dinner in the neighborhood diner. She complains about her relatives. She lives such an ordinary life. I adore her. And I loved this book. 4 stars.

Glad to see your post, Sandy. I was wondering what you were up to. I also wonder what Sue Grafton will do when she comes to her Z book? I read the first few many years ago and enjoyed them. Guess I got sidetracked and now I don't want to commit to reading that many books by the same author.

Happy New Year, Donna! I'm still here, but floundering a bit in my reading. I picked this book up out of frustration the other day and blew straight through it. This particular book would work as a stand-alone, if you're interested in reading it without going back through the entire series. As slow as the books are coming now, it'll still be a while before Grafton gets finished with "Z", I think. I haven't even considered what she might do, or what I hope she'll do, after that.

I really want to pick up the Grafton books, but I'm bit scared of a series that long.

Sandy, I started reading these when she started them, then got sidetracked by RL. I started them back up a few years ago, and I'm very stingy with them. I'm only up to R (although I own all but U), but I love them so much that I want to make them last. Like you, I love the 80's feel of them, and I am also amazed that she has kept them interesting.

Book #2



Dressed For Death by Donna Leon

The 3rd book in the excellent Commissario Guido Brunetti series set in Venice, Italy, this book opens with the discovery of the body of a prominent local banker dressed in a red dress and red high-heeled women's shoes and dumped in a field in an area frequented by prostitutes. Brunetti's investigation forces him to look closely into the normally hidden world of homosexual prostitution, transvestites, and men who like boys. A world that seems to populated by several prominent, and married, men. Add to this a possible scandal involving a well-known but little understood charity, and stifling summer heat that has Brunetti's family taking refuge in the cool mountains while he is forced to cancel his vacation and stay behind in the city. The result is a fast-paced and intense investigation where the bodies seem to be piling up faster than the clues.

Recommended - 4 stars.

Glad you're enjoying the Brunetti books. They're the only 'crime/detectiv' type fiction I read, and I thoroughly enjoy them, so I'm always pleased to see someone else enjoying them.

Book #3


The Art of the Compliment by Christie Matheson

A very short, fast-reading book (took me about an hour) that I picked up at the library today. Subtitled "Using Kind Words with Grace and Style", it talks about how, when, and to whom to give compliments, and how to receive them. (Briefly: sincerely, anytime, and anyone; smile and say "thank you".) Also provides cautions against insincere flattery, too-personal compliments, backhanded compliments, and fishing for compliments.

This is not your mother's etiquette book - one item on the list of "6 Compliments Guys Love to Get" is "Oh my. (In an awestruck tone of voice, in response to seeing a certain part of his anatomy for the first time.)" The next item on that list is "That was amazing" - presumably to be given soon after!

Neither good or bad - fine for what it is - a reminder to be nice to people. 3 stars.

Always a useful reminder! I think that receiving compliments properly is really difficult for a lot of people. Including me.

#27 I think you're right. That was actually the most helpful chapter of the book. Over and over, she said "smile and say 'thank you'". Refusing to accept or belittling the compliment only insults the giver. One exception: when the compliment belongs to someone else. "The dinner was fabulous" - "yes it was, Jennifer made it."

Saying "Thank you" to compliments is so hard for me too--especially when they don't feel true!

Hard for all of us, I think. She does give permission to smile wanly or grimly if the compliment is clearly insincere or backhanded, but smile we must and say "thank you"!

>26 sjmccreary:: That was the most humorous review I've read this year, Sandy. Now it's your turn to say, "Thank you!" :-)

#31 Thank you. :-)

You are most welcome.

That was the greatest advice someone gave me once, and I've been passing it on for years. The best reponse to a compliment is to smile and say "thank you." I'm happy to be validated!

Book #4



Late Nights on Air by Elizabeth Hay

Not at all the kind of book I normally enjoy. This is the story of a group of co-workers at a small radio station in Yellowknife, Northwest Territory, Canada in the mid-1970's. The big issue in the town at the time is whether a gas pipline will be permitted to be built from across the northern tundra bringing fuel to the cities in the south, with native people and environmentalists opposing the big oil companies. The Canadian government is committed to listening to all veiwpoints before making a fair and informed decision about whether to allow the project and so conducts a long series of formal and informal hearings in communities all over the country. The book focuses on the interrelationships within the group as couples form and break-up, and as those new to the business learn about radio from the old-timers. Everyone has come from a different "place" in the past and has different dreams and goals for their future.

The first half of the book is spent following all these people around - and slowly getting acquainted with each of them and with the town. Then, several of the station employees take a long canoe trip into "The Barrens" - a remote wilderness in the far north - in the summer. I enjoyed that part, since interesting things were happening. The end of the book acts as an epilogue - looking ahead at some of the characters several years in the future. Actually, the best part of the entire book was the many descriptions of the city of Yellowknife, of northern Canada and its native people, the landscape and wildlife, the pace and rhythm of life, and the contrast of short summers with long days and long dark winters.

It's probably a pretty good book, but these long character studies are just beyond me. I loved the descriptions of the place, and I enjoyed the adventure of the canoe trip, but the rest of the book spent listening to people think about their lives and their relationships got real old, real fast, for me. Since that was such a huge part of the book, I'm giving it 2-1/2 stars.

I hope you like your next book better, Sandy!

I don't know, I may have to check Late Nights On Air out just for the canoe trip stuff--that's my family's business, whitewater canoeing (www.canoewest.net), but the rest of the book sounds kind of grim. Thanks for the review.

#36 Thanks, me too!

#37 Oh, by all means, give it a try. They weren't doing whitewater canoeing, but I'm sure you'll still enjoy that section. Just remember, I'm easily distracted and lose interest quickly if there isn't a lot of stuff happening in my book! The slow paced, introspective books that many people love don't do it for me. This book fell someplace in the middle. I hope you'll like it.

Late Nights on Air sounds interesting. I'll look for it at the library. Excellent review and assessment of the reasons it didn't work for you. T'would be a dull old world if we all liked the same things, eh? ;)

#39 Very true - maybe you'll enjoy it more than I did.

Book #5



Naoko by Keigo Higashino

Thanks to RidgewayGirl for recommending this book. This is an unusual story about a Toyko family. The mother, Naoko, and her 11-year old daughter are travelling on a crowded ski bus going to visit Naoko's family who lives in the mountains. The driver, fatigued from overwork, loses control of the bus and it drives over the edge of the cliff into a deep ravine. Naoko is severly injured but conscious when her husband, Heisuke, arrives at the hospital. He is able to reassure her that their daughter, Monami, is also still alive and pushes their beds together so that Naoko is able to touch Monami's hand. Hands still clasped, Naoko dies peacefully. Days later, when Monami emerges from the coma she'd been in, Heisuke is shocked to discover that it is Naoko's spirit that is living inside Monami's body.

After Monami's release from the hospital, Heisuke and Naoko struggle to find a new way of living together. They are still in love, still committed to one another, yet not quite married anymore. Heisuke must deal with advice from others, including his father-in-law, that he should look for another wife. But how can he, when Naoko is still there in his house? Naoko, on the other hand, still has the thoughts and memories of a grown woman but is confined to a girl's body. Suddenly she is facing puberty all over again. However, she has the opportunity to make different life choices than she did the first time around. What would Heisuke think if she decides to seek an education and career this time - taking a different path than the one that led them to meet and fall in love?

The synopis on the cover of the book describes it as "a black comedy of hidden minds and lives". I think that is misleading - I'd have called it "a poignant story of love and loss". The main character in the book is Heisuke, and the story is told from his point of view. He struggles with being a father to his wife and a husband to his daughter. Neither is right. He loves them both. One of them is gone, but he doesn't know who to mourn. 4 stars.

edit to correct an error in my synopsis

That sounds very interesting. Must put it on the giant wishlist.

Nice review--even though that wife-in-your-daughter's-body thing sounds more than a little creepy!

#42 Hope you'll like it.

#43 Yes, it does! But the professional author did a much better job with the situation in his book than I did in 3 paragraphs, so don't let that put you off.

Naoko sounds very interesting. A must-read.

hmmmmm.....I'm so glad I read your review, but I'm not sure this one is for me........I will however, at least have something to bouce off of when I come across this one.

#41: Adding that one to the BlackHole. Thanks for the recommendation, Sandy.

Naoko does sound interesting! I'll add it to my TBR.

Book #6



In the Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming

This was probably my 5th re-reading of this book, the first in the series featuring Clare Ferguson, a retired Army helicoper pilot who has recently been ordained as an Episcopal priest. She has just been assigned to St. Alban's church in fictional Miller's Kill, New York, a small upstate town near Albany. On the night of her welcoming reception in early December, she finds a baby on the steps of the church with a note directing that he be given to the Burnses, a childless couple in the church. While waiting with the baby in the hospital emergency room, she is introduced to Russ VanAlstyne, the chief of police in Miller's Kill and also retired Army. Clare inserts herself into the investigations into the identity of the baby's parents and the murder of a college student believed to be the baby's mother.

This series is one of my favorites. Clare is impulsive and forceful, but Russ seems to be delighted with her and they quickly become friends. I love the descriptions of the Adirondack region, with its rugged terrain and harsh winter weather. I've read the entire series, and am currently waiting for the next book to come out in June. Each installment touches on a different important social issue - eagerly embraced by Clare in her attempt to save the world. The relationship between Clare and Russ is beautifully written. He is married, she is a priest - talk about star-crossed lovers! I find myself returning to these books over and over again. 4-1/2 stars.

>49 sjmccreary:: That sounds like an interesting series. If I break my self-imposed rule of "no new mystery series this year until you finish some", I may try it.

ETA: Hmm, I went to add it to the Wish List and found it already there from a recommendation by laytonwoman3rd. Oh well. :-)

#50 Well, Tad, if you already had it on your wish list, does it really count as a "new" series? I hope you'll like it, whenever you get around to it!

Sandy, I never realized that the Julia Spencer-Fleming series was among your favorites. I've owned a copy of In the Bleak Midwinter for years but just have never gotten around to it.

Maybe now I will. Thanks.

The Julia Spencer-Fleming deries sounds interesting. I will look for them!

I, too, am waiting anxiously for Julia Spencer-Fleming's next installment in the Claire and Russ saga. This is definitely a favorite series of mine! (And, IMHO, if one is going to break a self-imposed ban on starting new series, this is the series to do it for!)

#52 What have you been waiting for?!

#53 You won't regret it.

#54 You know, I'm trying to remember if I've ever seen someone who's read the series and said they don't like it. I don't think I ever have.

My two cents for the Spencer-Fleming series: I love it.

Bizarre question but.........how 'religious' is the series? What I mean by this is I am immediately nervous about the fact she is a priest as I have some problems with organised religion (nothing against anyone or any beliefs, its just issues from my childhood) so I can't cope too well with lots of churchy stuff........

So, would I be okay trying this or should I not even consider it?

#57 I think you might be OK - the character Russ has many of the same issues. Clare is just a woman who happens to be a priest. When she talks about God and faith, I don't think she comes across as "churchy" - she is very open and accepting of everyone around her. Maybe some of the others who have also read the series will chime in with their opinions, too.

#57 - I agree with Sandy, this is NOT a preachy series at all....there are times I expect her to burst forth in bible quotes, hand holding prayers, and "preachies" but it just doesn't happen. Remember, this female priest is an ex Army helo pilot, and not what anybody expects (I almost sometimes see The Vicar of Dibley).... I don't think you'll have any problems with it.

I read Naoko last year. Your review is wonderful. I agree that the book is not "black humor" but is a poignant love story, and very believable.

#60 Thank you for your kind comment. I still find myself thinking about that book - it's rather haunting, isn't it?

ABANDONED



Sicilian Tragedee by Ottavio Cappellani

I GIVE UP!! This was an ER book, so I really, really tried to stick with it and give it a fair trial. I am more than half way through, and have been working on it for a month now. But, I just can't stand it any longer.

Set in Sicily in what seems to be the present, there are 2 main plot threads: a mobster is trying to marry off his daughter to his rival, and a theater director is working on a gay version of Romeo and Juliet, where the star-crossed lovers are Romeo and Mercutio, not Juliet. Truthfully? I'm only able to tell you that much because I read it on the back cover of the book. That was the problem - I have absolutely no idea what is going on, who the characters are and what their relationships are with one another, or why I should be interested in any of them. There isn't a single sympathetic character in this entire book - every one of them is scheming to fool someone else or advance themself. The dialogue is inane. There aren't even any descriptions of the lovely Mediterranean location to enjoy.

No recommendations from me on this one either way. Read some of the other reviews and try it for yourself if it sounds interesting, but I'm not wasting another minute of my time with it.

#62: I have seen mixed reviews of that one and I do not think I could hang with it either. Hope the next read is better for you, Sandy.

#63 Thanks, Stasia. Tina read it and really liked it, so I expected to, as well. If it hadn't been an ER book, I would have dumped it long ago. Actually, a movie version would probably be pretty good - but for some reason, I just can't get through this book. Worst of all, it's been keeping me from some of my other books, since I "needed" to be reading this one if I was going to read - so I just didn't read much!

#64: That is the one thing that I hate about ER books - I always feel like I could be reading something else, lol.

I used to be excited to get a book for free, and I still think there are good books available through ER, but sometimes it feels too much like, "You get what you pay for!"

#65, 66 I often think the same things! But, then I remember that I got Scottsboro from the ER program - that was a great book! I also discovered Arnaldur Indridason and Steve Berry from ER books, and they've turned out to be a couple of my recent favorite authors. So, I just try to be selective in making requests and hope for the best.

I can understand how many would find this book (#62) confusing. I've been to Catania Sicily (in fact spent several weeks there) and have many crazy 'artsy' Italian relatives who could be cast in this book quite easily. I absolutely loved it, but really can see where others would sit scratching their heads and saying "HUH?"

Of course, lots of people have that feeling about Shakespeare and there's the fun...

#62 It has a very interesting cover... :)

#68 Yeah, that pretty much describes my reaction!

#69 lol!

# 65, 66, 67 I've had amazingly good luck with my ER books. I discovered Louise Penny through the first one, and On Hallowed Ground was wonderful. Blessedly, the one that was really so-so was short. Now I'm starting the new Linwood Barclay novel, which seems to have some potential, though it looks like it's going in a direction that I don't like -- not that it's bad, just some types of plot lines push the wrong buttons with me.

#57 Re: the Julia Spencer-Fleming series, one of the things that I like about it is that it portrays a clergyperson as a "normal" person, not someone who is all preachy and pious and reverent all the time. And she has her own problems with the institutional church as the series progresses.

I've had some pretty good ERs too. The Black Tower, Bleeding Heart Square, The Risk of Darkness gave me the entire SImon Serrailler series by Susan Hill, Jack Kilborn's Afraid that both the wife and I enjoyed, and lately Vienna Secrets that appears to have added another series to my list of ones to follow.

Of course, I'e had some real clunkers too, including one or two that I couldn't finish.

Book #7



Death of a Valentine by M C Beaton

There's not much to say about the Hamish MacBeth series that hasn't already been said. This book is as wonderful as I'd hoped it would be.

The book opens with Hamish standing at the altar listening to the minister exhorting the congregation to speak now or forever hold their peace and sending silent prayers to the ceiling for divine intervention in rescuing him from the situation. Immediately we flash back for the story of how he came to be standing there with Josie.

Classic Hamish - he still just wants to be left alone in his rural police station. My only complaint about this one - he has developed a rather sharp edge and some of his comments/actions seem intentionally hurtful. Still, .... 4 stars.

Oh I'm excited....I was #17 on the list at the library, but it came in today. As soon as I finish Fireworks over Toccoa really good btw, I'm diving in. can't wait.

Sandy, I'm glad you liked it!!

#72 Sorry for the delay in responding - wanted to post that book then had to rush off. I only received Bleeding Heart Square last week (10 months late!), but I'm glad to hear that it is good. I've also seen that Susan Hill series, but haven't tried any yet. Plus, it's very nice to know that I'm not the only one to give up on an ER book and not even finish it - I was actually feeling a little guilty about that. But, I'm just so relieved to be rid of it!

#74 You'll like it, I promise. I stayed up late last night reading, and finished it up this morning.

Late to the party, but wanted to say, Late Night on Air sounds like something I would like, sort of Northern Exposure-ish. Even though you weren't crazy about it thanks for bringing it to my attention.

I haven't read his Bleeding Heart Square, but Taylor's An Unpardonable Crime was a great read.

#77 Lynda, that's an interesting observation - I loved Northern Exposure. Maybe the difference for me was TV series vs. novel. I like different kinds of stories in the two different media.

#78 jadebird - I'd never heard of Andrew Taylor before winning Bleeding Heart Square from the ER program. I had no idea he's written so many books! I'll try An Unpardonable Crime next, if I like BHS.

Book #8



Fifty Grand by Adrian McKinty

Six months after her father, a defector to the US in 1993, was killed in a hit and run accident in a "Hollywood" town in Colorado, Havana (Cuba) detective Mercado poses as an illegal Mexican immigrant to investigate the accident.

A good, but not great, mystery. More interesting for the inside look at the lives of illegal immigrants. Especially revealing is the tendency of affluent white Americans to underestimate the intelligence and awareness of latin immigrants just because they struggle with the language and have menial jobs. Mercado majored in English and Russian at university and is a trained law enforcement officer and investigator, yet she became invisible - little more than furniture - when she donned a maid's uniform and spoke with an accent. The descriptions of Colorado are excellent, and so I assume those of Cuba are equally accurate. (The author is Irish, so would be free to travel to Cuba to gather material for his book.) I think the title refers to the number of times some form of the f-word is used in the book. Overall, I liked it. 3-1/2 stars

Book #9



The Moonflower Vine by Jetta Carleton

A look at the lives of a farm family in western Missouri during the first half of the 20th century. By turns, each family member comes under the microscope and their thoughts and feelings and goals and dreams are exposed to us. Mistakes, flaws, shortcomings are all revealed, but we still accept and love them - as families do. Much pain, much joy - as families have.

Beautifully written - these characters come to life. The times and places they lived in are also vivid. No real plot here, just the rambling story of the life of a family told from different perspectives - sometimes overlapping, sometimes not. Quiet, soothing, but sometimes gets too close for comfort. Very nice. 4 stars.

Sandy, this is about what I'm thinking about The Moonflower Vine, too. No real plot, which was kind of annoying to me at first but the story just grabbed me in.

I'm about 45 percent through it so far and hope to finish by Sat or Sun.

I love how Carleton has separate sections on each character's perspective of events.

Linda - it was still kind of annoying, even at the end. It just didn't feel like a novel. You know me - I like lots of plot in my novels! I enjoyed the book, and am glad I read it. I doubt I would have picked it up on my own, so I have the group to thank for this one - especially Donna, since I think this was her pick.

I was thinking that, too. I never, ever would've heard of this one if not for the group.

I read In the Bleak Midwinter a few years ago for an email mystery fiction discussion group. I didn't like it all that much, generally we gave the book a bit of a rough time. We weren't aware (although we would probably have said most of it anyway) but the author was reading the discussion.

A few months later at a mystery convention I took some photos of her with two authors whose work I like a lot, who work in a very different style, and her husband asked me to email some of the photos. (I tried but I think the emails bounced).

#85 Oops! It must take really thick skin to be able to put your hard work out there for everyone to criticize - I'm not sure I could be an author (aside from the part about needing to be a good writer). But we all like different things, don't we? Do you remember what you didn't like about Bleak Midwinter? Did you ever try any of her other books?

Book #10



This is Your Brain on Music by Daniel J Levitin

Written by a music recording engineer turned neuroscientist, this book discusses the different ways we are impacted by the music we hear. He explains some basic music theory and shows us the scientific evidence that even nonmusicians are aware of changes in key, rhythm, melodic phrasing and harmonics. When we listen to music, our entire brains become active, from the oldest, "reptilian brain" cerebellum to the highest, most recently developed frontal cortex, and many areas in between. He argues that, contrary to some opinions, music is not useless consequence of human evolution. He takes the stand that music was a basic step in human development, perhaps even earlier than spoken language.

I found the book to be well-written. The scientific concepts are explained clearly and are easy to understand. The musical concepts were also presently clearly and with dozens of examples. I enjoyed it very much. 4 stars.

#87: That one looks interesting. I will have to see if I can find a copy. Thanks for the recommendation, Sandy.

I gave that book to my son the music teacher last year. I should borrow it back.

This is Your Brain on Music sounds good, Sandy. Not my usual thing at all but I think I'd like to read it.

(I'm now 75 percent through The Moonflower Vine and my views about the characters are changing constantly.)

#89 You should. My son, the high school musician, was fascinated by the book, and asked me everyday what I'd learned. It is just too much for him to read on his own right now, but if he actually does take a music major in college, I'd like to get him this book.

#90 Give it a try - it's pretty easy reading. I'm looking forward to everyone's comments about Moonflower Vine tomorrow.

I went right over to my library's web site to add my name to the hold list for This is Your Brain on Music. I think my own high school musician will find it interesting. Thank you!

ooo...I'm thinking my son the musician would love this one. I'd better read it first tho, because he'll want to discuss and discuss and discuss....

Book #11



The Center of Everything by Laura Moriarty

I just finished this wonderful book, but don't have time to do a review right away. Plus, I think I need time to gather my thoughts.

#94: My local library has that one! I will have to see if I can get hold of it some time soon.

#95 I think you'll enjoy this book, Stasia.

The Center of Everything by Laura Moriarty

This is the story of Evelyn - a young girl in about the 4th grade at the beginning of the book. It is 1980 and Ronald Reagan is running for president. She lives with her mother, Tina, a single parent, in a apartment outside a small town in central Kansas. Her town is in the center of Kansas, which is in the center of the United States, which is in the center of the world map hanging in her classroom at school. The book follows Evelyn's life through her high school graduation, and places us at the center of her world as she struggles to understand it. There are awkward family relationships - her grandfather does not approve of her mother (who became an unwed teenage mother in the early 1970's). But national politics are confusing, too - if President Reagan is so good and caring, then how could he have known about the Iran-contra affair and allowed it to continue? She is also in the center of the community's heated debate about whether her beloved science teacher will be permitted to teach evolutionary theory in a community where her trusted pastor and her grandmother are both among the fundamentalist Christians who oppose it. (Placing Kansas education standards in the center of the national attention - which was every bit as embarrassing as Moriarty describes.) And, of course, every high school has its different groups of students - the rich and privileged, the delinquents, the good students, and the drop-outs. Evelyn's friends and enemies came from all these groups, putting her in the center of the conflicts and drama present on all campuses.

I thought this book was wonderful. Very true-to-life. Some of the problems in Evelyn's life work out well, others don't work out at all. An excellent look at a struggling family - where the mother often can't afford to work, because she can't make enough money to pay for child care, or even reliable transportation in a rural community were public transportation does not exist. Evelyn manages to grow to become a young woman who is able to make up her own mind about what is important to her, and what she wants from her life, even when some of the people she loves and respects disapprove or disagree. 4-1/2 stars.

Yes, I definitely want to get my hands on that one. Thanks for the recommendation, Sandy!

Center of Everything sounds good -- and our county library has it!

>94 sjmccreary:: Sandy, I read that one several years ago after reading about it in the Kansas City Star. I remember that Moriarty is a local author, but I don't remember the setting. Would her books be good choices for the Missouri Readers group? That's the only one of hers that I've read.

#99 She's a Kansan - graduated from KU - and her books are all set in Kansas, which would be considered local for the Star. I don't know much about her, but enjoyed this book very much and am planning to try another of hers later. I'd be willing to do a group read, if the rest of the group is interested.

I can't remember enough about In the Bleak Midwinter now. It got a lot of debut mystery awards and was up against much better contenders - this must have been over 6 years ago, in 2003. I didn't think it was terrible, just that it wasn't great. Something bugged me about the main character. But I really just don't remember that well. I do still have the second in the series though I don't know if I'll ever get to it. There are so many books I really want to read.

I love the sound of In the Center of Everything.

>87 sjmccreary:: The Levitin book sounds very interesting.

Book #12



Ghosts, Apparitions and Poltergeists by Brian Righi

A very short, easy to read book about all things ghostly. That was the problem for me. Too short a book trying to talk about too many different things. I don't think there is anything here that hasn't been done in a Discovery Channel or History Channel program, so if this subject is one you have a real interest in, you will likely be disappointed, since you probably already know everything that's in here. On the other hand, I really don't have more than a passing interest, so there was new stuff in here for me. Trouble is, I don't really care about it. The only sort of interesting chapter (more for its novelty than its content) was on how to conduct a ghost hunt of your own. If you just can't pass it up, then at least get it from the library and save your money for something else more substantial. 2 stars.

#103: Hey, one on your thread I can finally pass up! I am celebrating, lol.

Same here. Sorry it was such a disappointment!

#104 Just for you, Stasia!

#105 Ah, well. I knew when I picked it out that it was questionable - since supernatural phenomenon are not a particular interest of mine. I'm trying to expand my horizons, so to speak. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

I'd like to expand my horizons on the subject as well, though I have no serious interest into in-depth study... so I think that book might be right for me. If the library has a copy, that it!

#107 Sure, what have you got to lose? Hope you find it more interesting than I did!

#106: I appreciate you thinking of me :)

Book #13



Mixed Blood by Roger Smith

This thriller is not so much a roller coaster ride as a free fall - there are no "ups". Beginning with Jack Burn, an American who was involved in a bank robbery in Milwaukee that resulted in the death of a police officer. Never mind that he was a reluctant participant, he is now on the run. And he has run, together with is 4-year old son and heavily pregnant wife, to Cape Town, South Africa. Of course, with the millions from the bank robbery (he was reluctant to participate in the robbery, but all too willing to accept the booty), they live comfortably and peacefully in the most exclusive part of town. The rest of the city is a cess pool. Crime and corruption are rampant. So bad, in fact, that the new house being built next door to the Burn's has an overnight security guard to watch the property when there are no workers on site. This guard, an ex-con gang member trying to go straight, sees quite a lot - including the 2 men from a rival gang entering the back of the Burn's house just as they are sitting down to dinner. But they don't come back out. He hears a shot, then later an ambulance drives up and takes Mrs Burn away. Mr Burn and the boy follow in their car and all is quiet. For a while.

Meanwhile, Inspector Rudi Barnard, the most disgusting and corrupt character I've come across in a long time, is looking for these same 2 intruders - wanting to collect his share of the money from their drug sales. When he doesn't find them where they should be, he begins to become suspicious. Later, their car is discovered on the street next to the Burn house and Barnard begins to investigate Jack.

There are no nice people in this book. Everyone has something to hide, but Smith does a good job making several of them sympathetic, in spite of their backgrounds. I found myself rooting for both Jack and the night watchman. As I said, Barnard was a filthy, disguisting person - and Smith never let us forget it - commenting in every scene about his obesity, or halitosis, or corruption, or racist beliefs, or something. A very satisfying villian. The setting is grim, but Smith is South African and makes it believable - however awful. The book reads quickly, and is hard to put down. Kind of like a traffic accident - there's nothing you really want to see, but you can't keep from looking all the same. Very good for what it is - a fast paced thriller, with lots of violence, strong language, and drug use. 4 stars.

Wow, great review! I've added it to my wishlist - I'm in that kind of mood sometimes.

#110: I think I am going to have to pass on that one, at lest for now. I do not think I can do 'grim' right now :)

#111 I know what you mean about being in that mood - not sure what that says about me, but I like reading about serial killers and corrupt police officers!

#112 Quite alright - this is definitely not a book for everyone. Two in a row for you - how am I doing?

This also would appeal to me -- when in the right (or wrong?) kind of mood. :)

Great review!

What a revew! However, I think I'm going to pass on this one, had a bad bad guy earlier and not ready for another one.

#113: Keep up the good work! :)

Book #14



Blood Work by Michael Connelly

By the same author as the popular Harry Bosch series, this book introduces retired FBI agent Terry McCaleb. Terry had taken early retirement due to health reasons, but is now recovering from a heart transplant and looking forward to a newly lengthened life span. When Terry is approached by a young woman who saw an article about him in the newspaper and who is asking him to investigate the death of her sister, he refuses. His health is still too delicate. But when she informs him that his new heart came from her sister, he is unable to ignore the challenge. Gloria Torres was killed in an apparently random convenience store hold-up, that also took the life of the store's owner. The police have been unsuccessful in locating the killer. As Terry begins digging into the case, he discovers that there are ties between this case and another. That case, in turn, leads him to more clues which eventually (of course) lead him to the culprit.

As with the Harry Bosch books, I thought this one was very good. Terry is probably a little too astute, or lucky, when discovering clues and leads that other investigators have missed, but that is forgivable. I am enjoying Conelly's books, and I understand that the next one A Darkness more than Night will feature both Harry Bosch and Terry McCaleb. There was also a mention of Mickey Haller, an attorney who also becomes a central character in Connelly's books later in the series. (It was the first Mickey Haller book, Lincoln Lawyer which made me notice Michael Connelly in the first place.) We'll need a road map soon. 4 stars.

Connelly is one of those authors that everyone I know praises to the skies and that, for some reason, I've never read... I've got mixed views of 'noir' and gritty hard as nails PI type characters, and correctly or not, I've sort of seen his books as falling into this category. At some point, I'll have to buckle, I know...

By the way, the movie with Clint Eastwood is outstanding!

#117: Missed me with a book bullet again! I have already read that one. Whew!

#119 There's a movie from this book? Same title?

#121: Sandy, you can find the info on the movie here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0309377/

Book #15



The Alexander Cipher by Will Adams

Daniel Knox is an American Egyptologist who has been blackballed for some reason that I don't recall, and begins the book as a dive instructor in the Red Sea - hoping for a chance to get involved in another excavation, maybe an underwater search for the possible sunken treasure of Alexander the Great's funeral procession. (He is some kind of expert on Alexander the Great.) When he discovers a rich and powerful man raping a young woman on the boat and savagely attacks him, Knox must then escape quickly to avoid the repercussions that are sure to follow. Without taking time to retrieve any belongings from his apartment, he begins driving deep into Egypt. He eventually ends up in Alexandria, on the doorstep of a friend who has just gotten a call to investigate a new find - a possible Macedonian tomb.

Meanwhile, off in northern Greece, another rich and powerful man is carefully orchestrating an uprising of the Macedonian people to demand and fight for their restored nationhood by claiming that Alexander the Great was the subject of one of Daniel's old testament prophecies which is due to be fulfilled just about now. The discovery of Alexander's tomb and body - and its return home to Macedonia - would be just the thing to really excite the people to the cause.

Of course Knox gets involved in the search for Alexander's tomb, managing to elude disocvery by the first man who is searching for him. There are lots of intertwined relationships in the people he meets - his own parents were killed in the same accident as another archeaologist's husband. He himself was the protege of the translator's father, and so on. All very coincidental. But it was OK - not so many people or relationships that it was hard to keep track of while reading. The descriptions of the different Egyptian sites were wonderful and there were several nice little twists and turns in the story. This was just a fast-paced, fun read. 4 stars.

#123: Well, I hope you are happy. You got me with that one!

#124 lol! I let you slide for 3 books in a row - any more than that and you'd get bored and give up visiting here!

I guess I should be grateful for 3 misses in a row (but I am not) lol.

I didn't like the first Connelly book I read much, The Concrete Blonde but read another, more recent one in the series for an email book group discussion which I liked much better - I think it was The Closers.

#126 Some people are just never happy!

#127 I didn't like the first Connelly book I read, either - the first Harry Bosch book. But then I read Lincoln Lawyer and loved it. The overwhelming opinion here on LT was that the Harry Bosch series was good, so I gave it another try. I still didn't like the first book much, but they have gotten steadily better since then. Are you going to try to go back and pick up the books you skipped over, or are you happy just reading them as you happen to come across them?

#128: That would be me!

OK, I'm torn on the Will Adams novel. I'm fascinated by archaeology (especially of the underwater variety) but then came biblical prophecy, and I sort of groaned to myself -- no more Da Vinci code wannabes, puhleeeeez.... (I actually couldn't get through that book... if anyone wants my nearly pristine copy, just PM me...) Still, I may crumble. I'll see where the book is available & at what price...

#130 The biblical prophecy only appears in the one scene at the beginning of the book - it is just a tool that the Greek guy uses to get the people riled up to his cause. The rest of the book focuses on the Alexander search. Can you find it at a library where the cost isn't an issue?

#128 I don't know - I have a huge collection of unread mysteries as well as lots of other books, and I might read more Connelly at some point but it would probably take something to pull me back. Maybe if I get back into doing group reads at the email list that was the reason I tried Connelly before. I dropped out of group reads and drifted into lurkdom soon after I became pregnant with my first baby.

#132 Oh, well - babies are better than any book! But there's no reason to read any book that you don't really want to read. No matter how many other people love it.

Book #16



Garnethill by Denise Mina

Maureen O'Donnell just received confirmation that her lover is married and she is planning to break off the relationship. She goes out with her girlfriends after work and comes home drunk, going straight to bed. In the morning when she gets up, she discovers his mutilated body tied to a chair in her living room. She was pretty angry at him, and doesn't really remember anything from the night before, and there was no sign of forced entry into her house, so of course police suspect her from the beginning. The fact that she had been confined to a psychiatric hospital, and continues to receive psychiatric care, only increases the police's reluctance to trust Maureen or believe any of her statements. Her mental problems came about as a direct result of the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of her father. Her mother and sisters have not been supportive of her, and have even questioned her assertions of incest. As a result, the family relationships are very strained and only her brother is firmly on her side. Maureen decides that, if she is to avoid being falsely accused of the crime, she needs to discover the true culprit before anyone else is hurt.

This book started slow for me, but gradually built up momentum. Maureen has had a hard life, and that has given her a steely edge, but inside she is compassionate and caring - especially with other mentally ill patients. She talks several times about how she had been treated when she was in hospital, and is especially unforgiving of her family for not believing her or supporting her. Not a lot of direct attention was given to the abuse from her father, but quite a lot of time is devoted to the repurcussions of that abuse. It is hard to tell sometimes, who is a "good guy" and who isn't. The mystery of the murder is revealed in the end, but lots of other lose ends were left hanging - I'll be checking to see if there is a sequel. 4 stars.

Great review of Garnethill but you'll have to pardon me for taking a pass on the TBR pile for awhile....that kinda subject matter is stuff I can only read in very small batches, and only when I'm really in the mood.

Garnethill is first in a trilogy - the others are Exile and Resolution. Denise Mina is one of my favourite writers.

#134/135: I am with Tina on this one. I will have to give it a pass for now.

Make that 3, I'll pass.

I'll give Garnethill a go, it seems like Maureen is an unusual protagonist for a mystery and I like that you say the mystery is good too.

#135, 137, 138 I guess these passes are fair, since I typically pass on the cozies that you all enjoy. Maybe I'll be able to convince you next time!

#136 I've already added Exile to my wishlist, and am looking forward to more of Maureen O'Donnell

#139 I hope you'll like it - Maureen is not a simple character, and there are so many possibilities of ways for Mina to handle her.

Book #17



The Outlander by Gil Adamson

Stupid computer - I wrote a lovely review of this book, but sadly it is now lost forever.

Briefly - this is the story of a 19-year old woman in Alberta, Canada in 1903. Mary Boulton has just killed her husband and is now on the run from her two brothers-in-law. Ill-suited for the wilderness she is traveling through, it isn't clear at first whether the killing was prompted by some trauma or whether she is simply "mad". She meets several people along the way who show her kindness and provide help. Beautiful descriptions of the Canadian rockies, and of the towns she passes through and the people she meets. I found it to be un-put-down-able, and finished it in a single day. Not fast paced, but plods along steadily one step at a time. I lost track of time just as Mary did (both in the story and in real life). Recommended. 4 stars.

#141: I have that one set aside to read this year. I checked it out of the library last year to read and the book reeked so badly of cigarette smoke I had to return it unread.

#142 Eww, gross. Did you get your hands on a clean copy, then? Sometimes books from the library have funny smells, but I don't think I've ever had one so bad that I couldn't stand to have it in the house.

#143: Yes, I finally got a copy through PBS. I just have not managed to get it read yet, lol.

>141 sjmccreary:: The Outlander is on my dog-eared wish list. I have a small notebook that goes with me to the used bookstores and library sales. I used to have my wish list in my head, but all the slots got filled! Sorry you lost your review but your comments were enough for me to remember why I want to read it. Thanks for the memory jog.

Abandoned - for now, at least



Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John Le Carre

I'd been planning on this book for a while, and was especially looking forward to it after Jennifer enjoyed it so much last month. But it is just not working for me right now - I'm half way through, and have a basic understanding of the plot, but am not sure who all the characters are or what they are each trying to do. When I read The Spy Who Came in From the Cold last year, I noticed the same thing - the feeling of not quite knowing what was going on throughout the entire book, and then it ended. I was hoping that, having finished one book, the second might be a little clearer. Not so. Maybe I've just got the wrong format - I've been listening to an audio version in the car. So, maybe it would be better in print, or at home where I can devote larger chunks of time. At any rate, I've been feeling increasingly impatient with this book because it is going so slow and keeping me from other things I'm anxious to get at. So, reluctantly, I'm setting it aside with the hope that I'll come back to it someday.

#146: I finished that one last year but it really did not do anything for me either. I was very disappointed because I thought it was going to be a book I would enjoy.

#147 I had such high hopes for the entire series that I was still looking forward to this book even after the other one was so under-whelming. I'm willing to give Le Carre another try someday, but I'm not going to be feeling any obligation to do so.

Good Golly, Sandy, you've read so many interesting books this year I'm just going to favoritize your whole library.

#148: I probably not going to go back to Le Carre any time soon. Several 75ers whose opinions I respect highly recommend the books, which always makes me wonder what it is that they 'get' about the books that I do not. I will probably revisit 10 years or so from now (if I am still here) and see if my perspective has changed, but not in the near future.

#149 What a nice thing to say, Lynda - just when I was thinking that this year has gotten off to a lackluster start!

#150 Whatever they are "getting" about those books that you aren't, I'm not either!

#151: Well, at least I am in good company!

Denise Mina is one of those authors that everyone keeps urging me to read, and that I'm sure I'll find eminently enjoyable. LeCarre is another -- a friend actually gave me what I think of as "The Classic Trilogy" for Xmas 2008, and I haven't had the courage to confess I haven't read them yet...

I enjoyed the LeCarre novels very much when I first read them, but it was a long time ago. I'd guess that a lot of the unwritten background of the stories assumes a commonly-held perspective of the political atmosphere of the day. The world picture and our understanding of national and international connections is so very different now than it was during those Cold War times that it may leave a significant disconnect between the reader's awareness and the basic foundations of the story lines.

#154 Marilyn, you make a good point. I don't think it is the unfamiliar political environment that is causing my problem, however. I remember the cold war and the tensions that existed then, and felt like I could see them in these books. Science fiction shows us that it is possible for a good author to get readers to accept and understand a totally fictional society. I think - in this case, at least - my problem is more an issue of not making a connection with this author. Another author would have been able to write these stories so that I can understand them and enjoy them. It's the writing style I struggle with, not the plot or setting.

This is something I don't normally do, but I want to tell everyone about a wonderful movie we watched last evening on DVD. It's called "Like Stars on Earth". It is an Indian movie but is being distributed in the US by Disney - I found it at the library. A little long - 2-1/2 hours - it had my husband squirming in his seat, but I was entranced. Tells the story of a family with 2 sons -the older is an overachiever, top in his class, and his father's pride and joy. The younger, though, struggles. He can't pay attention, doesn't follow directions, can't read or do math, he can't even dress himself properly. His grades are terrible and his behavoir is getting worse. Finally, in desperation, his father sends him off to boarding school where he hopes they will be able to do something with him. At first the new school looks like more of the same, but then we meet this one teacher.... It is a touching look at the struggles that a learning-disabled child faces, and his mother's anguish. (Something I could identify with a little, having 4 ADHD children and sitting through more unpleasant school conferences than I can count.) The movie does not rush and, in typical Bollywood fashion, has periodic musical interludes that I enjoyed very much but which is what sent Hubby over the edge. Recommended (by me, at least!).

Interestingly, we watched a second DVD last night, too. "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" wasn't nearly as good, but it also featured a school boy who doesn't fit in, who is ridiculed and made fun of, but who grows up to become someone amazing who changes the world. This one is much shorter (thankfully) and will be better tolerated by squirming boys - including the middle-aged variety!

Thanks for the movie - it sounds very good...we live with similar issues at our house. Maybe why I like bouncing around the LT threads so much!

#141

Just wanted to say I love the cover of The Outlander but unfortunately don't think it's for me. I can admire the prettiness though :)

I commend you for sitting through two and a half hours of anything with Bollywood musical interludes. I have this memory of a movie that I rented once, thinking that it was some kind of historical movie - I love historical movies. I kind of got the wind up when all of these poor villagers were going about their business in this little, very primative village and I noticed that their clothes were all very clean. Being a movie made in the modern era I thought that this was very odd - one thing about modern-made movies, they don't mind throwing a little mud on the actors if it is appropriate to the time - and sure enough, suddenly out of nowhere everybody starts singing and dancing up a storm. You can bet I snapped that puppy off in a heartbeat!

>156 sjmccreary:: I enjoy a good movie review, and I'm sure if it wasn't based on a book, we could probably come up with a similarly-themed one to make it more relevant. After "Slumdog Millionaire" I became a fan of Bollywood, so I will search out this movie. My granddaughter got "Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs" for her birthday, but we had too much other stuff going on to watch it.

I'm sorry to be stepping in a little late here but I just wanted to say that I also really loved The Outlander. I thought it should have gotten more attention than it did.

Book #18



Sixteen in Nome by Max Brand

Set in the gold rush period of Alaska at the turn of the last century, the book opens in Nome with narrator Joe May bemoaning that "sixteen is a bad age for a boy" - no longer a child, but not quite a man, either. Joe is in Alaska to earn a stake so he can buy a ranch and a herd back home in Arizona, but is, instead, starving. He is taken in by Hugh Massey, famous throughout Alaska for the ongoing feud he has with his old partner, Arnie Calmont, over a dog. In fact, there was even a court judgement ordering the two men not to fight with one another when Massey was awarded custody of the dog. When Massey also ends up harboring Calmont's woman - won fair and square in a public auction - he decides to take her across Alaska to Forty Mile, near the Canadian border, hoping to draw Calmont into a pursuit. Either Calmont will attack him first, forcing Massey to fighting in self-defense, or they can cross over into Canada and fight legally. Joe comes along to act as chaperone, and Alec the dog heads up the team pulling the sled. Most of the rest of the story chronicles the dangers and adventures that occured on the trip. Of course, they eventually meet up with Calmont, but that doesn't quite go as planned. Late in the book, Joe is contemplating that the three most important things in Massey's life are the woman Marjorie, the ongoing fight with Calmont, and Alec the dog. Massey's highest priority of all these, though, is the dog.

A fun, tradional Western adventure story. Fairly short and easy to read. I didn't realize that Max Brand was anyone special, though. Turns out, Max Brand is a pen name for Frederick Faust, one of the most prolific writers in the 20th century - selling many of his works to be adapted for the screen. He was the creator of the characters Destry and Dr Kildare. Anyway, I enjoyed this book. 3-1/2 stars.

#162: I will look for that one. I think I would like it. Thanks for the review and recommenation, Sandy.

Book #19



The Accident Man by Tom Cain

Samuel Carver is the go-to man when an accident needs to happen. So, in late August 1997, when a radical Islamic terrorist is preparing to launch an attack on Paris, his bosses call him back from vacation to take care of the situation. At least that is what he was told. Turns out, there is no terrorist - Islamic or otherwise - only an innocent woman who is loved by the whole world. Trouble is, by the time Samuel realizes what has happened, it is too late. Now he knows too much and HE is the one who is the intended accident victim. Furious at the double cross and running for his life, Samuel has to discover who was behind the plot to kill the princess before they can catch up with him.

I've got mixed feelings about this book. It started out as a rousing good thriller - with an interesting premise: "what if Diana's death was no accident?". (Note, though, that the author's preface makes clear his intention just to write a good story, he is not trying to assert that any conspiracy actually existed.) The set-up, with the elaborate double-cross, was nicely done. Carver's initial escape and discovery of the true target and situation was also well done. His subsequent evasion and investigation were OK, but becoming increasingly unlikely - however, not inconsistent for the genre. Trying to avoid spoilers, but it was the final portion of the book that just went a little too far. I will give it points for making the hero vulnerable - he actually was slowed down by his injuries even to the point of incapacitation. (Of course, those injuries would have been fatal in anyone else.) I loved the first 3/4 of the book and would have awarded it 4 stars at that point. But during the last quarter, the action just became too frantic, too violent, too predictible. So much so that it detracted from the rest of the story and brings my rating down to 3-1/2 stars. "Guardedly recommended", as Stasia would say. I will still be seeking out the sequel.

#164: I will give it a shot since it is only 'guardedly recommended' :)

#165 thanks for the use of the term! It's one of those books that may not be worth bumping something else aside to make time for, but if it finds its way into your hands, give it a try.

#166: Feel free to borrow the term - I am sure I 'borrowed' it from someone!

Book #20



Stand-In Groom by Suzanne Brockmann

Chelsea Spencer is the daughter of an old Boston money family, but bristles at the traditional role that women in their class are expected to fill. She has launched her own computer software company and is in need of cash. She has a large trust fund from her grandfather, but can't collect any of that money unless she gets married. She has arranged to marry an Italian banker who wants to qualify for a green card, but he calls her just days before the ceremony to let her know that he's met someone and fallen in love and is backing out of their agreement. She needs another groom in a hurry and turns to the very handsome Italian-American man who helped her earlier in the week when she was mugged on the sidewalk near her office. He agrees to go along with her plan, in exchange for a share of the trust fund. However, what started as a business agreement soon heats up to become something much more.

Vintage Brockmann (1997). Simple and predictable, but well written enough to be tolerable. As brain candy goes, this is cotton candy on a stick. 2-1/2 stars.

I like cotton candy on a stick! I need more brain candy, don't you know? lol

Actually, I probably overindulge in the brain candy, but oh well.

I do too - but the fact is that it isn't as satisfying as, say, rich buttery caramels (keeping in mind that you don't like chocolate)

True. I really try and watch what I am reading these days to make sure I do not overindulge, but sometimes I just cannot help myself (and truth to tell, sometimes I just do not want to!)

I absolutely feel the same way! That's why I always try to keep at least one B-C book on the stack, but not too many or I wouldn't read anything else. Actually, I'm staving off a binge right now, as I still have 4 more fluff reads checked out.

Sometimes we just need to binge though, don't we? I try and keep the binging to a minimum, but it is so fun! However, I think if I overindulged too much, noone would ever come visit my threads again.

I can't imagine such a desertation would ever take place. It would be like the sun not coming up in the morning!

At least not on Sunday mornings :)

Book #21



The Crucible by Arthur Miller

Last year I read The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent and loved it. As you probably already know, it is the based-on-truth story of the young daughter of a woman accused of witchcraft in late 17th century Massachusettes. As I was reading the reviews of that book, I saw repeated references to The Crucible and decided to read it someday, by way of comparison. When the library added a copy of a new edition to the collection recently, causing the title to show up on the "new materials" list, I checked it out. What I got was an audio recording of a dramatic production of the play - speeches only, no stage directions or other descriptive language. (BTW, this cover is not the one on my copy - mine has a picture of Stacy Keach and Richard Dreyfuss, who starred in the production.) However, it only took a few minutes to become immersed in the dialogue. A horribly familiar story - it is VERY similar to The Heretic's Daughter - so much that one would assume they were written from the same source material. A 2-hour play can't have as much detail as a full-length novel, so it suffered in comparison to THD - but for that reason only. Like the holocaust, this is one of those events in our collective past that we need to be periodically reminded of - whether by way of theater, fiction, or documentaries on TV. We must never allow our society to engage in this kind of "witch-hunt" again.

Book #22



Excursion to Tindari by Andrea Camilleri

This is the 5th book in the Inspector Montalbano series set in Sicily. It follows the same formula that the earlier books have established - 2 seemingly unrelated mysteries arise at the same time and Montalbano is the only one who can find the key element that ties them together, thus solving both cases. This time, the two mysteries are the disappearance of an elderly, retired couple, and the murder of a young man who lived in the same building. The couple are quiet and keep to themselves, with few friends. The young man is a playboy who makes erotic home videos, and a writer. They did not know each other.

I didn't enjoy this book as much as the others in the series. As I mentioned above - the formula is too apparent. The elements in the other books that added so much were simply not present here. Salvo's love of food, his pleasure and enjoyment of his meals, which seemed almost erotic in earlier books, is barely mentioned in this one. His relationship with Livia consisted of only 3 or 4 phone calls in this book. And, all of a sudden, he is getting along with Mimi and is worried about the other man's plans to get married to a woman in another city because it might cause him to request a transfer out of Vigata. Without these diversions, what we are left with in this book is a detective who pulls conclusions out of the air, since the clues are not shared with the reader. I hate that - I want to be shown enough evidence to be able to solve the mystery on my own (not that I ever can, but it's nice to be able to look back and see all the clues that were right there in front of me). This has always been the case in this series, but was not so glaringly obvious before. This is a long series, and it's bound to happen that some books are not up to the standard of the othes, so I am not giving up on Salvo Montalbano yet. I still love the series, but this book was a disappointment. 3-1/2 stars.

22 books? We are neck and neck--I'm at 22 books, also.

I have a feeling that I'm going to have times of rapid reading with book numbers zooming up, following by long stretches of nothing this year, as I tackle an 800 page book or whatever.

We're tied? I bet that won't last long! That uneven pace you mention is exactly what happens to me, too. I've finished 5 books in 3 days (I haven't posted #23 yet), but I may not finish another for a week or more. And it's entirely possible that I'll only finish 5 more in the next 3 weeks!

Book #23



Pocket Guide to the Afterlife by Jason Boyett

Short and easy to read. This book explains about the different traditions of heaven and hell as taught by religions all around the world. Humorous, but not irreverent, it does point out some of the inconsistencies and the more outrageous features in some stories. Christianity looms large, with separate chapters on Christian heaven and Christian hell. But he explains that Christianity is the religion with the largest number of followers in the world - it is simply the most influential. He certainly does not claim that one version is more correct than any other. The book explains the source of the images of the pearly gates, streets paved with gold, angels playing harps, as well as the eternal flames of hell. Actually very informative. 4 stars.

>176 sjmccreary:: What a cool way to listen to The Crucible. I would have hated it if they included stage directions, etc. That's probably why I don't read plays..but listening to them is another matter entirely.

>180 sjmccreary:: I'm also strangely attracted to Pocket Guide to the Afterlife. I like quirky books on occasion. Also, you can never be too prepared for that final journey imo. LOL.

Any signs of spring up your way yet? Becky (labwriter in Webster Groves) has me dreaming about planting a Moonflower Vine!

Pocket Guide looks like something I'd enjoy....while it's not going onto the TBR at the moment, I will now have a bell go "ding ding ding" in my brain if i see it on a sale table or library shelf.

Book #24



Martin Van Buren by Ted Widmer

Short and easy to read, if a little dull, biography of our little-known 8th president. This was the man credited with the formation of a national Democratic party at a time when regional parties were more common. He was also the first sitting president to actively seek re-election. Previously, it was considered unseemly to engage in campaigning. Van Buren was the youngest man elected to the office of president to date, after being active in state and local politics in his native New York - the first New Yorker to become president, and distant cousin to fellow NY presidents Franklin and Theodore Roosevelt. Van Buren's term in office saw the economic panic of 1837 and the continuation of disagreements over slavery which eventually led to the civil war.

The book is part of the American Presidents series of books - short and generally well-written biographies of most of our former leaders. This volume was written by Bill Clinton's head speech writer and contained several uncalled-for jabs at Reagan and both Bushes, as well as unnecessary adulations of Clinton, Kennedy and LBJ. Why any of these men are relevent to a biography of Van Buren, I couldn't understand, and the blatant partisianship caused me to have serious doubts about the author's dependability. There are relatively few biographies of Van Buren available and this one is easily obtainable which makes it a good choice for the person with only a casual interest in learing about Martin Van Buren. I give it a neutral 3 stars.

#183: Not at all interested in that one. Good! Another one I do not have to add to the BlackHole.

I'm planning to read the Martin Van Buren book (if I can only find where I put it!!) when I get to him.

I've still got one or two more John Quincy Adams books to read, then on to Andrew Jackson.

Linda, I sure hope you'll make faster progress through the presidents than I have! I read JQA in March of last year, then Andrew Jackson in December, I think. I'd planned to read 2 JQA books, but only made it half way through the second one before deciding to move on. I've got a Harrison book picked out, but I probably won't order it from the library until next month. If it weren't so important to me to read all the presidents, I'm sure I'd have given it up long ago. Biographies are just hard for me. I've been working on this reading goal since my son was in grade school (he's a HS sophomore now). At this rate, by the time I get to Obama, he'll actually be an historical figure, not a current event!

I had a similar big gap, Sandy. I read Madison last year around the 4th of July and then never did anything with Monroe til January. I have two more JQA books in mind but I'm not sure I'll get to both of them. One is about his post-presidency and the other is about the election vs Jackson, which I might read, after all.

I would like to get up to Lincoln by the end of the year and then focus on him next year for a category challenge. For someone who's lived in Illinois her whole life, I know embarassingly little about him.

For someone who's lived in Illinois her whole life, I know embarassingly little about him. It's hard to imagine how that's possible. Even in Kansas, we were subjected to regular lessons about Abraham Lincoln every February.

edit to add: I like your idea of having a Lincoln/civil war category next year. I did the civil war last year, but ended up mostly reading fiction, I think. I'm looking forward to the next several presidents - and moving more into the antebellum period. When I get to Lincoln, I hope I can find something that focuses on the man more than the war.

Well, I know a bit about him, of course, but only about the same as I know about other presidents.

I'm a big fan of 20th century American history and eager to get there and read a lot about FDR and the others.

> 177
I have never read the Montalbano books, but watched the series on TV.
So I recognise the story and indeed this was not one of the strongest ones ;-)

#190 I remember a discussion a year or so ago about the Montalbano TV series, and its availability on DVD - and how to go about finding copies. I seem to recall that it is not available in the US, but has been released in Australia, or something like that. It didn't mean much to me at the time, since I hadn't read any of the books yet. Now that I have, I'm a little envious of you for being able to see it. I remember that the consensus was that it was an excellent production and fairly true to the books.

Well Sandy.................if you want to drop $157 for the Italian with English subtitles set of DVDs, you can order them at Mhz Networks at http://www.mhznetworks.org/shop/product.php?productid=16242&cat=286&page... .

I noticed that they also had the Inspector Brunetti (Donna Leon ) series that I LOVE, but they're only available in European format German with NO english subtitles. Bummer.

Tina, thanks for the info, but at that price, I think I'll pass. ;-)

Bummer, indeed.

Book #25



Bangkok 8 by John Burdett

Sonchai Jitpleecheep and his partner are perhaps the only honest policemen in Bangkok. But when they witness the grisly death of an American Marine caused by a car-ful of cobras and one escapes to bite and kill his partner and soul brother, Sonchai vows to discover the responsible person and take revenge. The Americans become involved immediately, and Sonchai is paired with a fiesty blond FBI agent for the investigation. She is intrigued by Bangkok's image as a city where sex is available everywhere. Sonchai is the son of a Thai bar girl and an American GI, and refuses to partake. He is devoted to serving the Buddha and is constantly aware of his karma. He is also able to discern the past identities of those he comes into contact with. As they work together to learn more about the Marine and his associates, using the resources of both Thailand and the US, Sonchai and "the FBI" follow leads into the sex trade, the jade trade, and the drug trade. But which of these, if any, was the victim involved in?

I'm not sure when I first became aware of this book - the first of a series - but I finally made the decision to read it. A great choice. It is fascinating. The whole East vs West theme is central - the results that occur when Eastern mysticism collides with Western capitalism are evident everywhere in the Bangkok of this book. Sonchai is a conflicted character, and there is still much to learn about him. His mother, the retired whore, is fabulous - a delightful character. And his colonel, nothing more than a gangster in uniform, is surprisingly likable. I enjoyed it very much. 4 stars.

Blah, no snakes for me. Too bad the author didn't use scorpians.

Doncha just love LT? I would never ever have discovered Bangkok 8 without your review, and even if I'd seen in on a shelf, I probably wouldn't have picked it up. But....I spent a day in Bangkok, and several days on one of the islands off Thailand were snakes were a big attraction, and I'd LOVE to read this book. Thanks so much for the review. Big bonus....my local library has it so I know where to go.

#195 Lynda, I think scorpions require a drier climate than anything SE Asia has to offer, don't they? Fortunately, the scene with the snakes is short and, while they are important to the case being solved, they aren't a big element in the book.

#196 I know exactly what you mean. I can't even begin to count the number of books I've discovered as a result of LT that I would NEVER have noticed otherwise. I hope you like this one. I think I actually found out about this series from my local library, not here on LT.

I just got Bangkok 8 from BookMooch based on cameling's review. How great to get another positive opinion. Now I'm even more excited to read it. Thanks!

#176 -- Interesting comments re The Crucible. I read it in English class, back in the 70s, and a lot of the discussion revolved around the context in which it was written and produced -- i.e. the McCarthy era and the "Red witch hunt". I seem to recall that Miller was aiming at drawing a very clear analogy between the hysteria of the 1950s and that of 1692 in Salem -- that audiences were supposed to walk away with that thought in mind. In much the same way that the film, "Good Night and Good Luck", about the 50s, was supposed to make us think about our (then) current political climate of Swiftboating, etc. Collective hysteria can surround anything v. quickly -- Communists, people who "aren't patriotic", or whatever is seen as different from the prevailing ethos might be.

#194: I read Bangkok 8 several years ago and just recently bought the next two books in the series.

I read Burdett's The Last Six Million Seconds before Bangkok 8 and enjoyed it, so you may want to give it a try too, Sandy.

>197 sjmccreary: OK point well taken about the scorpions. Since the cobras may be making only a cameo appearance, I'll add B8 to the wishlist.

#198 Hope you like it - I'm looking forward to your comments.

#198 You're absolutely right about "collective hysteria" - and that is why I think it's so important for us to be aware of it, so that we can guard against it and (hopefully) stop any future witch hunts before they get going. I'd really like to go see this play being produced sometime, and would also like to learn more about both the Salem witch trials and the McCathyism of the 1950's.

#200 I'd seen that Burdett had an earlier book, and - based solely on your comment - have gone ahead and added it to the bulging wishlist. I'm not sure why I hadn't done it sooner - I guess I was going to try the sequel to Bangkok 8 first.

#201 Hope you don't regret it!

This thread is beginning to take too long for my slow computer to load, so I've started a new one here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/87163&newpost=1#lastmsg

There's a film version of the Crucible, I think I went to see it at the cinema years ago and I own it on DVD but haven't watched the DVD.

#204 Thanks for the heads-up. I'll see if I can find it.