Library Lovers discussion

Watcha reading?

Well, sorry I haven't been around for awhile, but you know I'm always reading!!

I am listening to The Fellowship of the Ring and am loving it!
For my library book club I am reading The Turn of the Key. It is scary (to me) and I can only read a few pages a day. But I'll get it finished by book club day!
And then I'm reading A Suitable Boy as a "long read" with a friend. It is 1400 pages long!!! You should see the book sitting in my lap as I read! And it's SO heavy. But I'm only reading 15 pages a day so it will take me about 3 months to get through. However, that allows me to read some other books at the same time!
Because I'm also reading My Year of Rest and Relaxation. It's interesting, a quick read, and kind of funny (dark humor). I'm enjoying it.
Really, I'm enjoying them all! :)

A Sudden Light – Garth Stein – 3***
This is a ghost story, an historical novel, a coming-of-age story, and a tale of dysfunctional families and long-held secrets that MUST COME OUT. I found it very atmospheric and liked the way Stein handled the paranormal elements.
My full review HERE

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Grace Takes Off – Julie Hyzy – 2.5**
Book four in the Manor House Mystery series has Grace and her boss and benefactor, Bennett Marshfield, traveling to Italy to visit one of Bennett’s long-term friends. Grace is getting on my nerves. She has the worst taste in men and, despite her “experience” solving crimes, never seems to pick out the culprit early enough to avoid more danger. Oh well, cozy mysteries are still my reading snack food of choice.
My full review HERE

Me by Elton John
5 stars


I dont think Elton John left anything out of this biography. At times he seems very egotistical and at other times his insecurities are apparent. He is not afraid to tell his faults, from relationships to drug and alcohol addiction) and you never get bored because he goes from extraordinary thing to the next without spending too long on any one subject. Many celebrity bios spend a lot of time on their career achievements but this one doesn't. He mentions many of his accomplishments but doesn't spend much time on any of themMe by Elton John , preferring to spend more time on personal matters. I think this is one of the more well-written celebrity bios I have ever read and from reading the reviews it looks like most people agree.

Cold North Killers: Canadian Serial Murder, by Lee Mellor
3 stars!

This was an interesting read about, not only Canadian serial killers, but SKs from the United States who slipped across the border to do a few more killings and, to my surprise, more than a few Canadians who went south of the border to do all their killings in the US. The overall impression he left me with was that there just weren't enough serial killers in Canada to fill up his book, so he borrowed a few. I like some of his turns of phrase, for instance saying Clifford Olson's eyes were "like two cigarette burns." I wish he had dug up more details on some of these guys, though. The bios range from very satisfying to vaguer than vague. Overall well-written despite some Spellchecky errors here and there.

Koren wrote: "Me by Elton John
5 stars


I dont think Elton John left anything out of this biography. At times he seems very egotistical and at other times his insecuritie..."

Definitely on my reading list!

The Little Beach Street Bakery – Jenny Colgan – 3***
This is a lovely chick-lit romance novel. Things don’t do smoothly for our heroine, but love will win in the end. It was a fast and enjoyable read full of colorful characters. First in a series set in the tidal coastal island off Cornwall coast.
My full review HERE

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THURSDAY – 31 Oct 19

The House Next Door – Anne Rivers Siddons – 4****
This work of Southern gothic / horror fiction is a little slow to start but once it gets going it's riveting! I stayed up way too late a couple of nights "waiting for that other shoe to drop." It left me on edge and vaguely anxious; spooked by noises in the night (or in the daytime). A perfect Halloween read!
My full review HERE

A Murder Is Announced
Agatha Christie
4/5 stars
A classic Miss Marple murder mystery!

Around the World In 80 Days – Jules Verne – 4****
One of the books in Verne’s series of “Extraordinary Voyages” begins when Phileas Fogg accepts a wager at his gentleman’s club. What a delight! I’ve seen movie adaptations, but the book is so much better. (Although, of course, there are some racial stereotypes that grate on the modern reader’s sensibilities.)
My full review HERE

Blackberry Winter – Sarah Jio – 2**
I had heard such good things out Jio and this book in particular, so I was looking forward to reading it. The premise is interesting, though I figured out the connection between Claire and Vera long before any of the characters did. But both these women just irritated me. The personal travails of these women held the story back, IMHO, forcing the reader to slog through all these personal dramas much as the people of Seattle slogged through piles of snow.
My full review HERE

Book Concierge wrote: "

The Little Beach Street Bakery
– Jenny Colgan – 3***
This is a lovely chick-lit romance novel. Things don’t do smoothly for our heroine, but lov..."

I liked The House Next Door too!

For my book clubs I am reading Address by Fiona Davis and The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George. I am also participating in the Shakespeare reading project on Facebook. We have finished Twelfth Night and Henry VI, Part One. I was distressed over Shakespeare’s depiction of Joan of Arc but of course he was writing for the Protestant Tudors and she was a French Catholic war hero.

Everything I Never Told You
Celeste Ng
4/5 stars
Ng’s story surrounds the Lee family, in particular Lydia, their daughter who has died. The story goes back and forth in time including the meeting and marriage of Marilyn, who is white and James Lee who is Chinese. Their marriage is not going well and their children struggle as the only American Asians in their town. But when their daughter dies it consumes them and threatens the family structure while they attempt to find out what happened to Lydia. Well written and hard to put down.

Man’s Search For Meaning – Viktor E Frankl – 5*****
I first read this book when I was in college and it has remained with me ever since. This is both a memoir and an inspirational lesson in how to survive and thrive. Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl relates his experiences in Nazi concentration camps and shares the experiences, too, of his patients, to show that, while no one can completely avoid suffering, we can choose HOW to deal with and process those experiences to find meaning and a renewed sense of purpose.
My full review HERE

Breaking Blue by Timothy Egan
5 stars!!!

Wonderfully written story of a true-life Don Quixote type who couldn't let go of his unanswered questions until he got to the bottom of the very last one. This book gave me a taste of what it was like to live in the utterly different world of the 1930s. Just read this one; you won't be sorry.

Fishface wrote: "Breaking Blue by Timothy Egan
5 stars!!!

Wonderfully written story of a true-life Don Quixote type who couldn't let go of his unanswered questions until he got to the bottom of the v..."
Sounds good!

Here Today, Gone Tamale – Rebecca Adler – 2**
First in a series, starring former big-city reporter Josie Callahan, who’s helping her Aunt and Uncle in their TexMex restaurant while trying to figure out her own next move. As cozies go, this is okay, but the plot is weak. I did like a number of the supporting cast, including her pet long-haired Chihuahua, Lenny. But I was irritated beyond words that the publishers and/or author didn’t bother to use the proper spellings / alphabet for Spanish words that are used – e.g. Senora vs Señora. That’s just lazy. And it lost a full star because of that.
My full review HERE

The NecroNomNomNom: A Cookbook of Eldritch Horror, Mike Slater
5 stars!!!

This cookbook is a triumph of the Lovecraftian art of food sorcery, wedding the lore of the Great Old Ones to appetizers, entrees and what have you. The author leaves it up to the reader to locate some of the profane instruments required for the rituals described, for instance the tentacle Jello molds. Possibly I can head back to the library at Miskatonic and check them out from their Library of Things. Every page offers smiles...and tremors of gelid fear. Definitely the most appropriate gift I received this Squidmas.

Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife
Mary Roach
3/5 stars
Roach delves into the facts of life after death and the people who research the various aspects of this subject. Not my favorite book of hers but a few of the chapters were compelling.

Catching up with the Sinclair family books by J.S. Scott.

Immersion reading:
kindle Enamored
and
audible Enamored

4**** edging toward 5*****

My favorite so far in the Accidental Millionaires series. I'm going to make myself wait a week before I read this again or at least I'm going to try to wait that long.

Now, the burning question is.... When do the Montgomery brothers get their HEAs and is there going to be action adventure theme to their books? Their military backgrounds, mining business, and treasure hunting hobby seem made to order for intrigue.

The Accidental Further Adventures of the Hundred-Year-Old Man – Jonas Jonasson – 3.5***
The scenarios are every bit as ridiculous, outlandish, and unbelievable as in the first book, but I just love the way Allan just “goes with the flow.” It’s a fast, fun, romp of a novel that had me giggling in places.
My full review HERE

There There – Tommy Orange – 4****
In his debut novel, Orange explores the world of today’s Urban Indian through the stories of twelve characters who are planning to attend the Big Oakland Powwow. Their lives are interwoven by coincidence, thin threads of DNA, circumstance, and/or proximity. They are in turn angry, desolate, hopeful, joyous, loving, confused, determined, generous or mean. Orange’s voice is unique and powerful. And I look forward to reading more from him in the future.
My full review HERE

Inside Out by Demi Moore
3 stars


After reading this book, I'm still not sure what rating to give it. I'm not a fan of hers but I've seen and liked quite a few of her movies. I felt she was open and honest, but I didnt feel like she had a lot of happiness in her life and I felt a lot of that was because of her own decisions. Even at the end, it felt like she didnt have many close relationships, although she gave the impression that was changing. So I'll go down the middle and give this 3 stars. Didnt love it but didnt hate it.

Pied Piper
Nevil Shute
4/5 stars
Englishman John Howard, alone in life decides to take a fishing trip to France. On his way home, he is asked to escort a couple of children home to England. Unfortunately, Germany invades France just while he is trying to get the children home. Travel is very hard and along the way he picks up a few more children that desperately need to leave France. I enjoy Shute’s works and this one didn’t disappoint me. Poignant!

Scent To Her Grave – India Ink – 2.5**
Beginning of a new series starring Persia Vanderbilt, who runs the local bath and body store in Gull Harbor, WA. I liked the basic premise and Persia's skill with scents and botanicals. I also liked the slow-burn potential romance. On the other hand, the mystery was a little weak IMHO and the ending seemed rushed.
My full review HERE

An Irish Country Doctor – Patrick Taylor – 4****
Taylor tells the tale of a young physician learning the ropes from an older, wiser, well-established practitioner in an Irish village, in the mid-1960s. I’ve heard this described as “James Herriot for people” and I think that’s a perfect description. Some scenarios are quite humorous, and others are tender and heartfelt. A very entertaining book.
My full review HERE

The Diva Haunts the House – Krista Davis – 3***
Book five in the cozy series featuring Domestic Diva Sophie Winston and her rival Natasha. There’s no lack of suspects, and plenty of costumed vampires around to confuse everyone from the police to the amateur sleuths. I like the decorating tips at the beginning of each chapter. And the recipes at the end were a nice addition. All told, an entertaining cozy mystery.
My full review HERE

Flight Behavior – Barbara Kingsolver – 4****
Kingsolver has crafted a story of one woman’s awakening, and simultaneously a warning about climate change. I found the story compelling from both perspectives. I know many people criticize Kingsolver for being preachy, but I did not find her message overbearing. Dellarobia Turnbow is a fascinating character. And her personal journey was what really elevated the book for me.
My full review HERE

Latinos In Milwaukee – Joseph A Rodriguez & Walter Sava – 3***
This is a short history of the various Latino immigrant populations in Wisconsin’s largest city. The authors interviewed many current residents, some whose families had been in the area since the early 20th century; and outline the various reasons and opportunities that brought these immigrants north.
My full review HERE

The Secret Footprints – Julia Alvarez – 5*****
This children’s picture book tells the Dominican Republic legend of the ciguapas – a race of extraordinarily beautiful people who live in caves beneath the sea and come onto land only at night. Fabian Negrin’s illustrations are rich and atmospheric, taking me straight to the tropics.
My full review HERE

Murder by the Book
Rex Stout
3/5 stars
An author and three people who had access to his book are murdered. When the inspector cannot solve the case he contacts Nero Wolfe and his staff to help in the investigation. Of course Wolfe prevails and this unusual case is solved. Interesting plus a fast read!

The Milagro Beanfield War – John Nichols – 5*****
In a New Mexico valley the power is held by one man and his company; they own most of the land and virtually all the water rights. Until one day, Joe Mondragon decides to cut a trench in the irrigation ditch, diverting some of that water onto his late father’s beanfield. I've had this book on my TBR "radar" for a bajillion years and I don't know why I waited so long to read it. I really liked it a lot! The quirky characters, the message, the humor, the pathos, and the landscape all made this an especially moving book for me.
My full review HERE

The Woman In the Window – A J Finn – 4****
This psychological thriller (with a capital ‘P’ !) takes its inspiration from the classic films of Alfred Hitchcock. A trained psychologist, Anna Fox is now an agoraphobe, trapped by her own mind in a 19-century Harlem brownstone. When she witnesses (or thinks she does) a murder during one of her binge-drinking episodes no one believes her tale. A real roller-coaster ride of a thriller. I was engaged and entertained from beginning to end.
My full review HERE

Indianapolis: The True Story of the Worst Sea Disaster in U.S. Naval History and the Fifty-Year Fight to Exonerate an Innocent Man
Lynn Vincent
Sara Vladic
5/5 stars
This book tells the tale of the WWII ship Indianapolis. During the war this ship had a secret mission to deliver one of the atomic bombs that was used on Japan to help end the war. After that mission, a Japanese submarine attacked the boat causing it to sink, losing the lives of many of the crew. Despite the heroic actions of Commander McVay and the lack of help from the Navy, he was court martialed for not following procedures. Many of his crew were upset with the charges and it took years to have someone look into and dispute the charges. This was so interesting and there was also a wonderful special on PBS that lead me to read the book. I recommend both. Check out more information at https://www.pbs.org/show/uss-indianap...

Blitzed: Drugs in Nazi Germany, by Norman Ohler
3 stars

An intriguing reframe of the decline and fall of Nazi Germany, seen through the lens of the incredible intake of perfectly legal, over-the-counter methamphetamine available to every German of every age during the Second World War. Backed up by a small avalanche of citations. This would make a great companion read with Dr. Feelgood: The Shocking Story of the Doctor Who May Have Changed History by Treating and Drugging JFK, Marilyn, Elvis, and Other Prominent Figures, not least because the doctors in both books are products of the same time and place. I found this a depressing read for a lot of reasons -- so depressing I had to take a break for a while before finishing -- partly because it reminds me of all the drug-and-alcohol biographies about people I admire dying young. Partly it makes clear that the Nazis might not have been so difficult to defeat if they weren't using these chemical booster rockets, helping ordinary soldiers become unstoppable homicidal maniacs, which are still being fed to children today as if the stuff were perfectly harmless.

Hannah’s Dream – Diane Hammond – 3.5***
This was a heartwarming story and I really enjoyed it. But then, if a book has an elephant in it, I’m bound to be a fan. I really liked Sam, his wife Corina, and Neva Wilson, the young zookeeper who comes to help care for Hannah. And I loved Hannah!
My full review HERE

There’s Something About Christmas – Debbie Macomber – 2.5**
It’s a Debbie Macomber Christmas story – cue the music and the snowflakes, grab some hot chocolate and enjoy the holiday romance. It’s a fun, fast read, if totally predictable.
My full review HERE

From Scratch – Tembi Locke – 4****
This is a wonderful memoir full of love and tenderness, grief and frustration, joy and a sense of belonging.
My full review HERE

The Story Hour – Thirty Umrigar – 5*****
Umrigar alternates viewpoints between these two women – an Indian immigrant and her African-American psychologist. I was completely engaged from page one through all the ups and downs of the story. I was anxious about how things would work out, sympathized with them when feelings were hurt, felt anger at some situations, and eagerly hoped for a resolution.
My full review HERE

The Price of Salt
Patricia Highsmith
4/5 stars
Set in the 50’s, Therese Belivet is fresh out of school and trying to establish her career in set design. She has been working part time jobs and dating a young man who is ready to get married. But Therese is not ready to settle down. While working at a store’s toy department during Christmas she meets Carol Aird, wife and mother, who is estranged from her husband. They start to develop a friendship that becomes stronger and soon threatens Carol’s marriage. Highsmith does a great job building up the tension and you will be wondering where this will end.

Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic – Alison Bechdel – 3.5***
Bestselling memoir of a young woman growing up in a dysfunctional family. The graphic novel is full of Bechdel’s marvelously detailed drawings. Her confusion, anger, disappointment and sadness come through on almost every page.
My full review HERE

Moby-Dick, Or, the Whale – Herman Melville– 4****
Melville writes in great detail – ad nauseum – about the intricacies of whaling, the various species of aquatic mammals, the arduous and dirty (even disgusting) job of butchering the carcass. But he also explores the relationships developed among the crew, the sights of new ports, the weeks of tedious boredom broken by a day or two of exhilarating chase. I understand the enduring quality of the work, so despite its flaws, I still give it a high rating.
My full review HERE

Book Concierge wrote: "

Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic
– Alison Bechdel – 3.5***
Bestselling memoir of a young woman growing up in a dysfunctional family. The graphic nov..."
I like Bechdel's work!

Trouble Comes in Threes - M.A. Church - 3+***

M/M/M shifter romance with some suspense and violence
I was going to read this last year for library challenge to read book with characters different from reader. I'm not cat, not shifter, not male. I wasn't able to get it then but read it when it became available to me and I'm glad I did.
It was fun that the cat shifters in this behave like domestic cats when in their cat forms even though they retained human intelligence. Interesting that they choose to fight in cat form despite their relatively small size. The world is complex and secondary characters are interesting, some likable, some not. I tend to skim sex scenes especially longer ones so I did quite a bit of skimming. In spite of that the book seemed long. I think it was because some points seemed repetitive to me. Interesting secondary characters from this are featured in later books in the series. I'm interested in world story arc developments indicated by blurbs for future books but hesitant to try them since page counts show they are longer than this first one.

The Lost Girls of Paris – Pam Jenoff – 3***
Another WWII story featuring women working as spies through the underground resistance and facing untold dangers. There’s much to like about this tale, though I am frankly tired of the back-and-forth timelines used by so many writers these days. Still, the story, which is partly based on true events, moved quickly and held my attention.
My full review HERE

The Fabulous Bouvier Sisters – Sam Kashner and Nancy Schoenberger – 4****
The subtitle is all the synopsis anyone needs: The Tragic and Glamorous lives of Jackie and Lee. The authors have crafted a mini biography and exploration of their complicated and tight relationship. I found it fascinating and full of the kind of gossip that enthralls me. It’s an interesting look at the dynamic between these two sisters and their claims to fame.
My full review HERE

Golden in Death by J.D. Robb, Susan Ericksen narrator. 4****
I enjoy the character development in these and the slightly futuristic police procedural plot. It make sense that Peabody especially continues to grow into her position as she is one of the younger characters. Nice to catch up on the lives of the familiar police personnel and other regulars in the cast either by appearance or mention.

Too Fat, Too Slutty, Too Loud: The Rise and Reign of the Unruly Woman
Anne Helen Petersen
5/5 stars
Petersen writes an engrossing book on the way the world views certain women that buck the traditional roles of mother, wife and female role model. Told through the stories of various women, including Serena Williams, Hillary Clinton, Lena Dunham, Melissa McCarthy and others in the public eye, this book will astound you about the treatment of women and the double standards that they have had to deal with.

Jane and Prudence
Barbara Pym
3/5 stars
Jane and Prudence are friends. Jane is the wife of a clergyman and they have just moved to a new parish. While Jane is adjusting to her new parish, Prudence, a single woman who works for a living is encouraged by Jane to settle down and perhaps marry. She is introduced to Fabian, a neighbor who has issues of his own but there is another man that Pru is attracted to. Written in 1953 but it has some surprisingly modern thoughts on relationships. Not my favorite book but it was an interesting and fast read.

Honolulu – Alan Brennert – 3.5***
Regret / Jin is a marvelous character. She starts out a shy, subservient girl and grows throughout the novel into a strong woman. I’ve visited Hawaii several times and could picture many of the settings depicted in the novel, despite the vast differences in today’s Honolulu from that of 1914. I was fascinated by the history lesson and the glimpse into life during that time period.
My full review HERE