Library Lovers discussion

Post what you are reading here.

Then post your review.

Or post the link to your review if you posted it on your book or on a blog.

Sounds like fun.

Kitchens of The Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal, 2**s
I think this book tried too hard to stretch and try to do something different, and in the end, for me, it didn't work. "I think" it was about Eva who's mother leaves her when she's a baby and her father dies a few months later. So it's supposed to be about the people who raise her, and all the different people who she comes into contact with during her life, and the food they introduce her to, that end up making her into the brilliant chef that she becomes. However, after that first chapter, each chapter thereafter is about some person whose affect on Eva seems so obscure that you don't care about them -- and I got lots of details about them that I don't need/want to know. One character was Eva's boyfriend's brother's best friend's aunt, who, in another chapter, marries Eva's high school boyfriend's dad. What?? But even though Eva is in each chapter, I never get to know her, except a little bit through her food. Also, I often wondered if it was a YA novel, by the way it was written. So, in the end, the connections of some of these people to Eva was so uncertain/hazy that I didn't care about them, and I could never quite figure out where the story was trying to go. In the end, it came back around to her mother, who had not been spoken of since the first chapter. When I read the last page, my reaction was "Oh brother." Sorry to be so blunt, but I had heard some wonderful things about this book, but that was not my reaction.

Terris wrote: "
Kitchens of The Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal, 2**s
I think this book tried too hard to stretch and try to do something different, and in the e..."

Good review.

My Side of The Mountain by Jean George, 4****s
I loved this book! This young adult novel is about a twelve-year-old boy who goes from living in a New York City apartment with his parents and 8 siblings, to living alone in the woods of New York state, just living off the land. It feels very authentic and refreshing, the nature descriptions make you feel like you are there. It was written in the 60's, was a movie in 1969, and I know I should have read it when I was younger. But as I said before, I loved it!

Middlemarch by George Eliot, 3***s
Wow! Finally finished! All 912 pages! It was basically an old English soap opera set in the 1830's. There were several families involved, romances, and dramatic unethical/immoral goings-on that had to be untangled in the end. And I enjoyed it :)

my reading list:
The Girl in Alfred Hitchcock's Shower

The Profession of Violence: The Rise and Fall of the Kray Twins

Invisible Chains: Shawn Hornbeck and the Kidnapping Case that Shook the Nation

Today finished A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (very good!), and finishing I Am Scout by Charles Shields (also good). Starting Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan and A Lesson in Hope by Philip Gulley.

Terris wrote: "Today finished A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (very good!), and finishing I Am Scout by Charles Shields (also good). Starting Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan and A Lesson in Hope by P..."

I watched the Hallmark Channel airing of Sarah, Plain and Tall

Lady♥Belleza★✰ wrote: "Terris wrote: "Today finished A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (very good!), and finishing I Am Scout by Charles Shields (also good). Starting Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan and A Less..."

I know about that movie but have never seen it. I just thought I should read it and it's really short! Good too :)

Alas, Babylon



I thought I had read this old Sci-Fi classic but I had not. Recently, I saw it on Bookbub so I picked it up. Many of the themes seem quaint after having read "The Road" and other apocalyptic books. Of course, the tale starts with a nuclear cataclysm. Russia starts it all with a sneak attack. We survive enough to land a devastating counterpunch. However, both countries are destroyed. The main character has a brother in the Strategic Air Command (SAC) who manages to warn his brother of the coming doom. The author then tackles what happens when civilization breaks down, what happens when we lose electric power, what happens when food is no longer available, what happens when fuel and medicine disappear, what happens when bandits appear, and what happens when epidemics strike like typhoid. The characters even have to deal with a lack of "salt" in their diet. This book takes place in the Old South before Civil Rights and desegregation. Thus, blacks are second class citizens but the main character is an Atticus Finch type character who fails in his bid for public office because he will not engage in race-baiting.

Like another classic "Earth Abides", the author maintains a very optimistic viewpoint about the future which contrasts with the more recent "The Road" or the classic "On the Beach" which provide little hope. Perhaps, this is why Pat Frank's book is still read.

Reading A Lesson in Hope by Philip Gulley and Ending Up by Kingsley Amis. Listening to Bunnicula: A Rabbit Tale of Mystery Book #1 by Deborah and James Howe (It's for grades 3rd-7th, but it is hilarious & I'm loving it!).

Just finished . Listened to the audiobook, and it was reminiscent of a good ghost story told around the campfire.
Am a little over half way through . Loving it so far!!

Bunnicula: A Rabbit Tale of Mystery by Deborah and James Howe, 4****s
I got a free download from Penguin Audio today & listened to this adorable book! It is a story of a family, told by the family dog, who finds a rabbit at the movie theater (they went to watch Dracula!). When they bring him home, mysterious things start to happen to the vegetables, and the family cat tries to prove that the bunny is a vampire and is sucking all the juice out of the vegetables! The dog just kind of goes along the the ride and is hilarious in his telling of the tale of mystery. This audiobook was read by Victor Garber (who I love on TV & in movies!), and he does a wonderful job. This is just Book #1 in the series, and I don't know that I'll read any more of them. But if I had younger children at home (this book is for Grades 3-7), I would certainly read the whole series to them!

Anna wrote: "Just finished . Listened to the audiobook, and it was reminiscent of a good ghost story told around the campfire.
Am a little over half way through [bookcover:..."

So glad you're enjoying "The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend." Our library book club is set to read it in May & I have the audiobook already downloaded. I'm really looking forward to it!

Jerry-Book wrote: "Alas, Babylon



I thought I had read this old Sci-Fi classic but I had not. Recently, I saw it on Bookbub so I picked it up. Many of the themes seem qua..."

I recently bought this at a used bookstore without knowing much about it--an optimistic viewpoint is definitely not what we have been seeing with most contemporary dystopian-type scifi. Interesting!

Right now I'm reading:
by Neil Gaiman
by Nick Harkaway
by John Connolly

I just finished Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

I'm reading Sum of Our Days by Isabel Allende. It's a memoir she wrote following the death of her daughter Paula.

and I'm rereading the Harry Potter series for at least the 10th time along with my kids.

I love Kate DiCamillo! I've read all of her books. I like Harry Potter too :)

The Good Thief’s Guide to Amsterdam by Chris Ewan – 3***
This is the first in a mystery series featuring Charlie Howard, successful author and part-time professional burglar. I thought it was highly entertaining, with a fast pace, interesting characters, and a great setting. I was charmed by Charlie and I’ll definitely read more of this series.
Full Review HERE

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng – 4****
“Lydia is dead. But they don’t know this yet.” So begins this exquisite novel about a Chinese American family living in 1970s small-town Ohio. Ng explores the nuances of family dynamics – how a parent’s own disappointments may translate into dreams for a child’s future, how a child may feel burdened by those dreams, how siblings may compete for or retreat from parental attention. Cassandra Campbell does a fine job narrating the audio version. She has good pacing, and I felt connected to the characters by her performance.
Full Review HERE

Monday, Monday by Elizabeth Crook – 4****
In August 1966 Charles Whitman shot and killed or wounded dozens of students, faculty and first responders from the clock tower on the University of Texas campus in Austin. This novel explores the effects of that event on the lives of three fictitious characters. What a wonderfully complex character-driven story. As the story follows them through the decades we come to know their strengths, weaknesses, dreams, and fears.
Full Review HERE

Dance Hall of the Dead by Tony Hillerman – 4****
It's book number two in Tony Hillerman's Joe Leaphorn series ... need I say more? This is a good mystery with a little Native American cultural information in the mix. I love the way Leaphorn thinks things through before acting. George Guidall does a good job on the audio. He has good pacing and I really like the way he voices Leaphorn.
Full Review HERE

Ending UP by Kingsley Amis, 3***s
This is a humorous book of five elderly people living together and taking care of each other...but they don't really like each other very much. It's not the best book I've ever read, but I did like it enough to want to read another by Kingsley Amis. The ending was different, but I think that made me like it better!

Starting The Perfect Comeback of Caroline Jacobs by Matthew Dicks

A Lesson in Hope by Philip Gulley, 3***s
This is the 15th book of Sam Gardner as a Quaker minister in Indiana (13 in the Harmony Series, 2 so far in the Hope series). As always Sam has a lot of characters to deal with in his congregation, and each situation is funnier than the last! In this particular book, their church inherits a million dollars from the passing of a parishioner. Well, you can imagine how that goes! Of course, no one is in agreement as to how the money should be spend, and this leads to a lot of funny situations. Along with this, come some interesting changes in Sam's own family that he has to deal with. This book is a lot like the others, but I always enjoy Philip Gulley's sense of humor (who is a Quaker minister in Indiana in real life -- so he knows what he's talking about!). I would recommend this series for anyone who wants a light, fun read!

2 stars
On March 15th, 1987 in Anchorage, Alaska a violent, hideous act was commented by a 23-year-old sociopath. His victims were his own Aunt and two very young nieces.
This is a trial book. It does not go word for word of the trial but very close. Very little background of the victims, the victims Husband/Father or of the sicko who commented the crime. What background was given, painted a picture of a family trying help and deal with a troubled sociopath. Little did they know taking him in would end the lives of three people.
This is not for everyone, it is very graphic at times with details of the crime scenes.

The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine by Alexander McCall Smith, 3***s
As #16 in this series, it is the same as the other books, wonderfully the same! It is like going back and visiting with old friends. Catching up with what they've been doing, seeing how their family, friends, and co-workers are faring. It was just what I expected and needed :)

My mom likes this series. I never got into it. I caught up on reading this weekend. I can't cut/paste well on my phone but feel free to check my profile for the reviews. I read The Perfect Comeback of Caroline Jacobs by Matthew Dicks and The Ritual Bath: A Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus Mystery #1 by Faye Kellerman. Starting The Flood Girls by Richard Fitfield.

I'm interested in The Flood Girls. Let me know what you think!

It's about women who play baseball. That's enough for me to get hooked. Also trying to make a dent in Sum of Our Days.

We, by Yevgeny Zamyatin

4 stars!

A great, great story about a dystopian future. Written in 1921, this may be the mother of all the rage-against-the-machine books and movies that followed it, but this one is by far the most subtle and thought-provoking story of its kind I've ever read. The narrator is remarkably unreliable, like a not-very-funny Adrian Mole, and he clearly doesn't see his own story the way you will. Don't miss this one.

Brina wrote: "It's about women who play baseball. That's enough for me to get hooked. Also trying to make a dent in Sum of Our Days."

Sounds interesting!

Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan, 5*****s
This is a YA novel about a 12-year-old girl, Willow Chance, who is a genius and has just started middle school. Because she is different than the other children, she has a lot of difficulty making friends. So, when her parents are both killed in a car accident, she is left all alone -- or is she? This book was recommended to me by a 6th grader, and I couldn't put it down!! I really liked it. The author does a wonderful job of making you care for Willow and the other characters in the story, always keeping things moving along so you want to just keep reading! It is a heartwarming story recommended for 5th-8th graders, but in my opinion, for everyone!

Terris wrote: "
A Lesson in Hope by Philip Gulley, 3***s
This is the 15th book of Sam Gardner as a Quaker minister in Indiana (13 in the Harmony Series, 2 so far in the Hope s..."

I just love Philip Gulley's books.

Terris wrote: "
Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan, 5*****s
This is a YA novel about a 12-year-old girl, Willow Chance, who is a genius and has just started middle school. B..."

I read this in 2014. You can find my review HERE ... only 3.5*** from me. I found the counselor more than inept; his own psychological problems should have removed him from this position of trust.

But I LOVED Willow.

Book Concierge wrote: "Terris wrote: "
A Lesson in Hope by Philip Gulley, 3***s
This is the 15th book of Sam Gardner as a Quaker minister in Indiana (13 in the Harmony Series, 2 so fa..."

He's going to be at a local library next week so I'm going to see him!! And I'm so excited!!

Book Concierge wrote: "Terris wrote: "
Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan, 5*****s
This is a YA novel about a 12-year-old girl, Willow Chance, who is a genius and has just started m..."

Oh, I agree. The counselor was awful. And Willow helped him way more than he helped her (or any of his students for that matter!). I guess I didn't take it so seriously, it was just a feel good book for me :)

Just finished reading Sprit Song by Mary Summer Rain

Finished "The Sum of our Days" by Isabel Allende. She writes her memoir the same way she writes fiction so the prose was magical as always. Now on to "Flood Girls". I'd like to make a dent in it before my next library day.

Love Anthony by Lisa Genova, 4****s
This is a lovely story about a couple who has an autistic son.....but this book is not written as you might expect, at least not how I expected :)
Beth, the main character, not the mother of the boy, is a budding author. But she hasn't written for several years because she has three daughters and a husband, who she just found out has been cheating on her. So as therapy, and to try to figure out what she is going to do with her life, she starts to write again. She happens onto some information about autism and is inspired, or led (?), to write a book from the point-of-view of an autistic boy. Olivia, the mother of the boy, is trying to find out why she and her husband were given a child with this disability, and what was the purpose for his life. By chance, Beth and Olivia meet. Since Olivia is a former editor, Beth asks Olivia to read her manuscript, not knowing that Olivia's son was autistic. And...I don't want to say any more because I don't want to give anything away! It took a little bit to get to this point in the story, but by the time I got to it, I started to understand why all the background was needed. This book feels very healing, and turns out to be a soothing read. I highly recommend it!

Finished The Profession of Violence: The Rise and Fall of the Kray Twins, tried to check out The Cult of Violence: The Untold Story of the Krays but it's only available for in library use so I picked up The Girl in Alfred Hitchcock's Shower.

Also just got in the mail (not a library book) Three Boys Missing: The Tragedy That Exposed the Pedophilia Underworld

Finished Trigger Warning: Short Fictions and Disturbances by Neil Gaiman - 3.5 stars. Slightly disappointing for me because I didn't enjoy it quite as much as his other short story collections.

Now reading Marked in Flesh by Anne Bishop and Jackaby and William Ritter. I like, but don't love, both so far.

Just finished Yorkshire Ripper: The Secret Murders and gave it 5 stars. Great stuff.

Also about halfway into The Tastemakers: Why We're Crazy for Cupcakes but Fed Up with Fondue. It's a fun read, well written. His one-paragraph summary of the eating guidelines most Americans are trying to follow is worth the price of admission.

Finished Daughter of Fortune review to come soon. Starting Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah

The Illustrated Mum by Jacqueline Wilson, 4****s
This YA novel is the story of a ten-year-old girl trying to deal with her bipolar mother on her own. It is not a happy book, but I think that reading about this experience would help middle school-age readers to understand what others are going through, and encourage them to be empathetic. I don't know if it works that way, but that's what I, as an older adult, a mother, and a teacher, would like to think :)

I just finished The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers. Not my favorite, but I was glad to mark it off my classics TBR list! ;)

Good for you Terri. I have just entered my busiest time of the year. The next 2 weeks will be like the twilight zone here. So I went to the library and came home with a stack of easy reading books.

Brina wrote: "Good for you Terri. I have just entered my busiest time of the year. The next 2 weeks will be like the twilight zone here. So I went to the library and came home with a stack of easy reading books."

There are times for "heavy books" and times for "light books." This sounds like a "light book" time for you!! Enjoy! :)

Yes until after Passover. And then I have a list filed of heavier reads. I just finished Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah which surprisingly I found myself liking. Today starting Shakespeare's Star Wars The Empire Striketh Back by Ian Doescher and Sacred and Profane by Faye Kellerman plus a bunch of kids books for the Mock Caldecott group.