Book Nook Cafe discussion

Share with us what you read in August 2014

Please provide:

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

This is what I read in August.



Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
Fiction
Rating 5/5
I thought this book was hilarious. I loved every far fetched zany page.

My Lucky Life in and Out of Show Business by Dick Van Dyke
Non fiction
rate: 4/5
Audio book
Reader: Dick Van Dyke
If you are looking for some gossipy dirt, look elsewhere. This is a real nice memoir of a real nice man.

The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes
Fiction
Rate: 3/5
I enjoyed this book but not as much as the other two I read by this author.
Me Before You
One Plus One

The Nazi and the Psychiatrist: Hermann Göring, Dr. Douglas M. Kelley, and a Fatal Meeting of Minds at the End of WWII by Jack El-Hai
nonfiction
Rate: 4/5
audio book
Reader: Arthur Morey
Very interesting book about the U.S. psychiatrist, Dr. Douglas M. Kelley, who interviewed Hermann Göring and other Nazi's before they were to be tried at Nuremberg.

The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden--Jonas Jonasson
Fiction
Rate: 5
audio book
Reader: Peter Kenny
Hilarious zany novel. The reader was excellent has he portrayed the various characters.

The way I rate books are anything 3 and above is good. So this was an excellent month reading wise for me.

These are my August Reads . . .



Cover Her Face by P.D. James (bday: 8/3/1920)
Fiction
Rate: 4.5
Sally Jupp is a young mother, and housemaid in the aristocratic Maxie home. Her sensuous efforts find her forcing a marriage proposal on a wealthy son of the Maxie family. The next morning, Jupp is found with dark bruises from a strangler’s fingers on her throat. Only Chief Inspector Adam Dalgliesh can discover who killed her.

Hunger by Knut Hamsun (bday: 8/4/1859)
Fiction
Rate: 4.5
This book was disturbing at times, and other times it was just odd. It's the story of a Norwegian who is starving, wandering the streets, looking for something to put into his stomach. But when he cannot, he becomes lost in this world and falls into another world. Hunger was Hamsun’s first strike against the novelistic representation of coherence.

Pontoon: A Novel of Lake Wobegon by Garrison Keillor (bday: 8/7/1942)
Fiction
Rate: 4.5
I like Keillor's quirky characters- especially Evelyn: an energetic, free-spirited, 80 yr. old beauty, who kicked up her heels traveled, raised hell, and took up with an old boyfriend, Raoul. She lived life to the fullest, and left directions for a rather unconventional burial service.

The Bradbury Chronicles: The Life of Ray Bradbury by Sam Weller (bday: 8/22/1920)
Non Fiction
Rate: 5
Excellent! Every detail packed into this book with all the things regarding Bradbury. Enjoyed his courtship with his wife, his youth in California, and much, much more. He was truly a unique individual!

Heart Songs and Other Stories by Annie Proulx (bday: 8/22/1935)
Fiction
Rate: 4
Collection of short stories with characters that are not terribly intelligent, sophisticated, attractive, or even likable. But, what they are is real. Proulx is interested in telling real stories about real people, who happen to be fictional.

The Accidental Mother by Rowan Coleman
Fiction
Rate: 2.5
"Senior Group Pick" --it moved very slowly; it lacked so much.

Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
Fiction
Rate: 4.5
Meet Gabriel Oak, an honest, thoughtful man who would make sure that Bathsheba Everdeen would always have someone watching over her. He proposed but she rejected him (due to her self-centeredness.) Later other self-centered characters; Troy busy "drowning" (a lie); and Boldwin imagining marriage to Bathsheba. In the end-Bathsheba visits Gabriel (he's packing to move to California); she accepts his marriage offer and they "live happily ever-after."

A Separate Peace by John Knowles
NonFiction
Rate: 5
During WWII, a touching, close relationship of two boys, Gene & Devon/Finny at prep school. Devon, falls from a tree branch with a difficult break in his leg. Later he returns to school with a cast, and with an attitude that "WWII is not real." Other boys at school demand a trial; believing that Gene intentionally broke Devon's leg. Shortly later, Devon falls down the marble stairs, and breaks the same bone. A surgery is scheduled; Gene waits. The doctor comes out and informs him that Devon died during the surgery. How? Devon's bone marrow accidentally enter his bloodstream, and it stopped his heart. Gene, at a loss, doesn't cry but states that when Finny died, he took Gene's anger with him. In Finny's death, Gene finally comes to terms with himself.

Unshaken: Ruth by Francine Rivers
Fiction
Rate:5
Ruth's husband died, so she with Naomi, her mother-in-law, return to Naomi's home. It is wonderful to see how Ruth has the opportunity to work in the fields of Boaz, who is an older, dedicated man. I love their courtship and their wedding. I am familiar with scriptures but this book really shows how important Ruth decisions are for both Boaz, Naomi and baby Obed.

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
Non Fiction
Rate: 4.5
Well written book with terrifying characters. I really liked the Clutter family characters, and I'm not good with descriptive murder-type stories.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
Non Fiction
Rate: 5
I enjoyed everything - I loved the characters, all they went through, how they survived, plus a little romance, and the appearance of O. F. O'F. W. W. (aka Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde!)

At the Back of the North Wind by George MacDonald
Fiction
Rate: 5
I love George MacDonald's writing, especially children stories. I LOVE the book illustrations in this book, by my favorite illustrator ever -- Jessie Willcox Smith.

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
Non Fiction
Rate: 5
Between 1854 and 1929, "orphan trains" ran regularly from cities of the East Coast to the farmlands of the Midwest, carrying roughly about 250,000 orphaned, abandoned, or homeless children -- whose fates would be determined by pure luck. Two charitable institutions, the Children's Aid Society and later, the Catholic New York Foundling Hospital, endeavored to help these children. The two institutions developed a program that placed homeless, orphaned, and abandoned city children, who numbered an estimated 30,000 in New York City alone in the 1850s, in foster homes throughout the country. The children were transported to their new homes on trains that were labeled “orphan trains.” This relocation of children ended in the 1920s with the beginning of organized foster care in America. The big question: Would they be adopted by a kind and loving family? Would they face a childhood and adolescence of hard labor and servitude?

A true tragic tale where "Dorothy" is left with horrible "families" and later gets worse from her next "family" whose father attempts to rape her. She flees, walking in frozen cold with little to keep her warm; develops pneumonia and is brought to health by a generous lady. Later given to a Lutheran couple who lost their daughter and ask her to take their daughters name, Vivian. Each chapter covers past and present; chapter by chapter.

Starting tomorrow we will be on the road again for several weeks, so i want to post my August list now. I'll be able to check in but won't be hooking up my larger keyboard (forgot what it's called).

Into the Rising Sun by Luc Cuyvers was an accompanying book to some tv series i didn't see. Ostensibly about Vasco da Gama, it really covered much of Portugal's discoveries along the coast of Africa. Good story, nicely told, but the lack of a map was dismaying! The photos were fairly useless, too, imo.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak was a fine book. The conceit is that the narrator is Death. I read it because i wanted to see the film but now i'm not as eager.

A Month in the Country, a short novel written by J.L. Carr was a nice, simply told book. I liked the simple story and how it was developed. It is told from the story of the narrator looking back at his first solo job as an artisan who uncovered medieval church art.

Life Would Be Perfect If I Lived in That House by Meghan Daum was a pleasant book. I'd never read other work by her or might have liked it better. Still, as a story about a woman & the rentals leading to her eventual home owning was fun, if not a bit too long for me.

The next two are the first works in a mystery series by Charlotte Hughes. What Looks Like Crazy and Nutcase. The MC is a clinical psychologist and some of the story is about her personal life, while her clients also feature. It can be amusing but also addresses serious topics, such as spousal abuse and parental expectations of their adult children.

Forgotten Bookmarks: A Bookseller's Collection of Odd Things Lost Between the Pages by Michael Popek was a pleasant book which featured photos of bookmarks left in books which Popek & his family found in their book buying business. The fun was seeing if there was a connection to the books, such as tickets in a book about sports. There was a cute bookmark in one, courtesy of an optometrist, "My Eyes Got Tired At this Point" or something like that. Yes, there was money in some and personal letters in others. In some cases names were mentioned and Popek shared what little info he learned about the people.

In all, nothing great, though. Not surprising as we are doing more exploring of the city & state than reading. Catch ya'll later!

Wow, Carol. You've been reading up a storm.

I am so happy you enjoyed A Separate Peace as much as I did.

I need to put Orphan Train on my TBR list.

As usual, I enjoyed reading your books read list, Carol.

Very nice reading month, deb. A nice mix of books.

I read The Book Thief with a f2f book club. I thought it was good for a YA book.

Alias Reader wrote: "Wow, Carol. You've been reading up a storm.

I am so happy you enjoyed A Separate Peace as much as I did."

This is what happens if you are a "golf widow" (he plays four days during the week, also on weekends.) I'm on hold for the Jojo Moyes books; all her books are out.

Hi Deb! I hope you have a great trip! I will have to dig out The Book Thief, it's somewhere in my bookcase. I have yet to organize my books : (

I gave all of these 5/5. I couldn't put them down. When one was over I was in a hurry for the next.


I gave this a 4/5. It's the fourth in the series but I just didn't get the same feeling as the first 3 above.


2/5 Bleh. I finished reading it because I wanted to see how it ended.


3/5 Good read, although it is one of series so there's a lot of questions left unanswered.


3/5 Good quick read


5/5 - Good quick read

Very nice, Jenn !

Finished a few books in August I had started earlier and read quite a few books.

Books I read in August:
Gem Squash Tokoloshe by Rachel Zadok ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Seven-year-old Faith and her family lead an isolated existence on a drought stricken farm in the Northern Transvaal of South Africa. When her father leaves, Faith lives not only with her mother and dog, but also with the many ghosts her mother believes in. Left behind by her husband, Faith’s mother, Bella becomes depressed. When their housemaid Nomsa is killed, Bella is incarcerated in the Sterkfontein asylum for the criminally insane, and Faith is placed in foster care.

Fifteen years later, after Bella’s death, Faith returns to the farm. As she is on the brink of a breakdown of her own, she hopes to find herself again. Instead, she is forced to face the past and come to terms with what really happened in the winter when Nomsa died.

I came across this book in the library last year, but only took it out recently. It’s good that I didn’t take it out earlier as I probably would not have appreciated it so much. In fact there is more to this story than meets the eye. There is the private drama of one family set against the backdrop of a changing nation. And there are the different takes on madness or better said the devastating effect of some ideas – beliefs and memories.

I could easily relate to the sensitive Faith, especially the child and liked the structure of the book a lot. The second part had a few unnecessary details for me, but that didn’t change so much about how I feel about the book. I was pretty much in the ban of the Tokoloshe as I read this book in two days. At first, I skipped the gibberish-like prologue but finally came to read it towards the end. The prologue seems unnecessairy, but as Death Rex (one of the Tokoloshe) gets the final word as well, it seems only logical. While the prologue gives us a glimpse of the fatal night, the epilogue gives us a message.

A Cupboard Full of Coats by Yvvette Edwards narrated by Adjoa Andoh ★ ★ ★ ★

“He just knocked, that was all, knocked the front door and waited, like he'd just come back with the paper from the corner shop, and the fourteen years since the night I'd killed my mother, hadn't really happened at all. “ Jinx had imagined that moment a thousand times and finally out of the blue Lemon has come back.

Fourteen years ago, Jinx’ mother was brutally murdered in their East London home by her lover Berris. And then Lemon suddenly turns up on Jinx' doorstep. Lemon is an old family friend, who not only knew her mother but who also is a lifelong friend of Berris. Due to Lemon, Jinx is forced to revisit the past and to reconsider her own role played in the drama that led to the murder of her mother. She isn’t the only one however, whose life after that terrible night has changed....

I had seen the title of this book many times before but thought it maybe wasn’t really a book for me. When I saw that Adjoa Andoh was the narrator of this book and after listening to the audio sample I decided on downloading this book. I heard it in a few days and I’m glad I did.

The book has a slow yet a determined building up. At first Lemon and Jinx tiptoe around each other, revealing snippets and fragments mostly of their own lives, later cautiously yet determined to clear their conscience once and for all, about the events leading up to the murder. The story switches between the present and the past and between the two different voices. I liked the way in which the story was built up enormously. I found the awakening sexual feelings of the 16-year-old Jinx less interesting. Yet, when I started to think it might end up as a personal battle amongst Lemon and Jinx – it proved it still was on the right track.

The sudden mind change of Jinx was maybe a little bit too abrupt yet still very believable and touching.

The Good Women of China: Hidden Voices by Xinran ★ ★ ★ ★

I had already read a few books set against the background of the Cultural Revolution, but these were mainly individual stories. This is a collection of several stories told to Xinran when she worked for the Chinese Radio. These stories don't only give an other insight in this time period but in Chinese society as well, and it's done without going too much into political details. Nevertheless these stories have something international as women are still very much seen as second class citizens in many countries over the world.

Interwoven in the stories is also the story of Xinran and her family, which gives this book an extra dimension.

I had almost not read this poignant book as I didn't like the reading sample. It starts of rather slow but it just gets better with every story. Highly recommendable when you are interested in China or in women's issues.

The Ruby in Her Navel by Barry Unsworth narrated by Andrew Sachs ★ ★ ★ ★

'The Ruby in her Navel' is set in the Norman kingdom of Sicily under King Roger II (the 12th century). Latin, Greek, Arab and Jew live together in precarious harmony in the city of Palermo. Due to the second crusade the opinion on the Muslims in Palermo has changed; they are seen more and more as a treat.

The book is narrated by Thurstan Beauchamp, a Norman Christian who works for Yusuf, a Muslim Arab, in the palace‘s central finance office. The job includes the management of brides and blackmail and the gathering of secret information for the king. Thurstan, however also acts as the Purveyor of Pleasures and Shows. During one of his trips in Italy, Thurstan encounters a troupe of wandering dancers and musicians – among them the beautiful Nesrin – which he sends to Palermo to perform for the king. On this same journey Thurstan also encounters Alicia, the woman he loved as a youth and who has just returned from the holy land. Before he knows, Thurstan finds himself caught in a tangle of plots.

This story at first is rather slow and confusing. After an hour however I was fully in the story and enjoying it. Despite loving history and reading, I’m always a bit cautious when it comes to historical novels, especially when situated in the middle Ages. It mostly includes too much gruesome details of public executions or fights – but this certainly isn’t the case in this fine novel. And the medieval setting can be a bit forced in some books, that this certainly isn’t so with ‘the Ruby in her Navel’. In fact, as reader, you are transported back through time and yet, there is something very contemporary about this story and its plot. The themes are of course quite universal. It’s a story about ambition, love, passion, mystery, betrayal and revenge, but also about racial, religious and political tensions that are still with us today.

Definitely worth the effort as there are many twits and plots that keep you guessing till the end.

Animal Farm by George Orwell ★ ★ ★

Glad I read this classic.


Books I finished:

The Highly Sensitive Person by Elaine N. Aron ★ ★ ★

I only know since this year that I'm highly sensitive. It was therefore very interesting for me to read this book. It confirmed what I suspected and made me realize I was born highly sensitive. An eyeopener.

Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey ★ ★ ★

The summer of 1965 is a summer that Charles Bucktin, then 13 years old, will remember forever. Not only is it the summer in which he falls in love, it is also the summer in which Jasper Jones, the town troublemaker asks for his help. Jasper is an outcast in the Australian mining town of Corrigan due to his mixed white-Aboriginal heritage. If something happens, fingers immediately point in Jaspers direction. Lured by the promise of adventure Charlie helps Jasper, only to feel guilty afterwards – not only due to the terrible discovery he witnesses but more so by the fact that he can’t share his secret, as it will not only discredit Jasper but also himself.

‘Jasper Jones’ is a tale about teenagers dealing with adult and painful secrets. It is also about making sense of the adult world that has its prejudice not only against Jasper but also against Charles’ best friend, Jeffrey Lu and his family, who happen to be Vietnamese.

‘Jasper Jones’ is a well-paced story with lots of humour and literary references. The plot for me however was not entirely satisfying. It was a bit too much to take in and it seemed more a scenario for a soap series. Nonetheless, ‘Jasper Jones’ is all in all a satisfying read due to its protagonists and their youthful wisdom.

Great monthly review, Danielle ! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with the group.

My Augustreads:

I Still Dream About Youby Fannie Flagg
rating 3/5 A nice light read with quirky characters
Close Knit Killerby Maggie Sefton
rating 3/5
a book in the cozy series I read. It was a light mystery with familiar characters
W is for Wastedby Sue Grafton
rating 3/5

A solid outing with Kinsey Millhone.
A Lesson in Secretsby Jacqueline Winspear
rating 4/5
Another series in the Maiaie Dobbs series. These books are interesting as the author illustrates what is going on in /Britain in the period between WWI and WWII
The Beast by Faye Kellerman
rating 4/5

Nice reading month, Meredith !

I read a few Fannie Flagg books years ago. I remember that I enjoyed them quite a bit.

Danielle wrote: "Finished a few books in August I had started earlier and read quite a few books.

Books I read in August:
Gem Squash Tokoloshe by Rachel Zadok ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Seven-year-..."

Jasper Jones is supposed to be the Australian version of To Kill a Mockingbird and there are a number of deliberate parallels to that book. The title character also resembles Huck Finn and I think this is another deliberate parallel.

Jasper Jones

Shomeret wrote: Jasper Jones is supposed to be the Australian version of To Kill a Mockingbird and there are a number of deliberate parallels to that book. The title character also resembles Huck Finn and I think this is another deliberate parallel.
..."

Interesting. I didn't know that.

True, Shomeret. There are lots of references to Twain and his work, especially Huck Finn.

Some really interesting books!

I read the following in August:

Typhoid Mary: An Urban Historical - 3.5/5 stars
This was an interesting, quick read that took a somewhat different take on the woman who was a carrier of a terrible disease. Mary was a cook who spread the disease through her food. It was an interesting read.

The Handmaid's Tale - 4/5 stars
A good read and a fascinating depiction of a world where reproduction in not only unusual but is conducted in a highly ritualized fashion. Women are oppressed and only a select few men and women live a comfortable life. It's a terrific read and there are more comments in my Determination List thread.

Great Expectations - 4.5/5
Wonderful book that follows a young boy with ambition to become a gentleman. Along the way, he learns that the people who he initially wants to emulate are not really who he thinks they are and that many of the people he looks down on are really good people. The book has adventure and interesting characters and a lovely story. There are more comments in my Determination List thread.

In Cold Blood - 4.5/5
Fascinating story of how two young men who have been in trouble all their lives murder a family in cold blood. Based on a true story, it is frightening how unemotional these killers are as they plan and carry out their crime. The characterization of the two men is really gripping as, in the course of the book, their natures evolve and the reader gets a closer look at what might lead someone to commit murder. There are more comments in my Determination List thread and in the In Cold Blood group read thread.

Slaughterhouse-Five - 5/5 stars
I have read and enjoyed many Vonnegut books, but not this one, his most famous. I loved this book - such an interesting way to look at a life, in this case Billy Pilgrim. He is a young man who feels disconnected from life and "time travels" though is own life. He also believes he has been abducted by aliens who help him come to better understand his own life and life on Earth. Billy, like Vonnegut, lived through the bombing and destruction of Dresden during WWII, a firestorm that killed 130,000 people. Both Billy and Vonnegut spend years trying to process this horrific event. There are more comments in my Determination List thread.

Of Mice and Men - 5/5 stars
As much as I love The Grapes of Wrath, this is my favorite Steinbeck novel. It is short and tight and just wonderful in terms of balance, story and characters. The issues raised are profound and nuanced. There is a sadness that underlies the story, as is the case with several Steinbeck novels. This was a re-read for me - I was almost afraid to re-read it because I loved it so much as a teenager. There are more comments in my Determination List thread.

Danielle wrote: "True, Shomeret. There are lots of references to Twain and his work, especially Huck Finn."

Yes, and the references made the book seem too self-conscious for me. I noticed in the reviews that generally speaking Australians seem to like this book more than non-Australians.

Susan from MD wrote: ..."

I am glad you enjoyed In Cold Blood, Susan. I hope to finish it today. I also have found it fascinating.

Congratulations on a very nice reading month !

Didn't read as many books as normal but a few of them were really long!
1. Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell 4/5
2. The Distant Hours by Kate Morton 5/5
3. Summer at the Lake by Erica James 3/5
4. Life After Life by Kate Atkinson 3/5
5. The Night Guest by Fiona McFarlane 3/5
6. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad 2/5
7. Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz 3/5

Nice mix of books, Rosie. Thanks for sharing with us.

I have The Distant Hours on my bookshelf but haven't gotten to it yet - happy to see that you enjoyed it!

I really enjoyed The Distant Hours! It was probably her worst book but I love Kate Morton so much :) if you never read one of hers before I suggest you read another before this one x

Rosie wrote: "I really enjoyed The Distant Hours! It was probably her worst book but I love Kate Morton so much :) if you never read one of hers before I suggest you read another before this one x"

:)

Well, I'll keep an eye out for one, but I'm trying not to buy a lot of books, so this may be it!

Only three for me this month, but some good ones:

The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach - I was not expecting to like this at all. I know nothing about baseball and I tend to avoid modern debut novels defined as literary fiction, especially if they have been hyped because I have had so many disappointments (Burial Rites I'm looking at YOU). But I fell in love with this book, especially the characters. The plot was your usual coming of age, going through life changes, reflective underdog tale, but the characters really made it feel real. I cared about them and when the book came to an end I didn't want to leave them. Also I shed a little tear at the last baseball game so I must be a little bit of a sucker for sports books! FOUR STARS

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote - I was thrilled to finally read this after owning it with good intentions for years. Thanks to Book Nook for making this a group read because it's been really enlightening to read along with others and gain more insight. I thought this book was incredible, written in excellent style, alternately poetic and crisply concise. Truman Capote is truly a master of the written word. And it is the first book in a long time that I found genuinely frightening, at times the juxtaposition of the happy family and the oncoming murderers chilled me to the bone. It made me lose sleep in a way I have never experienced and set me to checking and re-checking the locks at night. Also, I found trying to unpick the psychological puzzle particularly fascinating. A contender for best book I have read this year. FIVE STARS

Candide by Voltaire - this was a strange little satirical story which was a quick read but I think deserves further study. I can't say I really enjoyed it particularly because it was to fable-like and quite formulaic, but I think if this was for study with notes, or with a book group, you could look into the historical elements, discuss the satire and get a lot more out of it than I could. I like Voltaire's point of view, in this and on other things, but it was less like a novel than I was expecting. THREE STARS

Susan from MD wrote: "Some really interesting books!

I read the following in August:

Typhoid Mary: An Urban Historical - 3.5/5 stars
This was an interesting, quick read that took a somewhat different ..."

Wow Susan you really had an excellent reading month! Seeing your review of Slaughterhouse 5 on your DL made me want to re-read it. I was blown away by it when I first read it a few years ago, for such a slim volume it packed a real punch. I am adding it to my 'time for a re-read shelf'.

We studied 'Of Mice and Men' in high school and I have read it again since. It is a brilliant book - even the not-very-enthusiastic boys in my English class were able to connect with it. Then this year our idiot Education Secretary saw fit to remove it from the curriculum because it was not British. Absolutely disgraceful! He is no longer in his job so I hope they reinstate the American literature - it carries some of the best books I have ever read and it would be a shame for school children not to pick up on literature that is perhaps more accessible. As much as I love Dickens it took me a long time to get to appreciate him and in my opinion Steinbeck is a much better, shorter option for a fourteen year old's introduction to serious literature. I was a bookworm and Dickens might have even put me off!

Soph wrote: "Only three for me this month, but some good ones:

The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach - I was not expecting to like this at all. I know nothing about baseball and I tend to avoid m..."

I really liked "The Art of Fielding" too, Soph. Glad to see that you enjoyed it as well!

I've been hesitant to read this as I doubt I would like to read about baseball. I say that even though I do like to watch baseball. Though my team, The NY Mets, stink and have for years. I didn't even bother to watch a single game this year.

Anyway, I'll put The Art of Fielding on my TBR list after reading your review.

Thanks for sharing your reads with us, Soph. I am thrilled that everyone seems to have enjoyed In Cold Blood. I have a bit more to read to finish. I too have found it a fascinating read.

My reads for August:

She's Not There: A Life in Two Genders by Jennifer Finney Boylan: A memoir of a trans woman (someone born with male physiology, but who has always known she was cognitively, emotionally, and spiritually female) and her gradual transition that led to her decision to have sex-reassignment surgery. It tells her story of growing up transgendered and finding her way to allowing herself to live as the gender she always knew herself to be. Well written with poignancy and humor. 4 stars

Until I Say Goodbye: A Book about Living by Susan Spencer-Wendel: A memoir written by a woman who learned in June 2011 that she had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)--Lou Gehrig's disease. She was told that she had just a few years (at most) to live—and just one year of health remaining. She decided to quit her job and spend that year with her family and friends. At the end of it, she wrote this book—tapping it out letter by letter on her iPhone using only her right thumb as it was the last remaining finger that still worked. It sounds depressing, but this book is about living with joy and optimism and humor and without regrets. 4 stars

The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes: A historical fiction novel that connects two engaging love stories across different time periods. The book held my interest throughout with strong yet flawed characters who must make tough, morally questionable decisions. 4 stars

Honeymoon in Paris by Jojo Moyes: This novella is the prequel to “The Girl You Left Behind,” and takes place several years before the events to come. I actually read it after finishing “The Girl You Left Behind” and found it useful to explain some of the back story of the full novel. 3 stars

Widow's Tears by Susan Wittig Albert: The 21st book in the long-running series. Different than most of the other books in this series. If you are looking for the "murder mystery" that is typical of a China Bayles book, then this will be a disappointment. Because there isn't a mystery--this is really a ghost story. But I really enjoyed the flashbacks about the Galveston hurricane--those drove the narrative for me. 4 stars

The Mystery of Mercy Close by Marian Keyes: I love Marian Keyes. While on the face of it her books might appear to be your typical fluffy chick lit, they actually include characters with addiction, alcoholism, depression and mental health issues—in other words, there’s reality inside the pages of these chick books. And she manages to make it all laugh-out-loud funny as well. 3.5 stars

California by Edan Lepucki: A post-apocalyptic/dystopian novel about life in the not-too-distant future (approximately 2050 or thereabouts) after the world has slowly sunk into decay as a result of global climate changes, weather catastrophes, economic collapse, and the like. The story follows the survivalist existence of a young couple, Cal and Frida, who abandon the collapsed city of Los Angeles and move to the woods to eke out a life. As the novel progresses we learn details of the couple's earlier life and their connections to a Weather Underground-like movement called The Group. The couple eventually leave their forest home and connect with a larger group of survivors in a fortified encampment where they encounter a figure from their shared past ... and The Group. I wanted to like this book. I eagerly awaited its release. And … there were parts of it that were really interesting, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to. It felt like something was missing. 3 stars

One Plus One by Jojo Moyes: The latest book by Jojo Moyes. I enjoyed it, but not as much as others by her that I’ve read. This seemed like a story I’ve already heard—it reminded me of the movie “Little Miss Sunshine.” 3 stars

Temptation by Douglas Kennedy: A quick read about a man who toils as a writer for years, finds great success — and then discovers it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. I enjoyed it. 3 stars

I Think I Love You by Allison Pearson: A fun read about a young girl in England who has a huge crush on pop star David Cassidy in the ‘70s. She considers herself the ultimate Cassidy fan, making picture collages of the singer, subscribing to his fan magazine and knowing all there is to know about him. Petra hopes that someday all this knowledge may come in useful should she ever actually meet Cassidy. One of the biggest sources of her knowledge is a David Cassidy fan magazine. And while the teen girls reading the magazine believe that their fan letters are being answered by David Cassidy himself, it's really a writer named Bill who is penning the responses. He's a college graduate, trying to break into the rock and roll journalism scene who has taken a detour to the Cassidy magazine to pay the bills. Bill is tasked with coming up with a Cassidy questionnaire contest. The prize: a trip to L.A. to visit the set of the Partridge Family. And that's a trip that Petra is determined to win. This book is a coming-of-age story that you can relate to if you’ve ever been a teen girl caught up by a celebrity crush. (Full disclosure: I myself had a crush on David Cassidy's little brother Shaun Cassidy when I was a young girl...) 3 stars

The Deepest Secret by Carla Buckley: After revealing the big secret fairly early on, the book kind of petered to an ending which was rather weak and which felt rushed. I was honestly kind of bored and had to force myself through the last 60 pages or so. Also, I really couldn't make an emotional connection to any of the characters. I understand that one of the points of the book is to shine a light on the fact that every family has its own "deepest secrets," but there really were too many side stories going on. 2.5 stars because the writing itself was fine--it was the story that was flat.

"The Bat" by Jo Nesbo, Don Bartlett- translator: This is the first in the Harry Hole series by Norwegian crime novelist Nesbo. Thankfully I’ve read a few of the later entries in the series and Nesbo improved over time, because if I started with this one I might not have continued. 2 stars

Unsolicited by Julie Kaewert: This book is a rather ridiculous pile of events and coincidences that strain credibility. 2 stars instead of one only because I feel as though the author has more potential than...whatever this is attempting to be.

Watchmen by Alan Moore: I can't rate this book--I don't feel it would be fair, since I only read it because I was participating in a summer reading "Bingo" challenge and I had to choose a graphic novel to check off that particular square. This book is a favorite of my husband and my son, so they urged me to read it when I told them I had to pick a graphic novel for my reading challenge. They said it was a classic in the genre, one that set the standard for all graphic novels. OK, if that's the case, then THIS would be a great choice for my initial foray into the genre! However, this book was almost like torture for me to get through. I can appreciate the creativity and the artistic genius that went into it, but for me the story line was unnecessarily convoluted and pretentious. And I found it to be rather sexist. If this is the standard for the genre, I have come to the conclusion that I am not a fan of graphic novels. If I had to rate the book just on my enjoyment of it, I would give it 1.5 stars. If I were to rate it on my recognition of the level of its artistic merit, however, it would be at least 3.

Rosie wrote: "Didn't read as many books as normal but a few of them were really long!
1. Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell 4/5...."

Hi Rosie! I normally don't like YA, but Eleanor & Park was much better than I thought it would be. I also liked Life After Life.

Some great books read during August. I am adding Gem Squash Tokoloshe and The Highly Sensitive Person to my to-read list. They both sound great Danielle.

I read Jasper Jones three years ago, but do not recall much about it at all. I didn't jot down any notes about it, but I did give it a 3 star rating. It was a fairly popular book when it was released here a few years back.

Susan, I too read Great Expectations and The Handmaid's Tale and feel the same way about both as you.

My August NF reads:

I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban Malala survives a gun-shot to the head, a result of her courage to speak out in support of girls' education in tribal northern Pakistan, in the face of repression by the Taliban. Very inspiring read. 4 stars.

Out of the Dust I loved this little book which is Billie-Jo's experiences as a thirteen year old during the Dust Bowl in Oklahoma. 5 stars.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Maya experiences many hardships during her teenage years. 3 stars.

The Tao of Travel: Enlightenments from Lives on the Road Theroux discusses the different aspects of travel whist quoting from famous travel writers. The sort of book that you dip into rather than read in one hit. Good, though a little dated I thought. 3 stars.

And the rest:

Great Expectations I don't recall reading this at school though I'm sure we had to read some Dickens. I found this classics just a little too long. 4 stars.

Last Man in Tower on audio. The residents of a Mumbai building are offered fortunes to vacate so a shiny new residential tower can be built in its place. The reactions from the residents are different. I love Indian settings, and this was fascinating but too long, at least on audio. 3 stars.

Time's Arrow on audio. Dr Friendly reviews his life backwards from dying back to his involvement in medical experiments in Auschwitz. I felt this was a gimmick and really difficult to follow. 1 star.

The Handmaid's Tale This fascinating read has been well described by Susan earlier in this thread. 4 stars from me.

White Earth This Miles Franklin winner looks at multi-generational ownership of farming country in the spotlight of aboriginal land rights, drought etc. Most of the book does not ring true for me. 2 stars.

Surfacing on audio. A 30-something woman goes in search of her missing father, accompanied by her partner and two friends. There were some good moments in this. I think I should have read this one rather than on audio. 2 stars.

The Trial I found this just too strange for me, and can't really describe it other than a man is charged with a crime he is unaware of and awaits a trial which never happens. 1 star.

Barracuda Teenager Dan Kelly fails in his quest to compete at the Sydney Olympics, and feels that he has let down more than just himself. This tale makes great observations of contemporary Australia; integration of migrants, middle and working class issues etc. 4 stars.

Amy wrote: "I Think I Love You by Allison Pearson: A fun read about a young girl in England who has a huge crush on pop star David Cassidy in the ‘70s. She considers herself the ultimate Cassidy fan, making picture collages of the singer, subscribing to his fan magazine and knowing all there is to know about him. Petra hopes that someday all this knowledge may come in useful should she ever actually meet Cassidy. One of the biggest sources of her knowledge is a David Cassidy fan magazine. And while the teen girls reading the magazine believe that their fan letters are being answered by David Cassidy himself, it's really a writer named Bill who is penning the responses. He's a college graduate, trying to break into the rock and roll journalism scene who has taken a detour to the Cassidy magazine to pay the bills. Bill is tasked with coming up with a Cassidy questionnaire contest. The prize: a trip to L.A. to visit the set of the Partridge Family. And that's a trip that Petra is determined to win. This book is a coming-of-age story that you can relate to if you’ve ever been a teen girl caught up by a celebrity crush. (Full disclosure: I myself had a crush on David Cassidy's little brother Shaun Cassidy when I was a young girl...) 3 stars"


OK, I read this comment on the train and had this song in my head all the way home! I remember those David Cassidy days ... and I had hair like Susan Dey. LOL!

Ah, simpler times ....

Susan from MD wrote: "... and I had hair like Susan Dey. LOL..."

Lucky! I wanted hair like Marcia Brady or Laurie Partridge, but it's too thin and fine and it would never feather properly. I spent most of my childhood sporting a pixie cut (think Twiggy or Goldie Hawn during her "Laugh-In" days.) My sister had the Dorothy Hamill cut. I was jealous of her hair, too. LOL

Amy wrote:
The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes: A historical fiction novel that connects two engaging love stories across different time periods. The book held my interest throughout with strong yet flawed characters who must make tough, morally questionable decisions. 4 stars

Honeymoon in Paris by Jojo Moyes: This novella is the prequel to “The Girl You Left Behind,” and takes place several years before the events to come. I actually read it after finishing “The Girl You Left Behind” and found it useful to explain some of the back story of the full novel. 3 stars ..."

As usual an excellent reading month and write-up, Amy.

I didn't know that Honeymoon in Paris was a prequel.

My ratings were switched from yours. I enjoyed One Plus One more than I did The Girl You Left Behind. The modern day second half was a let down for me. The love story part too unrealistic to me. The guy she falls for too good to be true and the way they find the info just was too much of stretch for me. Still I gave it a 3. I gave One Plus One a 4. I liked the spunky kid.

California by Edan Lepucki sounds like an interesting premise, too bad it didn't meet expectations. I see that the Amazon reviewers felt the same.

Alias Reader wrote: "I didn't know that Honeymoon in Paris was a prequel...."

Yes, I had the paperback edition of "The Girl You Left Behind." In the back was included the additional novella. It's short--about 60 pages or so.

Honestly, some of my crankiness with "One Plus One" might be author fatigue. I also just finished "The Last Letter From Your Lover," which I liked even less (although I rated it with 3 stars). I was just so blown away by "Me Before You" that I ran out and got several more books by Jojo Moyes. While I've enjoyed all of them to varying degrees, I think it's time for another author.

Lesley wrote: "Great Expectations I don't recall reading this at school though I'm sure we had to read some Dickens. I found this classics just a little too long. 4 stars..."

I'm reading "Great Expectations" right now--and I concur with your assessment, Lesley. It's well written, but I feel it could have been edited down a bit.

Lesley wrote: "The Tao of Travel: Enlightenments from Lives on the Road Theroux discusses the different aspects of travel whist quoting from famous travel writers. The sort of book that you dip into rather than read in one hit. Good, though a little dated I thought. 3 stars...."
-------------------------

Very nice reading month, Lesley !

A neighbor and friend of mine is a nut over Paul Theroux. I think she has read most of his books.

Out of the Dust looks interesting. I see the book won the Newbery Medal. I normally don't care for YA. However, I never read a book written in free-verse poems. I checked out the Amazon Look Inside This Book feature and I am intrigued. I think I will have to put it on my TBR list. Thanks!

Lesley wrote:
The Trial I found this just too strange for me, and can't really describe it other than a man is charged with a crime he is unaware of and awaits a trial which never happens. 1 star. ..."

:( I own this book but haven't read it yet.

Alias Reader wrote: "California by Edan Lepucki sounds like an interesting premise, too bad it didn't meet expectations. I see that the Amazon reviewers felt the same. ..."

I thought it started off strong, but it sort of went off the rails somewhere about 2/3 of the way through. It was worth the read, though. What I did appreciate about it was the portrayal of the decaying world in the future--it was not due to any one apocalyptic event, but was the result of many years of slow decline. Which made it more frightening and realistic, in my mind. I loved Alas, Babylon and its portrayal of our world after a nuclear attack. But that is the kind of apocalyptic event that you can shove aside into the corner of your brain and say, "Not very likely to happen." But a world that has rich people living in gated communities and hoarding luxuries like electricity, Internet access and medicine while the rest of us flee polluted, crime-ridden cities and head for the woods to live in cabins and try to grow our own food while protecting ourselves from "pirates" who roam the countryside? That's not so far a leap in the imagination.

Susan from MD wrote: OK, I read this comment on the train and had this song in my head all the way home! I remember those David Cassidy days ... and I had hair like Susan Dey. LOL! ..."

-------------

One of the cable channels that I get sometimes show the re-runs of the Partridge family. I always watch them. :)

I also have 2 CD's
Partridge Family Album & Definitive Collection by Partridge Family.

Their song, I Can feel Your Heart Beat is in my ipod "music for exercise" folder.

Amy wrote: "Susan from MD wrote: "... and I had hair like Susan Dey. LOL..."

Lucky! I wanted hair like Marcia Brady or Laurie Partridge, but it's too thin and fine and it would never feather properly. I spent..."

Curly hair here. :( I always wanted to have that straight hair of Susan Dey from the Partridge Family or Peggy Lipton hair that she had when she played Julie Barnes on the Mod Squad. Just like my Barbie Doll had.

The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion

I enjoyed this book. It was a light-hearted read. Interesting to learn more about what life was like going through wartimes and the changing expectations of women's roles during those times. I rated this book a 4. I even shed a few tears at the end.


The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
I enjoyed this book, but I found myself getting a little bored in the middle. I rated this book a 3.


Sharp Objects
I really enjoyed this book. Flynn sucked me into this dark mystery quickly. She made me squirm, with the character carving words in her skin. I love her descriptions and story in general. I rated this book a 4.



Gone Girl

Wow! I really enjoyed this book. It was so much more than what I had expected. I think she really excelled when writing this book. Can't wait to see the movie now. At first I didn't like this ending but I liked it more a day after I read the book. lol I rated this book a 5.



Between Shades of Gray

This young adult book was a difficult read for me. Perhaps I had a hard time switching from contemporary fiction to historical fiction. This book was set during wartime of the Russians taking over Lithonia. I just can't imagine dealing with these unbearable circumstances. I rated this book a 4. This book touched my heart more, just knowing that this piece of fiction actually represented what horrors people lived through in these times. Really glad I read this book.



The Giver

So glad I read this short book. Made me think about what I gift it is to enjoy colors and the option of having choices in life. This is a very prolific book for adults and tweens to read. I rate this book a 5. I gave the book to my brother to read and hopefully my 10 year old nephew to read.



Dark Places

This was my first Flynn book to read, she just blew my mind when I read this book. I just liked the style of the book and the way she switched from what happened the night of the murders to the daughter solving the case of the murder. I think the author did an outstanding job with this book. I gave her book a 5.

Welcome to Book Nook Café, Tanya ! Thanks for joining our group and also for posting.

You had a very nice reading month. From your list and read Guernsey and The Giver.

I felt pretty much the same as you did with Guernsey. I also enjoyed The Giver. Though I don't really read much YA fiction. I hope your brother and nephew enjoy it, too. :)

Tanya wrote: Gone Girl

Wow! I really enjoyed this book. It was so much more than what I had expected. I think she really excelled when writing this book. Can't wait to see the movie now. At first I didn't like this ending but I liked it more a day after I read the book. lol I rated this book a 5...."

Tanya, I also enjoyed "Gone Girl." I read it straight through over a 48-hour period. I am apparently in the minority, but I liked the ending--I felt that it ended the only way it could have, given the rest of the story. I hate when an author caves and gives a book a tidy, convenient, wrapped-up-in-a-bow ending that doesn't fit the way the narrative progressed to that point. Which is why I refuse to go see the movie -- Gillian Flynn rewrote the ending because so many people complained about it! The original ending is perfect BECAUSE it stirred up so much disbelief and emotional reactions.

Amy wrote: "Tanya wrote: Gone Girl

Wow! I really enjoyed this book. It was so much more than what I had expected. I think she really excelled when writing this book. Can't wait to see the movie now. At first ..."

Thanks Amy... I liked the ending once I had time to process all that had happened. Sad to hear the ending was changed for the movie...I know I'll have to see the movie anyway. Curiosity will just kill me if I don't. lol

My August reads:


The Chicken Thief
An African political thriller with heart. Good fun.
3/5
My full review is here: http://leatherboundpounds.wordpress.c...


Letters to the End of Love
Wonderful novel about love and loss. Can't recommend it enough.
4.5/5 (or maybe 5/5)
My full review is here: http://leatherboundpounds.wordpress.c...


Fourteen Days
Nice slow burn ghost story. Very short read.
3/5
My full review is here: http://leatherboundpounds.wordpress.c...

Nice reading month, Leather. Thank you for sharing with us. Good reviews !

My August was back to my regular 2 books. But those 2 were a good 2.

All the Light We Cannot See was given 3.5 stars. And that may seem a lower score, I think it will haunt me and make me think about raising that score to a 4 over the years! I'm becoming a real sucker for books that tell 2 or more stories in a historical format. This book takes place prior to World War 2 and follows up with the characters after the war. The secret that is kept throughout is in the shape of a special diamond. Amazing. Of course the things I remember about the book are the characters not the rock. Also the setting of St Malo on the coast of France. I'm sure I've never read so much about that particular area.

My 2nd book of August again detailed parts of Nazi occupied Europe during that war. The Storyteller is a book I've meant to get to for a long time. I believe it received a 4 star score but it should possibly be on the same par as the other August 2014 book. This book narrates the story of a Polish lady and her experiences in a concentration camp with the extermination of family and friends. The base of the story is in the present with the grand daughter of said lady who has personal problems that made me impatient. The baggage that so many women carry that bogs us down! Why can't we just get over things and try happiness? This was a good book and fans of Picoult will all know that already. I have another of her books on my tbr pile -- Plain Truth.