Paging All Bookworms! discussion

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Read any good books lately? We want to know about them.
How about real stinkers? We want to know about those too!


Enter your reading list and/or reviews here. Did you like it? Hate it? Feel lukewarm?

Share your thoughts with us.

Happy reading!

Not Quite Nice – Celia Imrie – 3.5***
In her debut novel, Imrie has given us a sort of “coming of old age” story featuring a group of British expats living in a small town on the French Riviera. I thought it was an enjoyable, fast novel. Perfect for a vacation read. The bad guys get what’s coming to them, and everyone learns a lesson or two. It’s not exactly a happily-ever-after ending, but it gives me hope for the future of these characters. There are two more books in the series (thus far), and I look forward to reading them.
LINK to my review

Maryse Condé, La vie scélerate [1987] 348 pages [in French, OpenLibrary facsimile]

The title, literally means "the wicked life" but I would translate it as "Life is a bitch"; that more or less expresses what the book is about. Like Segou, this is a historical epic following the various branches of a single family through four generations; in this case, rather than pre-colonial Africa, it traces the history of the African diaspora in the twentieth century Caribbean.

It begins with Albert Louis, a cane worker in Guadalupe, who leaves to work on the Panama Canal. After a stint in San Francisco, he returns to Guadalupe wealthy with American dollars and establishes a business. The story then alternates between his sons Albert (Bert), Jacob, Serge and Jean, his grandchildren, particularly Thecla, and his great-grandchildren, one of whom is the narrator.

There is much about politics, especially the influence of Marcus Garvey, and much of the plot turns on attitudes toward racially mixed marriages. The novel moves between various parts of Guadalupe, as well as New York, Paris and Jamaica. All the characters seem unpleasant and abusive, victims of their parents who reproduce the same dysfunctional attitudes from generation to generation, although this may be due to the narrator's experiences. The strengths and weaknesses of the novel are similar to the earlier book; the chronology is occasionally confusing, there are too many characters who are insufficiently developed and recur long after the reader (or at least this reader) has forgotten who they are, and spirits play a major role as in her earlier novels.

Interesting in parts, but I've read better novels about the region.

The Ravenmaster – Christopher Skaife – 3***
Subtitle: My Life With the Ravens at the Tower of London. This memoir details Skaife’s career path to what has become his life’s work: the Ravenmaster at the Tower of London. His dedication to his position as Ravenmaster is evident, as is his great love for the birds. But there were times when I felt the book dragged as he overwhelmed me with scientific detail. Final verdict: interesting but not gripping.
LINK to my review

Summer Hours At the Robbers Library – Sue Halpern – 3.5***
Three people running from their past (or present) find the help they need at the library. The novel is told in alternating viewpoints as each of the three central characters reveals his or her back story and experiences in current time. The first time there was a “flashback” it caught me off guard, but I quickly grew used to the style. Halpern gives us a wonderful cast of supporting characters as well. There are moments of humor to balance the heartache and disasters. I’d love a sequel to find out how they cope in the future.
LINK to my review

I Always Loved You – Robin Oliveira – 3***
The subtitle – A Story of Mary Cassatt and Edgar Degas – is all the synopsis anyone needs. This immediately drew my attention as I love art, the Impressionists in particular, and I love reading historical fiction about artists. I had previously been content to merely gaze with astonishment and admiration at the works of art they created. But while I appreciate now having learned all the details of their complicated relationships, and while these period elements added color to the story, the book failed to really move me.
LINK to my review

Rebecca Skloot, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks [2010] 369 pages

Henrietta Lacks died in 1951 of cancer; cells removed from her cervix were cultured and became the HeLa line of "immortal" cells, which were the first to continue to reproduce without limit, and became one of the major tools for cell research. In this book, the author alternates three stories: the story of Henrietta; the story of the research on her cells; and the story of her family and their interacttion with the author. The book deals with the ethical questions raised by the use of cells, obtained without consent, for commercial research which made millions of dollars for the biotech companies while Lacks' family could not afford basic medical care, as well as explaining something about the scientific and medical benefits of the research (I would like to have seen more of the science, but it was not the main focus of the book). The facts about segregated medicine were horrifying, although the author also points out that to a large extent the problems of the Lacks' family were a question of class more than race. Unfortunately, the capitalist nature of medical care and research is taken for granted, and the questions are all considered within that limit, which means that there are no really satisfactory solutions. The book became a best seller, with more than a million and a quarter copies sold, and was made into a movie in 2017; apparently not much has changed in the meantime. This is the November book for our library's book club.

Uncommon Criminals – Ally Carter – 2.5**
Katarina Bishop is back with her crew of teen-aged thieves. This time they are after the Cleopatra emerald, despite legend that it carries a curse. There are a lot of twists and turns in this plot, and more than one intricate theft taking place. Not to mention cons and contra-cons. It's a fast read, and I like a lead female who is smart, determined and generally self-sufficient. But I didn't think it was as good as the first book, Heist Society. Still, I see the appeal for the target YA audience.
LINK to my review

Quentins – Maeve Binchy – 3.5***
I came late to the Binchy fan club, but better late than never. I really like her style of every-day drama – the kinds of ups and downs we all experience in life. Many of her books feature the same ensemble cast of characters, but they don’t have to be read in any particular order. This book starts with Ella Brady and her lover Don Richardson, but quickly encompasses Brenda and Patrick who run the upscale restaurant Quentins and all the many patrons and trades people who support it. Reading a Binchy novel is a bit like visiting with old friends.
My full review HERE

Design For Murder – Carolyn G Hart – 3***
Book # 2 in the Death on Demand series, featuring mystery bookstore owner Annie Laurance. Hart writes a fast-paced cozy mystery with a great central cast of characters and a wonderful premise. I love the mystery bookstore, though I did get a little irritated by how often an author / book was mentioned. I very much liked the Mystery Night puzzle going on at the same time that a real murder was being investigated.
My full review HERE

Ban This Book – Alan Gratz – 4****
Fourth-grader Amy Anne Ollinger is stunned to discover that her favorite book has been removed from the school library because another student’s parent has complained it’s “inappropriate.” I loved Amy Anne; she starts out a quiet, shy girl who virtually never voices her concerns out loud, but who takes action to right a wrong. Perfect read to celebrate Banned Books Week!
My full review HERE

Choi In-hun, Tres Obras de Theatro Coreano [2007] 132 pages [Kindle, Google Play]

Three plays by Choi In-hun, in Spanish translation (I couldn't find anything by this author in English translation except The Square, and of course I don't read Korean). The description at the end, presumably from the back cover of the print book and by the publisher, calls them "realismo fantastico", which I assume means the same as "magical realism", but they really seem to be more the equivalent of fairy tales, though I don't know whether or not they are based on traditional stories or are original. There is a certain amount of realistic background, e.g. poor and oppressed peasants, but that is the background of most fairy tales even if it isn't generally emphasized.

[Possible slight spoilers]

The first play, En tiempos lejanos, is about the birth of a "messenger of heaven" in a small farming village, and the attempt of the government to find and kill him (similar to the Biblical legend of Herod). Perhaps this would have made more sense to me if I knew the background legends, but the messenger doesn't seem to bring any sort of message, and at the end I just felt like, this is all there is?

The second play, Cuando la primavera llega a la montaña y a los valles is the story of a peasant girl who is in love with a boy from the same village, but is wanted as a concubine by the local nobleman. There are no magical elements apart perhaps from the unnatural behavior of the animals at the end, although there is a magical fairy tale which is alluded to by the main character at one point. There is a twist at the end which made it interesting.

The third play, Dónde nos volvaremos a encontrar is the most magical and the most complex; it is the story of an exiled princess who marries a hunter from the mountains, but the situation is not what she thinks it is. This is the only one that seemed to possibly have any of the metaphysical meanings that the publisher's description ascribes to all three, but I'm not sure what that meaning was. It was an entertaining story but again it might require more knowledge of the traditional culture to really understand.

The Curse of the Pharaohs – Elizabeth Peters – 2.5**
Book two in the Amelia Peabody series, featuring the intrepid Victorian lady Egyptologist. I read the first book in the series a few years back and was not a fan. Much of what irritated me in the first book happened again. But … I’m beginning to see the humor and satire in Peters’ style. I’m starting to appreciate Peabody’s manner and her relationships with the other characters. This is a strong, independent-minded, intelligent woman who does not suffer fools gladly.
My full review HERE

Clock Dance – Anne Tyler – 3.5***
The novel follows Willa Drake, her hopes, dreams, disappointments and joys – over 5 decades, from 1967 to 2017. I like the way that Tyler explores the everyday drama of life. Not much happens – as far as a plot to carry the reader along – and yet much happens in terms of the character’s life. Willa frustrated me for much of this book. She was so passive that I wanted to shake her. I’m glad that by the end she is finally beginning to assert herself, to look at what SHE wants from life and to dare to try to achieve it.
My full review HERE

Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Streetby Michael Davis
4 stores


I didnt grow up with Sesame Street. I was more of a Captain Kangaroo kid. So I enjoyed reading the history of Captain Kangaroo and how that paved the way for educational children's programming. However, it was a little disappointing and surprising to find out Bob Keeshan was not as nice to work for as he seemed on television. Aside from that, the book seemed a little text-bookish at times, but if that's what you are looking for the research is impeccable and it IS called the Complete History Of Sesame Street, so I guess that would be reasonable to expect that. Interesting book, I just would not expect that it is going to be like sitting down with an old friend and chatting.

The Ruin (Cormac Reilly #1) by Dervla McTiernan
4 ★

Twenty years ago Cormac Reilly was called to the scene of a deceased woman. Her 2 children are cold, starving and beaten. Her son, Jack, was taken into foster care and her daughter, Maude, disappeared. Now Jack is dead. The official report is suicide, but Jack’s sister believes it was murder. Cormac Reilly is drawn back into their lives to re-investigate their mother’s death, but evidence from Jack’s death turns up far more interesting activity going on.

This story moved at a good pace and Cormac Reilly is a great character. He’s a good detective and really cares about the cases he works. I like how he works so hard to get every detail he needs to sort out the case. He doesn’t make assumptions. Jack and Maude have turned into productive adults with good heads on their shoulders.
It’s amazing how many twists and turns this story takes. It really keeps the reader wondering and curious. There is a lot of information for the reader to take in, and I found myself baffled by the case. There were so many possibilities. The answer was not one I thought of. I did figure it out before it was revealed, but it was a fun ride getting there. There is no graphic violence in this book, which is nice, and the police work is explained well.
The story goes back and forth between past and present and it helps the reader understand Maude and her decisions. It breaks up the story nicely as well.

Things You Save In a Fire – Katherine Center - 2.5**
Going into this I knew I was getting a “chick-lit” romance, with a flawed heroine hiding from her feelings due to an earlier trauma. Cassie is a (mostly) strong woman, working in a “man’s” job – even excelling at it. It was a fast read and I was pulled into the story quickly. But I thought the past trauma was handled poorly, and Cassie’s weak-at-the-knees, head-over-heels, hit-by-a-truck reaction just doesn’t ring true to me. Despite its flaws, Center’s novel kept me turning pages, but it’s not a book I’d save in a fire.
My full review HERE

A Crystal of Time (The School for Good and Evil: The Camelot Years #2) by Soman Chainani
5 ★

The false king, Rhian, now sits on the throne of Camelot while Tedros sits in jail awaiting his execution. Sophie is being forced to marry Rhian and Agatha has escaped, heading toward the School for Good and Evil. She must rally the kids from both schools to help fight Rhian and the Snake and rescue Tedros.

There is a lot going on in this book, but it’s fairly easy to follow. As usual the chapters switch between different characters points of view, so the reader gets a feel for what’s going on everywhere. I also like how the author will have something going on in one chapter and in the next chapter he lets the reader know how what just happened actually came to happen (did that make sense? ).
There are many twists and turns throughout the book. Some you see coming, many that you don’t. The author does a fabulous job creating a story that the reader is unable to figure out. As hard as I tried to figure out how Rhian was the One True King, I never imaged what the answer was. It was truly shocking. The reader also gets a better feel for Rhian and the Snake in this book. You learn about their past and how they came to be where they are.
My favorite part in the book is the minor character that no one ever thinks twice about gets a major upgrade. We meet new characters and lose some. The ending has a surprising revelation that leaves it one for the next book which I am very much looking forward to.

Ways To Hide In Winter – Sarah St.Vincent – 4****
This is a tightly written, marvelous psychological / political thriller. The characters are skittish, guarded, and yet reveal themselves by their actions. Kathleen and Daniil recognize in one another a certain similarity – both are running from the truth, both profess to need solitude even a way to hide away, and yet both want desperately to confide and reveal their pain and their hopes. This short novel includes some major issues The landscape is practically a character, and adds to the feeling of isolation, loneliness and imminent danger. The reader is kept in suspense to the very end.
My full review HERE

Kim Young-ha, I Have the Right to Destroy Myself [2000, tr. 2007] 131 pages [Kindle]

This is a bizarre but interesting short postmodernist novel by the author of Your Republic is Calling You. It is difficult to review at any length without spoilers, but I will try to give a sense of what it is about. The narrator is someone with a very unusual occupation, which we gradually learn more about. After a short introductory chapter in the first person, we get a third person novel about two of his clients and two other persons who connect the two stories, although the narrator occasionally intrudes with more information about himself and his writing of the novel. In the end, I was not sure whether in fact the narrator was supposed to be accepted at face value as the person he claims to be, or was simply a novelist creating that narrator as a character; that is, whether there was a third narrator between the actual author and the supposed narrator. The novel is about alienated characters who are on the margins of real life, without real relationships or interests.

Maryse Condé, En attendant le bonheur [1988] 243 pages [in French, Kindle] + 5 sec. arts. (72 pages)

En attendant le bonheur is a revised edition of Condé's first (1976) novel, Heremakhonon (a Malinke word meaning "waiting for happiness", which she translated into French for the later novel -- by the way, this novel has no connection with the film of the same name.) The original novel was extremely controversial and was not commercially successful; she has a preface here explaining that it was misunderstood and outlining the changes she made to make it clearer what she intended. In my review of Ségou: les murailles de terre I suggested that the political dimension of the book should be considered in the context of the debates over négritude and Pan-Africanism, and her last book I read, La vie scélerate also deals with many of the same ideas (Garveyism, and the class divisions in Guadeloupean society). In this preface, she makes it explicit that many of her works are a critique of négritude and Pan-Africanism, emphasizing the diversity of African and diaspora cultures and the importance of class divisions within Caribbean and African nations.

The novel is the story of a bourgeois Guadelupean woman, Véronica Mercier, who, after nine years in Paris, comes to an unnamed West African country (modeled on the Guinea of Sekou Touré, in the early 1960's) seeking a Black past which was not based on slavery. She takes a job teaching philosophy in a local school. The book is told in stream-of-conciousness, beginning with her arrival in the country and then flashing back to fragmentary memories of Guadaloupe and Paris; the chronology of the memories is not in order, so it is rather confusing at first, especially as her two lovers are named Jean-Marie and Jean-Michel. In the present of the novel she ends up in a relationship with a government official, Ibrahima Sory, who is a descendant of a family which once ruled much of the area. Initially apolitical and refusing to see what is happening in the country, she eventually is forced to realize that she is allied with the oppressors.

Because this was Condé's first novel, and she was also from a Guadaloupean bourgeois family, studied in Paris, and moved to Guinea about the time the novel is set in, critics were quick to consider it as autobiographical and criticize the author for the narcissistic behavior and naive ideas of the protagonist; she says in the preface that Véronica was an "anti-moi" whose ideas and behavior was very different from her own. In an interview quoted in one of the secondary articles I read, she says that only the early life of the protagonist in Guadaloupe was based on her own life but that everything in Africa was quite different; while Véronica, considering herself a victim of colonialism and racism, never realized her own class position and identified with elites in both Paris and Africa, Condé rebelled against her class upbringing and was a political activist. She also remained in Africa for over a decade rather than the three months that the character in the novel stayed. Understanding that Véronica is not Condé, it becomes obvious that she is not intended to be a sympathetic heroine and that the book is critical of the idea that Africa is a "homeland" for the people of the Caribbean.

Today, critics consider the novel to have marked a significant development in Caribbean literature. This is obvious from the five secondary articles I read after finishing the book. (See my thread for details.)

Kim Young-ha, Photo Shop Murder [1999, tr. 2003] 90 pages

Two short stories, "Photo Shop Murder" and "Whatever Happened to the Guy in the Elevator?" Frankly, I expected something more; they are entertaining stories, but that's all.

The first story is sort of a murder mystery, or perhaps a parody of a murder mystery, because the solution has nothing to do with the interrogation or the detective work, but just gets revealed out of the blue at the end. I had thought from the title that it would have something to do with the program Photoshop, but I should have looked at the date: the victim is the owner of a photo shop, that is a place that develops people's film and takes ID pictures and so forth. I suppose it could be considered "noire" but it doesn't exactly fit that genre either.

The second story is about a day that goes wrong, from the razor that snaps half way through shaving in the morning, to the man stuck in the elevator in the apartment, and so on through the day. The people don't care about each other, which is probably the point, and it is somewhat comic in a slapstick comedy sort of way.

After You – Jojo Moyes – 3***
A sequel to her runaway hit Me Before You, this brings the reader up to date on Louisa and her efforts to heal from the events in the earlier novel. I can’t say much more because that would spoil the first book. There are no easy, straightforward answers for Louisa, Sam or Lily. Or, for that matter the supporting characters. While the scenarios these characters are dealing with are not situations I have personally dealt with, their emotions ARE familiar to me. I did think that the plot got a little too complicated. Still, this was a very enjoyable sequel to the first book and I’m glad to have read it.
My full review HERE

The Collector by K.R. Alexander
3 ★

Josie and her sister, Annie, have moved with their mother to live with their grandmother. Josie is not happy with the move and her grandmother’s strange rules don’t make it any better. Her grandmother’s rules are: no dolls allowed in the house and stay away from the woods behind the house. Josie has no problem staying away from the woods until she meets Vanessa. Vanessa lives in the house in the woods that Josie’s grandmother has warned her about. With all the strange noises that come from the woods and the nightmares, Josie’s life couldn’t get any weirder. It does though when she goes to Vanessa’s house for a visit.

This is a great quick chilling tale for middle school kids. There is nothing gory, no bad language, and no violence. It does have some scene that may be a bit freaky for younger kids. The descriptions of the dolls in the story are well written and the reader is able to visualize Vanessa’s spooky house. It didn’t take me long to figure out what was actually going on, but I really liked Josie’s grandmother’s story about her life. Everything fit together quite well and made a great story.

Love And Ghost Letters – Chantal Acevedo – 3.5*** rounded UP
Acevedo gives us a wonderful exploration of Cuba from 1933 to 1969. Over the course of the novel Acevedo explores love in its many forms: passionate, within marriage or outside of it, as a teenager, during old age, parental and among friends. The upheaval within the relationships is contrasted nicely against the revolutions and political changes in the country during this time frame.
My full review HERE

All the Stars In the Heavens – Adriana Trigiani – 3.5***
Historical fiction based on real-life Hollywood drama: the love affair between Loretta Young and Clark Gable that resulted in a love child. I like Trigiani’s writing. I like the way she draws the reader in and moves the story forward. I really liked the secondary story of Alda and Luca – their steady love story is a direct contrast to the multiple relationships / marriages / breakups / divorces of the Hollywood stars
My full review HERE

Olga Tokarczuk, Primeval and Other Times [1992, tr. 2010] 248 pages

Tokarczuk, the belated winner of the 2018 Nobel Prize in Literature, has apparently long been considered one of the most important contemporary Polish authors, although I hadn't heard of her (I really didn't know any recent Polish writers except for the science fiction of Stanislaw Lem). Primeval and Other Times was her third novel and the first to win recognition in translation. It is frequently compared to Gabriel Garcia Marquez' Cien Años de Soledad, and I think the comparison is apt; it reminded me strongly of that novel -- Primeval, like Macondo, is both an isolated, symbolic community identified with the creation of the world and yet subject to invasion from the outside world (in the case of Primeval, the two world wars and the Stalinist regime.) The "magical realist" style is quite similar in both novels, and both feature a central mystery (the undecipherable book in Cien Años and "The Game" in Primeval) which in both books is given to the patriarchal character by a mysterious Jewish sage.

Primeval is divided into many short two or three page chapters called "The Time of _____" which are from the different perspectives, not only of all the human characters, but also God, the Virgin Mary, angels, a ghost, animals, plants, houses, "The Game" and even a coffee grinder. The book opens with a man called Michal being conscripted to fight in World War I, and, although there are no dates given after about 1949, I would say it continues until at least the late sixties or early seventies -- the characters born near the beginning are dying of old age by the end. Not a really political novel, but it shows the history of the country and the character of its people in a symbolic way through individual but not always realistic experiences.

There is a lot of religious description, but the book is hardly orthodox in its version of Christianity -- God is a mysterious but imperfect character on a level with all the other characters, and doesn't seem interested or able to intervene in the affairs of the human and other populations. The novel is violent in some parts (especially the German occupation), and has some sex, so (like Cien Años) I wouldn't recomment it to less mature readers, who probably wouldn't understand it either. The bottom line is that if you liked Cien Años, you will probably like Primeval, and if you didn't you probably won't.

Passing – Nelle Larsen – 4****
Larsen was part of the Harlem Renaissance and this book is a marvel of social commentary. In this slim volume Larsen explores issues of black/white identity, of the desire to get ahead and the societal obstacles to that path, of male/female relationships, and female-female rivalries. There is tension, fear, anger, joy, desire and hope. We get a wonderful glimpse of middle-class Black culture in 1920s Harlem.
My full review HERE

The Library Book – Susan Orlean – 4****
On April 29, 1986, there was a disastrous fire in the Los Angeles Public Library. The conflagration reached 2000°F and burned for more than seven hours. It was the single biggest library fire in U.S. history, consuming 400,000 books and damaging 700,000 more. This is the story of the fire, the investigation, and the building / rebuilding of the library. fire, scientists and fire marshals, and family members of the primary suspect. The result is a comprehensive story, not just of the fire, but of libraries in general, and the LAPL in particular.
My full review HERE

Kim Young-ha, Black Flower [2003, tr. 2012] 320 pages [Kindle]

In 1905, 1033 Koreans left Korea on a British ship to work in the haciendas of the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico. Later, a small number joined the guerrillas fighting the Cabrera regime in Guatemala, where they founded a short-lived government of New Korea in the jungle before being wiped out by the government forces. This historical novel tells their story. The main characters are Kim Ijeong and Yi Yeonsu, respectively a poor orphan boy and a daughter of the ruling family, who fall in love aboard the ship. The personal stories of these two and the other emigrants are told against the background of Korean and Mexican history. The historical elements are interesting; Kim Young-ha obviously knows Korean history and has researched the Mexican and Guatemalan history, although he seems to have a rather abysmal knowledge of world history in general -- for example, he has "Trotskyites from Germany" fighting in Pancho Villa's army in 1915. The personal stories have some interesting twists, but also a lot of clichéd situations. In all, an exciting but somewhat uneven novel.

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
4 ★

Winnie Foster wants to run away from home, but is scared to, so instead she takes a walk in the woods her family owns. During this walk she encounters Jesse Tuck as he drinks from a natural spring. She is confused that he won’t let her drink from it as well, but a trip to the Tuck family home explains it all. The spring gave the Tuck family eternal life and they want her to understand why she needs to keep it a secret. Unfortunately, someone has followed them and he has his own plans for the spring.

I really enjoyed this quick read. The Tuck family is simple, but kind and gentle. They treat Winnie like family right from the start. Even though Winnie is only 10 they never talk down to her. They explain everything and make sure she understands it. Jesse Tuck is fun and adventurous while his brother is more serious. Winnie makes some very grown up decisions throughout the book and handles everything quite well. She also risked quite a bit to help the Tuck family. The connection they all had was heartwarming. I do wish it had ended differently, but I can see why the author did what she did.

Killing Fear (Prison Break Trilogy #1) by Allison Brennan
4 ★

Theodore Glenn was convicted of murder 7 years ago and in court he threatened revenge on those who put him there: Detective Will Hooper, Robin McKenna and others. When an earthquake destroys areas of the prison Glenn is in he is able to escape and go after them. Now Will and Robin must put aside their past failed relationship and feelings to help catch him.

Theodore Glenn is a truly despicable character. The murders he committed are described well by the author and make the reader almost feel the pain the girls endured. I think Glenn is the perfect example of a psychopathic serial killer. He’s smart and charming and was able to deceive many people around him. Robin McKenna never trusted him and I can believe that. Some people are able to see deception in another person’s eyes.
Will Hooper annoyed me a bit. I can understand him wanting to apologize to Robin for the things he said 7 years ago, but I feel like he said it too much and tried too hard for her forgiveness. The two of them come from different backgrounds and I can see the relationship not working for them back then. The chemistry between them now is fresh and coming from more mature people.
The Kincaid family returns throughout the book and I loved that most of them played a role in the search for Glenn. Carina makes a great partner for Will. I liked how they weren’t afraid to speak their minds with each other, but I think Will should have trusted her more about his relationship with Robin.
The ending was quick and expected. A little too quick for me. Robin made some very stupid mistakes that I don’t think someone who has been expecting something like this to happen would make.

Empty Mansions – Bill Dedman and Paul Clark Newell Jr – 4****
Subtitle: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune. I remember the news coverage when Ms Clark was “discovered” living in a hospital room while her several mansions stood empty. I found this book completely fascinating. And yet … This story made me so very sad for this woman who, for all her wealth, lived such a lonely and limited life.
My full review HERE

Melissa wrote: "
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
4 ★

Winnie Foster wants to run away from home, but is scared to, so instead she takes a walk in the woods her family owns. Du..."

I loved this book even though I read it as an adult. The concept really intrigued me!

Grace Among Thieves – Julie Hyzy – 3***
Book three in the Manor House Mystery series, starring Grace Wheaton, curator and manager of the estate / museum in the North Carolina mountains. As cozy mysteries go, this is a pretty good series. I like Grace, who is generally calm in a crisis, and obviously competent at her job. She does seem to have a blind spot where romance is concerned but she helps the police find the culprit, further securing her future at Manor House.
My full review HERE

Kim Su-Young, Shin Kyong-Nin, Lee Si-Young, Variations: Three Korean Poets [2001] 303 pages

A bilingual anthology of poems by three Korean poets from different generations, Kim Su-Young from the fifties and sixties, Shin Kyong-Nin from the seventies and eighties, and Lee Si-Young from the late seventies into the nineties when this translation was made. I'm not really good at reviewing modern poetry, but some of these poems were very evocative, at least as far as I could tell from the translation. They were mostly short, from a few lines to a couple pages, many featured landscapes and natural phenomena, some were about the ordinary farmers' and workers' lives, and there were also some which were political, about the failed democratic revolutions in South Korea and the sense of sadness and despair over the conditions of the country.