Book Nook Cafe discussion

Share with us what you read in November 2017 !


Please provide:

~ A GoodReads link
~ A few sentences telling us how you felt about the book.
~ How would you rate the book

Due to our two week cruise, i had plenty of time to read. I'm tickled to be able to use the book/author device on GR for the first time in months.

The Murders of Richard III by Elizabeth Peters is a mystery/exploration into whether British King Richard III killed his nephews in the Tower hundreds of years earlier. Earlier this year i read an old mystery by Josephine Tey on the subject. In this series Librarian Jacqueline Kirby is visiting the UK where she is invited to attend a meeting of a group of people who advocate for Richard's innocence. There is actually such a group in England, which also places floral arrangements at statues of him. ANYway, in this case characters wear costumes from the period & murders occur in chronological order of the person they are portraying. I liked the Manor House style mystery.

Under A Pole Star by Stef Penney is a novel i read about in one of the lists Alias shared about recent releases. I was excited due to the setting around the North Pole area. Unfortunately there was more sexual content than material about polar expeditions or science facts. Yes, i really thought there would be meatier in that area. What i liked was the depiction of the challenges for main character Flora Mackie to earn a science degree, then to head a polar expedition. One aspect i resented was that we were treated to graphic descriptions of the sex but vague details about a number of the deaths of characters. Next time i'll read another nonfiction book on the topic.

Agent Zigzag: A True Story of Nazi Espionage, Love, and Betrayal by Ben Macintyre. This has been on my TBR for years but it was only after reading a display about spy Eddie Chapman that i decided to actually read it. The story is remarkable, as Chapman was a self-serving small-time criminal who ended up being a double spy for England during WWII. Chapman really set about to become a spy on his own, without the knowledge of the UK. The author really couldn't come up with a reason why both Germans and the British continued to find him appealing long after the war. Curious.

M Train by Patti Smith is one i found on the ship & decided to try because i liked her earlier Just Kids about her life with Robert Mapplethorpe. This one was more a memoir about her life just before and after Hurricane Sandy, on a site where she'd just bought a small home. It is also about her journey without her husband and father of her children, who died some time before this. I liked her style but she has read so much that i felt lost in her references to literature and authors. Nice book, which includes her own photos.

I Am Pilgrim, a spy novel by Terry Hayes. This was a long novel but i had the time, so stayed with it. The premise is that the main character, whose real name we never learn, was for years the best agent of a secret US organization, one we've never heard about. I don't read many of this sort of book, so i cannot say how common this ruse is. ANYway, the bulk of the story is about the MC as he traces a Mid-eastern terrorist, including relating to the reader the terrorist's development. It held my interest, i admit, and i thought it was rather well done.

The Beekeeper's Apprentice is a sort of Sherlock Holmes mystery by Laurie R. King. In this conceit Holmes has met a teenage girl who he trains to be an acute observer and puzzle solver. The story continues into her university years and includes many mysteries they solve together, as well as some which i see are part of the series later. This was nicely written but i won't be reading more. I'm not a fan of Holmes mysteries and King is endeavoring to write in a similar style. My sister-in-law really likes the series and spoiled one bit for me from a future book, which, unfortunately, really turned me off, in the same vein as The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger.

How to Find Love in a Bookshop by Veronica Henry, another Alias introduced to me via her lists. This is a fluff work but one which called to me due to the bookstore connection. It is a sweet novel, and i was happy as i read it. Sadly, there weren't as many literary mentions as i'd hoped but, gladly, there were some on music because the main character, Emilia Nightingale, plays the cello.

In A Colony in a Nation MSNBC host and author Christopher L. Hayes expounds upon a phrase from Richard Nixon's inauguration address. Nixon referred to how the African American community would become a colony within the US if they were given more social welfare. Hayes explores how that community already was and continues to be colonized by US laws and acts and the way they are enforced by police across the nation. Interesting book full of facts, whether you agree or not.

The Returned by Jason Mott is another from an Alias list. It sounded familiar and one chapter in i realized it was the genesis of a tv series from a few years back. The premise is that some people who died are returning to earth, perfectly fine. What does this mean to the planet? To families? Ultimately, the governments decide to herd them into camps until things can be figured out. As the main family's young son is one of the Returned, his father chooses to be incarcerated with him.

The Quantum Spy by David Ignatius is a novel Alias introduced me too, as well. (NOTE: i have been trying to keep notes of where i heard of books--my likes or dislikes in no way reflect on what she or anyone else shares.) This was intriguing because i knew little about the race for a quantum computer and how involved the Chinese are in the race. But mostly, it's a spy story, which i thought was nicely done.

The Woman Who Smashed Codes: A True Story of Love, Spies, and the Unlikely Heroine who Outwitted America's Enemies by Jason Fagone (thank you, Alias), is a good story about the little known decryption career of Elizebeth Smith Friedman. From learning about a wealthy man (George Fabyan) who created a laboratory outside Chicago for scientists and others to explore their topics to Elizebeth's hidden career as a decoder for the US Government (Coast Guard mostly) to the rampant sexism of FBI director J. Edgar Hoover, this book is fascinating. The author employs some curious similes but he explained much of the code-breaking with understanding i could grasp.

Home Sweet Anywhere: How We Sold Our House, Created a New Life, and Saw the World by Lynne Martin. I heard about this book a couple of years ago, after we sold our home, but only now read it, having completed our first overseas month's long travel. It was a mixed bag for me. Martin & her husband sold their home and decided to mostly travel, with returns to the US and family, until they tire of it. I'd hoped for tips but got few. And, i felt, she mislead those who don't have a very comfortable income. That said, i was tickled when she saw some sites we did and put into words some of my feelings. I have to go now but may well write more about this book later.

Madrano, that's a great selection of books read! Your cruise sounds very relaxing.

I'm going to keep my eye open for The Murders of Richardd III. I'm terrible at figuring out who the murderer is but I enjoy this style of murder mysteries as well. So much fun.

Sounds like you read some winners Madrano :)

I agree, it was a good cruise for reading. From what i could tell the guy in the next room also used the cruise to read on his balcony. His wife, like my husband, were galavanting around the decks playing trivia and other games whilst we watched the water and read. *sigh* Although, i must admit, i'd rather be in front of a roaring fire when i read.

Petra, i think the good thing about that short series of mysteries by Elizabeth Peters is that (so far) each easily stands alone. The only constant companion is her purse.

I meant to add something else to my comments on the last book, the one about selling one's home to travel. I felt she had a lack of empathy for people who questioned selling their home of 30, 40+ years. First of all, like us, the Martins appear to have moved around quite a bit over their lives...not traveling but moving to many places. This makes the idea of selling your home easier, imo. I don't think Lynne Martin "got" that, only how tough it is to separate from one's "stuff".

At another place she addresses the fact that a number of people voiced fear of spending so much time with their spouse alone--"7 months with my husband, what will we talk about?" And such. She dismisses that by seeming to suggest that they might not be that happy if they need the daily life stuff to hold them together. Guess what i learned in further research? They were married less than 5 years when they began this homeless life. Of course, they still have plenty to talk about, they are still in the discovery phase, for pity's sake! To treat marriage fears from people married 30+ years with such a cavalier attitude seemed distasteful. However, she did mention that a shared sense of humor was an important aspect of their traveling together. Believe me (married 48 years this month), no truer words can be spoken. But isn't that true about life itself?

Additionally, it was only after reading the book, when i researched her claim that they weren't rich, so anyone could do what they did, that i finally found a few specifics. In addition to their social security (both worked outside the home from the show biz industry to others, but with a good income--her late husband is artist Guy Deel (http://highnoon.com/bios/Deel_Guy.htm), whose western art is still handsomely priced), they have a pension AND income from investments, which they admitted was $6000 a month. I don't know about you but we know few families with that kind of money.

Still, their premise is correct. If you look at how much you spend for apt. or mortgage and other living expenses specific to your home, you could probably find decent overseas living which would be the same or less cost. My quibble was that most of their overseas rentals had balconies with views or were once manor homes. Plus they splurged much more often than my husband and i would have felt comfortable doing. (Which isn't to say we don't splurge, just not as often as they did.)

Finally, how to put this?, they seemed rather quick to judge others, despite suggesting they are quite open minded. While they are free-thinking with those living in countries they visited, they were dismissive of many folks. One example was on one of their cruises. As soon as they saw the wheelchair and walker guests, they decided they weren't going to like the cruise, in essence because they weren't the active people with whom they like to hang around with. As it happens, we were on the same cruise, which was, indeed, our worst adventure on the water. It was the last cruise for that particular ship which was going into dry dock for over a year for total remodeling. SO, many, many of the guests (as we learned by interacting with them) were on what they considered the "final cruise of the Destiny" ship. Who knew they had their own fans? We didn't.

Overall, the book fell short on real help and tips for those who sell their home to travel. But it certainly served as a cheerleader for those who are considering it. She shared the ups and downs, which is important, i believe. Until something better comes along, with more figures and less mediocre travel description, this book will give readers a sense of what it's like.

Well, i could go on & on but won't. Forgive my nit-picking, please, but i needed to vent. :-) I want to end with the final chapter, which atoned for many of her sins (as seen from my eyes). "I am not espousing our lifestyle for everyone, nor do i think that our choices are superior in any way. I do know we are living exactly the way we want to live, and feel very lucky to have made the right decision for ourselves."

madrano wrote: "I agree, it was a good cruise for reading. From what i could tell the guy in the next room also used the cruise to read on his balcony. His wife, like my husband, were galavanting around the decks ..."

Sounds like a very fair take on what might have been titled (following Arthur Frommer) "Cruising on $60,000 a month." No need for her and the new hubby to dine on store brand cat food rather than Fancy Feast in the last days before the next Social Security check arrives. (I should insert some sort of emogeee here. . . )

madrano wrote: "Due to our two week cruise, i had plenty of time to read. I'm tickled to be able to use the book/author device on GR for the first time in months.."

Wow ! What a terrific eclectic list of books you read. I can picture you on on deck chair reading. Color me jealous ! Thanks for the interesting reviews.

My November reads.

Fast Food Genocide: How Processed Food is Killing Us and What We Can Do About It---Joel Fuhrman
non-fiction
rate 3+ /5
I follow Fuhrman so I knew most of the info. Still I like to read these types of books as they help keep me on the path of healthy eating.

Classical Music For Dummies -David Pogue
nonfiction
rate- 3/5
The earlier editions came with a CD. This edition refers you to the web. I found it informative. I know very little about classical music but I enjoy listening to it.

Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World--William H. McRaven
non fiction
Audio book- read by author
Rate 3/5
This would be a good book for young adults. The author is a former navy seal. He gives the reader 10 tips that he ties into his experiences as a navy seal. It's well done.

The Italians--Homer
nonfiction
rate 3/5
Interesting book mostly about contemporary Italy. The first few chapters are on a topic I am interested, Italy before it became a country, but the author's writing is very hard to follow. After the first few chapters the book flows much better. However, I felt the author makes very sweeping generalizations about the Italian people that annoyed me and made the book seem facile to me. Still, I enjoyed it for the most part.

Search Inside Yourself: The Unexpected Path to Achieving Success, Happiness--Chade-Meng Tan
non fiction
rate 2/5
The author works at Google as an engineer. You can find his talks on YouTube. The book is okay but I didn't find it very useful. The thing that annoyed me the most and caused me to lower my rating was the barrage of unfunny cartoons that the author seems to share on every other page. I found them distracting and childish. The book is highly rated on Amazon, so I wouldn't skip the book because of my experience. Though you might be better off just watching the YouTube videos.

madrano wrote: ". Believe me (married 48 years this month), ."

Happy Anniversary !

I enjoyed reading your post where you further explained your feelings on Martin's book. With one author already in your family, maybe it's time for another. I see a book in that post for sure.

Alias Reader wrote: "Classical Music For Dummies -David Pogue
nonfiction
rate- 3/5
The earlier editions came with a CD. This edition refers you to the web. I found it informative. I know very little about classical music but I enjoy listening to it. ..."

A few years back, I picked up a copy of The Enjoyment of Music and forked out for the accompanying CD set. I ended up ripping the CDs to MP3, so I could use a phone or tablet while reading. It's a good way to develop an appreciation for historical music that might otherwise be inaccessible.

Happy Anniversary, Madrano!

My November reads:
Lincoln in the Bardo (5-star, audio) - I really enjoyed this one. The audio voices added a dimension, too.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

House of Names (4-star, Giveaway Win) - I wasn't familiar with the story so was swept into the world of revenge.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit (3-star; audio) - meh. I was probably generous in the rating.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Girl Who Slept with God (2-star; Giveaway Win) - no story; very YA; crazy parental figures.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Pater: My Father, My Judaism, My Childlessness (5-star; Giveaway Win) - I enjoyed this book a lot.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd (4-star; audio) - I always enjoy visiting with Flavia. This was no exception.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Grave's a Fine and Private Place (4-star; Giveaway Win) - Flavia is growing up. This is another good episode in this series.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Mkfs wrote: "Alias Reader wrote: "Classical Music For Dummies -David Pogue
nonfiction
rate- 3/5
The earlier editions came with a CD. This edition refers you to the web. I found it informative. I know very littl..."

I'll keep an eye out for a used copy. Thanks for the title. I see it is used in classrooms.

My library has the Teaching Companies How to listen to and understand great music DVD. It's a series of 6 DVD's. I can request one at a time. I put a hold on the first one.

Petra wrote: My November reads:
Lincoln in the Bardo (5-star, audio) - I really enjoyed this one. The audio voices added a dimension, too.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit (3-star; audio) - meh. I was probably generous in the rating.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...."
-----------------------


I keep seeing Bardo on the best of lists but have resisted as it is described as a "experimental novel" and it seems it is also fantasy. Even though this seems way outside my comfort zone, after reading your review I put a hold on the audio. I normally find it hard to follow fiction on audio. But your review talked me into giving it a shot.

Sorry to see you weren't a fan of The Stranger in the Woods. I have it on my TBR list. I think I will still read it at some point.

There are so many books I want to read. Between the zillion I own and have not yet read and the many new ones I read about here at BNC and elsewhere every day I am overwhelmed with choices! I literally have notebooks of titles that I want to read.

I also tend to take a long time to read a book. I read a lot of non fiction and that always sends me researching on the internet and well you know what happens to time when that happens! My current read is Dancing on My Grave by Gelsey Kirkland. She used to be a ballet dancer with the NYC ballet. So I am spending a lot of time seeing her and the other dancers she mentions dancing on YouTube. It really is amazing how the internet can expand ones understanding of a book. I feel so fortunate.

Thanks for the reviews, Petra.

Alias, I hope you enjoy Bardo. I've seen people's comments saying that the audio is confusing. I found the many voices made it easy to distinguish who was speaking. You'll recognize some well-known voices. There are a lot of characters. Just remember that not all of them are major characters and the story will come together.
The thing about the audio is I forgot people's names...but it didn't matter because I recognized the voices; no confusion ensued. :D

I've got zillions of books I'd like to read, too. Next year, I want to concentrate more on the books I have at home and read through some of those. My shelves need to be cleared (to make room for more, I'm sure).

Petra wrote: "Alias, I hope you enjoy Bardo. I've seen people's comments saying that the audio is confusing. I found the many voices made it easy to distinguish who was speaking. You'll recognize some well-known..."

I usually do better with a single narrator. Many characters in a book usually confuses me and if I am reading a paper book I write them down with a sentence to help jog my memory.

If I find the audio too confusing, I'll just try the book instead. I'm getting them from the library so it's not a big deal. There is a long wait list as it's a new book.

I only listen to audio-books at the gym when on the treadmill or bike.

Mkfs wrote: "Alias Reader wrote: "Classical Music For Dummies -David Pogue
nonfiction
rate- 3/5
The earlier editions came with a CD. This edition refers you to the web. I found it informative. I know very littl..."
I taught from The Enjoyment of Music for years. (The book was so successful as a college textbook that rumor has it that the original editor paid for a swimming pool with the royalties.) I used to tell students to do something like you did, because getting to know a good selection of the music would, in the end, have a more lasting impact than reading about it. And the book (which has been through a kajillion editions) had a very good selection.

This month was a bit all-over-the-place.

The Cannibal Within by Mark Mirabello. Hoo boy, what a stinker. This was a GR recommendation, and comments on it seemed to indicate it was pretty sick and disturbing fare, so I thought I'd give it a go as a change of pace. Feels like it was written by a teenager, and not a gifted one at that. Comparisons to Mirbeau, de Sade, Lovecraft are actually drawn from the text - it's not clear the author actually read them so much as just name-dropped them in an attempt to lend credibility to his work. One star.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: A New Verse Translation by Unknown/Simon Armitage. Decided to re-read this one when I found there was a facing-page modern-English translation edition, allowing me to bounce back and forth between the original and the modern. Unfortunately, Armitage's translation is distractingly off - interjections, exclamations, and modern idioms ("I kid you not!", "the plot went pear-shaped", etc) change the tone of the narrative, or even of the speakers (the Green Knight coming off as uncharacteristically boorish in the translation, in comparison to Arthur's courtly manner). Lesson learned: stick with glossed editions and leave the translations to rot. Five stars for the source work, three stars for the translation, let's call it four stars.

Novel Explosives by Jim Gauer. This book has a lot wrong with it, beginning with the conceit that there are three narratives which meet up at the end. What would you guess the following have in common? a) a man wakes up with amnesia in Mexico, after having crossed the border with a duffel bag of cash; b) a scammy venture capitalist is writing his memoirs, detailing how he more or less bilked investors out of money; c) a drug cartel boss dispatches two gunment to kidnap or kill a guy crossing the Mexico border with a bag of cash. Basically, we have here an obvious story, based on worn-out genre cliches, told in the least interesting way possible, over about 700 pages. Still, I enjoyed reading it, though it is so self-indulgent that I cannot recommend it. Three stars.

The Bladerunner by Alan Nourse. Apparently, Ridley Scott stole the name for his film from this novel (perhaps after reading a treatment of it?). This is one of those great 70s sci-fi novels that predicts a lot of the things going on now: a healthcare crisis, replacement of doctors with surgical robots, the rise of antibiotic-resistant superbugs. The core premise is that health care is managed by mandating sterlization when an adult receives medical care (eugenics was still a thing, in the 70s), so doctors moonlight on the black market and employ smugglers ("bladerunners") to deliver them medical supplies while they make housecalls. Ultimately a genre novel, so don't expect wonders from this one. Nourse is no Burgess. Four stars.

The Map of the System of Human Knowledge by James Adcox. Another GR recommendation, and another flop. This is a collection of short stories, and they're all the same: start with a ridiculous event (probably intended to be surreal), run with it a bit, then chuck in an emotional appeal at the end. Somehow, I've read two or three collections of stories indistinguishable from this, all of them GR recommendations. Two stars.

Mkfs wrote: "This month was a bit all-over-the-place.

The Cannibal Within by Mark Mirabello. Hoo boy, what a stinker. This was a GR recommendation, and comments on it seemed to indicate it was pr..."

Wow! Sounds like it wasn't the greatest month for you. But you did the rest of us a favor. Is Arbitrage trying to reach a Generation X audience, do you think?

Craig wrote: "But you did the rest of us a favor. Is Arbitrage trying to reach a Generation X audience, do you think? "

Wow, I keep making that typo. Armitage. I blame that long VC book.

Yeah, there's a distinct sense that this translation was made with college students in mind. Probably started the work back in the 90s.

Craig wrote: "I taught from The Enjoyment of Music for years. (The book was so successful as a college textbook that rumor has it that the original editor paid for a swimming pool with the royalties.) I used to tell students to do something like you did, because getting to know a good selection of the music would, in the end, have a more lasting impact than reading about it. And the book (which has been through a kajillion editions) had a very good selection. ..."

I'll keep an eye out for a used copy. I like the idea of owning a copy so I could work through it at a leisurely pace.

Mkfs wrote: "This month was a bit all-over-the-place.

The Cannibal Within by Mark Mirabello. Hoo boy, what a stinker. This was a GR recommendation, and comments on it seemed to indicate it was pr..."

When you say a GR Recommendation, do you mean a group on GR or a recommendation actually from GR. ? If it is a recommendation from GR, how do you get them ?

Alias, look under "browse". There's a "recommendation" tab.
The recommendations can be wacky. Some are way off base. But they are fun to look through. I've found a few previously unknown gems.

Yeah, it is certainly not a reliable recommendation system. It's been recommending something called Forever War to me every time I read a sci-fi book. Once in awhile, an unusual book pops up (like the ones I read last month), but in general it's pretty unremarkable. Makes me wonder if they only recommend books that Amazon is trying to get rid of.

BTW, I have some sort of Recommendations section on the right side of the Home ("Recent Updates") page.

Petra wrote: "Alias, look under "browse". There's a "recommendation" tab.
The recommendations can be wacky. Some are way off base. But they are fun to look through. I've found a few previously unknown gems."

Thank you !

My November reads:
The Case of the Sulky Girl by Erle Stanley Gardner
Rating 3/5
This is the second book of the Perry Mason series. I enjoyed this book
A Great Reckoningv by Louise Penny
Rating 4/5
This is one of the books in the Three Pines series. It is always lovely to visit Thre Pines and the characters in this series
Earthly Remains by Donna Leon
Rating 3/5
This is the latest book i the Commisario Brunetti series by Donna Leon. It was an okay read

Thanks for sharing, Meredith. It's nice that you have series that you are enjoying.

Thank you for the anniversary wishes. Sometimes we marvel that it's gone so quickly.

Alias, i'm sure my review of the travel book sounded as though i was ready to write one but i'm sure i wouldn't have the discipline. Lynne Martin wrote some of her book on their long sojourn and it was clear there were many days travel lost out to staying home to write. PASS!

It's good to hear more about Lincoln in the Bardo and about the Hermit, Petra. It sounds as though i would agree with you on both. I'm going to look into the Bardo book.

Mkfs, this is explains something about the film Bladerunner which i didn't realize. I knew the movie was actually based on Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick but didn't know where the term bladerunner arose. Now i know. Thanks.

Meredith, your list had me wondering if i've ever read any Perry Mason books, so i checked. I haven't but will try him. Thanks.

Good month for folks. Alias, i like the way you are reading the Kirkland book by watching some of her work, too. I should try that sometime when i read about a performer. Good tip.

My November reads:

Vještica: Roman u sirovom stanju by Venko Andonovski (5+++ stars)...one of the best books I've read this year that has taught me not to underestimate Balkan literature. A mix of historical fiction, modern fiction, fantasy, history...it has everything and it's mesmerising. The translation of the title would roughly be "The Witch: a raw version of the novel"

Baby H.P. by Juan José Arreola (3 stars) - a strange fantasy short story about a device that turns children life energy into electricity.

So Many Books: Reading and Publishing in an Age of Abundance by Gabriel Zaid (4 stars) - A short overview of the book publishing business and how it affects the society. Very informative.

Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote (4 stars) - A collection of Capote's short stories starting with the famous Breakfast at Tiffany's. The stories are pretty good, and much better than the famous In Cold Blood. All of them end on a kind of a sad note, though and I think it might be Capote's trademark.

Croatia Between Aggression and Peace by Zvonimir Baletibc (5 stars) - A brief, 80-page description on how Yugoslavia fell apart and what happened next from Croatian point of view.

Spain In The Heart: Hymn To The Glories Of The People At War, 1936 1937 by Pablo Neruda (5 stars) - A bilingual collection of Pablo Neruda's poems dedicated to Spanish Civil War. I was always partial to Neruda's poetry because he is capable of making his words come alive to a reader. These poems are no different. You can feel everything he felt while writing the lines.

Love Letters of Great Men by Ursula Doyle (4 stars) - A fun book that shows how romantic men can be, but also how utterly full of sh...um...themselves they can be. :)

The Muse Learns to Write: Reflections on Orality and Literacy from Antiquity to the Present by Eric Alfred Havelock (3 stars) - I thought this book would me much more interesting than it was but, for a non-expert like me, it was too specific and dry.

Still Life by Louise Penny (5 stars) - I don't usually read murder mysteries, but this was not half bad. I did a few times suspect the person who turned out to be the killer did have something to do with it all, but, as was the author's (or the real killer's) goal, I was led to suspect someone else. This is a Canadian version of Midsomer Murders.

Batman: Year One by Frank Miller (5 stars) - I don't much read graphic novels and it's still hard to get used to this type of book, but the illustrations are mesmerizing. Such talent! I'm in awe. Along with the main story, this edition also contains the graphic afterword by David Mazzucchelli, various drawings and the original script.

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Tales of Extraordinary Women by Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo (5 stars) - Love the concept of this book and the stories in it. So many women I knew nothing about...and so many young women, who are, as I write this, changing the world. The author's are preparing the second installment and I can't wait to get my hands on it.

Samanta wrote: "
Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote (4 stars) - A collection of Capote's short stories starting with the famous Breakfast at Tiffany's. The stories are pretty good, and much better than the famous In Cold Blood. All of them end on a kind of a sad note, though and I think it might be Capote's trademark."

I read a Christmas collection of short stories by Capote and it was terrific. I also thought ICB was very good.

Congratulations on an excellent reading month, Samanta !

He has a Christmas collection?!...I have to find it!

Thank you, Alias! :)

Samanta wrote: "He has a Christmas collection?!...I have to find it!

Thank you, Alias! :)"

A Christmas Memory, One Christmas, & The Thanksgiving Visitor--Truman Capote

It's a small hardcover book. Maybe 100 pages. I don't think this particular collection is still in print. Though I am sure you can get the stories in other books.

Samanta, that last book sounds neat--i am going to try to find a copy as a gift for my daughter. Thanks for the title.

Capote was a gifted author. And what a contrast between Tiffany & Cold Blood!

Madrano wrote: "Samanta, that last book sounds neat--i am going to try to find a copy as a gift for my daughter. Thanks for the title.

Capote was a gifted author. And what a contrast between Tiffany & Cold Blood!"

The book is wonderful. Can't wait for the sequel.

Great, a sequel is planned! I liked the other comments about the book on the GR page, too.

I read quite a bit in November of 2017 so there will be more than five books on this list! lol :)

Devil Board: A Dark Tale of Occult Horror by Glen Frost - five stars.

My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

(Another author I had never read before and this was one creepy book. Of course anything with Ouija boards is always scary and this book was no exception. I read it in about 3 to 4 days. I don't remember if I left the lights on with it though - maybe! lol)


Subhuman by Michael McBride - 4 stars.

My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

(This was a new author to me at the time and the first part of the book is really slow as it goes into a lot of scientific detail before getting to the "action packed" part of the book. But this author is known for these kind of books. I have a few more by him on my kindle that I need to read yet though, but I still enjoyed the book.)



The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty - 4 stars.

My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

(I thought this book was going to "scare me out of my chair", but it didn't really do much for me. I think the movie was more scarier than the book. However after saying that, I have seen reviews on here that the book did scare people so it must be my "seasoned in-grained horror thick skin" that kept me from having that scare factor hit me. It just bounced off I guess! lol)



Night Society by Ambrose Ibsen - 4 stars.

My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

(Another favorite author here as I have read a few of his books and he writes cool ghost stories along with some really creepy "spine-tingling" stories as well. I remember this book was really creepy too.)



Covenant by John Everson - 4 stars.

My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

(I really like John Everson as he has some spooky books out there. This book is part of a trilogy which I need to finish. I own the other two books but haven't read them yet. I am planning on rereading this one though so I can read the other two back to back. I do remember this book being a "spook ride"! lol)


The Death of Addie Gray by Amy Cross - 4 stars.

My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

(I really like Amy Cross books and I have over 100 of her books on my kindle unread at the moment - lol - yeah - she writes a lot! - but she has some really different horror books out there and I think out of the few I have read only one I didn't care for, but she writes with an atmospheric style bringing the reader into her world. Also she makes her books cheap topping out at $.99 each so it is kind of hard to resist buying her books.)


Abra-Cadaver by Matt Drabble - 4 stars.

My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

(I really enjoyed this book as it was almost like a sub-genre of horror which I call "slasher-horror". It was my first book by Matt Drabble and I have a few more by him on my kindle)

What a good reading month, Marie. The Subhuman sounds very good to me, particularly the part you felt was slow. I like it when books tell about the lives of scientific characters prior to events in the book. I suppose it helps sell the rest of the book to me. I've added this one to my TBR.

I still recall one scene from somewhat early in the book The Exorcist, about the desecration of a church. It wasn't in the film but it stayed with me nonetheless. You are probably too young to remember that there were stories of movie hoers who fainted during the film, so unexpected were the depictions. I had already read the book, so felt prepared. Still, it was a disturbing cinema.

The story of the return from a coma child sounds interesting, too. As i noted, you had a good month that year, with fascinating story lines.

As a kid, I saw The Exorcist at a drive in theater Upstate NY. Driving home in the dark scared the heck out of me.

madrano wrote: "What a good reading month, Marie. The Subhuman sounds very good to me, particularly the part you felt was slow. I like it when books tell about the lives of scientific characters prior to events in..."

Thank you Madrano and I am happy that I can help you add books to your tbr! :) You might really like the author Michael McBride as he has a few books that are like that I think with the scientific theme.

Alias Reader wrote: "As a kid, I saw The Exorcist at a drive in theater Upstate NY. Driving home in the dark scared the heck out of me."

The movie is scary and I can see why it scared you especially when you were young. Even as adults we can get spooked, but as kids it can be 10x worse with those kind of movies.

Yes, as a kid. Raising children, i was constantly wondering if i should let mine watch scary movies. But, heck, my daughter was frightened by the Wizard of Oz, so...

I was very scared of the wicked witch from The Wizard of Oz and often dreamt of her. I also remember my friend's cousin would not swim in their above ground pool because of the movie Jaws. On the flip side, my sister and I went to see The Exorcist ( I was in junior or senior high school) and found it very unbelievable and there were people laughing during it. Fear is very subjectable.

Interesting, re. Exorcist. Oddly, it was the flying monkeys which freaked out my daughter.

I cannot help but laugh at your friend's cousin. I shouldn't but there i am, giggling. One thing i liked about those '50s science fiction movies were the disconnect from reality. I mean, The Spider with its gigantic spider? Scary but also laughable. Godzilla was fun because the tail demolished tall buildings. And on. These were probably nightmares for other kids, though.

As an adult I don't like movies/TV shows that contain horror, mayhem & violence etc. I guess that is why I seldom watch a lot movies/TV.

I know what you mean. Sadly, i've almost become inured to it in zombie films, probably thanks to The Walking Dead, Book One.

On occasion i watch a horror film but often it's because some actor i like is in it. Of course that leads me to wonder why s/he took the role. :-) Usually i can see why--there is such meat in roles where you fight the awful.