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Book Concierge wrote: ".

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 lu..."

Thanks for doing this....

Rosie Project, graeme simsion

minus 1 ★

Fkin' BORING and worse than the sequel, if that could be possible....

I've read other books about & by people w/ Asperger's Syndrome that were more compelling and interesting.... Even the characters were likable in the other books and the reader could relate, but not in this book.

This book got on my last nerve.... I'm so not comprehending why so many people I know liked this book?

Rating 5 Stars.

This book overall gives insights on how to communicate with anyone. Most specifically, it looks at how to "validate" a person's feelings. Throughout this book, it gives approaches to make a person feel validated on how they think about something. In life, many people usually use invalidation statements meaning that they tell people, "it is okay" or "you will be fine." I am also guilty about that. This book shows how to make a person's statement valid by saying, "I understand, I know you are going through a tough time, and you have the right to feel that way." Pretty much, it does not matter if you agree with them or not; the person is looking for validation. Overall, this book was amazing to read and gives valuable lessons when talking to anyone. This book is geared towards any person who wants to enhance their communication skills or just looking for a book to read. Once again, Great Book!

The Day the World Came To Town – Jim DeFede – 4****
This is the story of what happened in Gander, Newfoundland, when, as a result of the 9/11 attacks in America, some 40 jumbo jets landed in the space of a few hours, flooding the town of 10,000 with some 6,600 passengers and crew members. It’s an uplifting story, especially now in these unsettled times. Reminding me that there is kindness in this world, that there are people who rise to the occasion and behave selflessly to help others in distress, without thought to remuneration or reward.
My full review HERE

Prudence, Gail Carriger

★ (Being Generous)

The premise was interesting... all the minutia boring. difficult to keep up with, and the arrogance of the main character a dreadful put-off.

Prudence (Rue to her closest) is actually shallow, arrogant & full of bravado... her companions (friends) also equally as shallow & frankly all very unlikable, which means I will not be reading the rest of the series.

Rue's mother & her two fathers are all bound up in supernatural beings as well as with the Queen Victoria's government.

Rue is set the task of brokering a tea treaty in India.... all hell breaks loose and well, it was all very mentally exhausting to keep up, which is why it took me almost a week to finish this book.

I only wish there were illustrations of the clothing....

Virgil Wander – Leif Enger – 4****
I love character-driven novels and this one perfectly fits the bill. I love Enger’s way with words, the way he paints the landscape and draws his characters who so perfectly fit the scenario he gives us. There is a spirituality, or mysticism about Enger’s story-telling that captures my attention as well. Enger’s town is small, but the people in it are larger than life. There are moments of humor and tenderness, and some evil and tragedy as well. However, the overall feeling is one of hope and resilience and of looking forward to the future, whatever it may bring.
My full review HERE

Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls

Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls by Lauren Graham
4 Stars ****

I LOVE Gilmore Girls, one of my favourite shows, and so I was delighted to see that Lauren Graham had written this book, which is collection of essays and some photos. She talks about growing life, struggling to get work as an actor, and landing the role of Lorelei Gilmore. Although I am about halfway through the book (with some chapters being more enjoyable than others), Lauren Graham's voice is clearly seen throughout this book.

Revolution for Dummies Bassem Youssef

★ ★

This is the personal account of Bassem Youssef, an Egyptian heart surgeon turned media show host (aka Egyptian Jon Stewart) as he lived through and reported on/satirized the Egyptian Revolutions of the 21st Century.... Until such a time he was forced to flee Egypt for the u.s. for his & his family's safety.

Not pretty, not funny, but enlightening and sad.

A Rule Against Murder – Louise Penny – 3.5***
Book four in the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache mystery series, set in and around Three Pines, Quebec. This time he’s pressed into service when a murder occurs at an isolated resort where he and his wife are celebrating their wedding anniversary. I love Gamache and the deliberate way he goes about investigating cases.
My full review HERE

Finders Keepers – Stephen King – 3***
Book two in the Bill Hodges trilogy, featuring the former detective, now a PI, and his team of misfits and amateurs. King is a master crafter of the suspense genre. He keeps the reader turning pages while offering complex characters and motivations.
My full review HERE

This book gives a comprehensive view of medical school. It displays many details on how one can survive medical school and tools he or she can use to survive. Also, it gives serval pieces of advice and concise information to look out for. This book is meant for people going to medical school, spouses, and families who have someone going/in medicine, and anyone who is interested or is in medical school. Overall, this book was extraordinary to read!

Shooting at Chateau Rock, Martin Walker

★ ★ ★ ★

I so enjoy Bruno & his community of friends.... I ♥ his cooking, still waiting for his recipe book. Perhaps the author might begin to include recipes in the back of his books.

An aging rock star & wife are about to divorce & sell their chateau... Their children are visiting for one last summer, their son being engaged to a young woman whose father is closely tied to Putin.

Meanwhile a local farmer has been found dead of a heart attack just after signing up for a shady insurance deal & changing his will, leaving everything to the new upscale senior retirement community he was scheduled to move into.

I enjoyed reading Bruno's handling of both cases. The book was well written and definitely held my interest.

The Last Passenger, Charles Finch

★ ★ ★ ★

Charles finds himself helping Scotland Yard investigate the murder of a man left behind in 3rd class carriage from Manchester to London, all tags cut out of his clothing, hat & shoes missing...

Charles sees a conductor leave the train, but dressed incorrectly. When Charles travels back across the rails, he finds the real conductor dead on the side of the rails in a very desolate area.

As Charles makes inquiries an ad appears in the paper asking for the whereabouts of a missing man, who happens to be the murdered man on the train. The man was a u.s. congressman coming to England to petition the Queen & Parliament into stopping slave trade & abolishing slavery.

Meanwhile everyone (including Lady Jane, neighbor & childhood friend) is pressing Charles to marry, after all he is 27. When Charles does meet the woman he wants to marry, his heart is broken & it is Lady Jane who explains the whys of the young woman's decision & the pressures of society a young woman of distinction faces.

A very enthralling book, but as there was a catch to the investigation, the book became overly long (3-4 chapters) and I knocked off 1 Star.... This, however, did not diminish my interest in the conclusion.

Winterwood, Shea Earnshaw

★ ★ ★ ★

Nora is the youngest of the Walkers.. all women who carry a nightshade. So far Nora has no idea what her nightshade is... That is not until she meets Oliver Huntsman.

From the detention camp of last chances for boys it is whispered that a boy is missing and one is dead....

On the full moon when Nora goes into the Wicker Woods, she finds Oliver asleep in the snow.... She brings him home and revives him and from there the story spirals out to its haunting conclusion.

What a spellbinding story, one which was well written, intense, & compelling. I was so enthralled that I was up until 4:00 am reading and sadly had to put this down in order to sleep....

Fall of a Philanderer, Carola Dunn

★ ★ ★

Daisy Dalrymple Fletcher is off on a summer holiday by the sea with her step-daughter Belinda and Belinda's chum Deva. Her husband, Detective Chief Inspector Alec Fletcher of Scotland Yard, who arrives days later is anticipating a relaxing, non-dramatic holiday.

The local tavern keeper has been seducing the local women & tossing them aside, the Inn-keeper where daisy & family are staying is one of his many victims and her husband promptly goes into the tavern to settle up.

Later, when the Fletcher's simple picnic is interrupted by the discovery of a broken body at the foot of the cliff--that of the philanderer, there is no lack of suspects.

This was a fast & easy read, which I found to be not as interesting as Dunn's later offerings.

Get Shorty – Elmore Leonard – 3***
This was just plain fun. I’d never seen the movie (starring John Travolta as Chili, and Gene Hackman as Harry), so had no real idea what to expect, other than a wild ride. And Leonard definitely delivers that.
My full review HERE

French Pressed – Cleo Coyle – 3***
This is book six in the Coffeehouse Mystery series, and I’m really enjoying them. I do think that Clare’s insistence on investigating on her own is a bit over-the-top, but it wouldn’t be a cozy mystery without an intrusive amateur sleuth. This episode really delves into foodie culture which had me salivating in places. Not a fan of the cliff-hanger ending, but that’s a pet peeve of mine. Still, I found it deliciously entertaining – a perfect “escape” read.
My full review HERE

Rise & Shine Benedict Stone – Phaedra Patrick – 3.5***
This is a charming novel of one man’s awakening. Patrick has crafted a sort of modern fairy tale, with a cast of eccentric characters, a romantic quest, the mythology of gems, and a happy ending (of course). It was a delightful, heart-warming read.
My full review HERE

To the Bright Edge Of the World – Eowyn Ivey – 4.5****
This is a marvelous adventure story, and an engaging look at personal growth. Both these lead characters experience heartache and difficulties and yet both persevere in reaching their goals despite obstacles, naysayers and setbacks. I loved the use of diary entries and letters to tell this bifurcated story. The book is full of Native Alaskan people’s culture, traditions, and stories. There are several very strong Native characters. I love magical realism and Ivey seamlessly weaves these elements into her story.
My full review HERE

Summer of '69 was a book taken back in 1969, located at Nantucket and other places close by. There are multiple characters, each having their own story to tell. Starting with Jessie, she was coming of age by turning 13 and having the first-hand experience of what it's like being an adult. Kirby, a progressive, who was away from Nantucket due to having a summer job. Here, she falls in love with a Harvard student named Darren. Blair, who was at the time pregnant with twins and dealing spousal issues with her husband, Angus. He was an MIT professor helping with the space launch so therefore could not be with Blair most of the time and was dealing with mental health problems. Kate, who started to drink heavily since her son, Tiger, was deployed to Vietnam. And Exalta who many people in the book feared her. Overall, this book was a good read and I would recommend this for readers who has an interest in drama or looking a summer book to read.

The Bookish Life Of Nina Hill – Abbi Waxman – 3***
I was predisposed to like this book because it focused on a bookworm. However, while I liked Nina and the other characters, I somehow didn’t really connect to the book. Perhaps I’m just too far past that young-adult / new-adult phase in my life to really immerse myself in the angst of dating, or the romantic missteps we’ve all made in a new relationship. In any case, I still enjoyed it, as I enjoy mind candy (and candy of the edible kind as well), but it just doesn’t stay with me for long, or really satisfy my hunger.
My full review HERE

Ayesha At Last – Uzma Jalaluddin – 3.5***
I had great fun identifying Elizabeth, Darcy, Lydia, Wickham and Mr Collins in this modern-day retelling of Pride and Prejudice, featuring a Muslim couple in Toronto, Canada. Their missteps, misunderstandings, wrong conclusions, and ultimate relationship flow seamlessly from who they are and how they perceive the world. Jalaluddin shows us characters who are faithful and yet living in the modern world, and she doesn’t shy away from exploring work-place (and societal) bias.
My full review HERE

Circus of the Queens, Audrey Berger Welz

★ ★ ★ ★

At the beginning of the Russian Revolution, a young Russian aristocrat trained to be a ballerina is sent to America... Aboard ship she falls down the stairs & breaks her leg never to dance again.

In New York she stays w/ a family friend but leaves to seek out her father's business partners in Savannah, where she learns the have left the country.

She is taken in by another generous woman whom owns a ranch, from there they young girl blossoms into a young woman... meeting up with her childhood crush who is running the Family's Russian Circus....

She joins up with the Russian & from there the book becomes interesting.

*****************************SPOILER******************************

It was painfully obvious that the circus owners knew absolutely nothing about Elephants and their relationships with each other, because the part where the elephants were reunited was utterly ridiculous as was the narration of the event
********************************************************************

I had no idea this was a series, I might have to look into reading the others.

Cats, Cannolis and a Curious Kidnapping
by Cheryl Denise Bannerman
Narrated by Robin Waters
2**
While I liked some things about the book and thought it had potential there are some things about it that may keep me from reading many more in the series. The second one is due out in September so I'll see how I feel after that one.

Short book described as "funny, whimsical, murder mystery series that appeals to 'mystery readers' of all ages" I'd say it is suspense though not the serious thriller type. It certainly didn't feel like a cozy mystery.
Some chapters are from Anna's POV. Some are from the murderer's POV. Some from POV of the police detective. This is "Anna Romano Mystery" book one but I felt I knew more about John, the police detective, than Anna.
Personal Preference: I don't like conveniently incompetent cops or scenes from POV of murderer.
(view spoiler)[The reveals at the end, the information about what Anna knew, was contrary to the information in the Anna POV chapters. Also, why would cop walk away from person driving car not his own especially when cop saw what might be body in trunk? I don't care that there was an armed robbery officer down call. Who would just release the driver? (hide spoiler)]

Narration by Robin Waters was not perfect but it made this easier to follow. In print the chapters usually start with no indication of POV but Robin Waters voiced the characters differently enough to indicate POV character.

ETA: I've been giving this some thought and if I think of this as a police procedural rather than a cozy it works better for me.

Tears of the Giraffe
Alexander McCall Smith

Fun detective series set in Botswana with a very observant lady detective.

by Bill Brittain
3 stars

from my library's catalog: When a strange little man comes to the Coven Tree Church Social promising he can give people exactly what they ask for, three young believers-in-magic each make a wish that comes true in the most unexpected way.

my thoughts: This was a cute, kid friendly retelling of "The Monkey's Paw" by W.W. Jacobs. The wishes were less gruesome, but still traumatic to the adolescents that were experiencing them. Some of them were actually quite comical. I could definitely see the kid appeal.

This book was mainly about the narrative of Michelle Obama. It gave the reader a brief insight into her life before, during, and after Barack Obama's political career. In each chapter about her life, it provided great details and also bits of advice that anyone can use. Overall, this book was amazing to read and further demonstrates that Michelle is a strong and amazing woman that can positively impact anyone!

Pride, Prejudice And Other Flavors – Sonali Dev – 2.5**
This retelling reverses the roles of Elizabeth and Darcy. Set in modern-day San Francisco it features neurosurgeon Trisha Raje (in the Darcy role), and master chef DJ Caine (in the Elizabeth Bennet role). I did like DJ, but Trisha is just a hot mess. In general, I think the author was trying too hard. Perhaps if she had just focused on the Bollywood-movie style romance without trying to force the elements of Austen’s classic into her story this might have worked better.
My full review HERE

This book tells the reader that your "innate" personality is not permanent. It provides many pieces of advice, stories, and scientific proof of how your personality changes over time. Depending on the person, he or she has the capability of changing their narrative. Overall, it was an interestingly good book to read! I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in psychology or who wants to know more about the world.

Opium and Absinthe, Lydia Kang

★ ★ ★ ★

I marked this down 1 star for 2 reasons: Ossining Ossining maybe pronounced "Sing-sing", but it Is NOT Spelled that way and I didn't really like the characters... but aside from that I really liked the story:

Mathilda (Tillie), who has a curious mind, falls while riding a horse during a hunt and breaks her clavicle.... She is given Laudanum & Morphine to which she becomes addicted.

Upon waking she finds her older sister Lucy has died (just before her "society" wedding).. Tillie being curious as she is, examines Lucy's body after the viewing and notices two puncture wounds at Lucy's juggler vein... Lucy had been bled dry.

At the same time Bram Stoker's "Dracula" has been published, and it is this added to Tillie's conviction that the police & family are doing nothing to see Lucy's murderer brought to justice that sets Tillie off to find the murderer.

Meanwhile Lucy's former betrothed sets his sights on Tillie as next heir to her family's fortune, but he has quite a bit to hide & is not who he presents himself to be.

I began this book at about 2:00 pm and finished it at 5:00 am this morning.... so, yes, it held my interest and I'm glad I purchased a copy, rather than waiting until forever for the Library to purchase a copy!

Oh yeah, I LOVE ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ the Cover Art!

Something Fresh – P G Wodehouse – 3***
Book One in the Blandings Castle series, featuring the elderly Lord Emsworth, his son Hon. Freddie Threepwood, and his trusty secretary, Baxter. This was a delightful romp and crime caper/comedy. Wodehouse excels are writing ridiculously plotted societal comedies that poke fun at the aristocracy and just about everyone else as well. There are unlikely disguises, attempts at hiding identities, and a variety of funny missteps along the way. Just great fun to read.
My full review HERE

Claimed
by Evangeline Anderson
2** (but with caveat)

This got 2** not 1* because it's not a total loss and I can see how some people might like it. The grammar, spelling and sentence structure were better than some others I've read. The idea was interesting but I was bored with the book. Decidedly not my thing. I was expecting humorous SF romance but this is more angst than humor, more erotica than romance, and while there are SF elements they are odd and some I found disturbing such as the use of living animals as furnishings and the religious conflict between the AllMother Kindred and AllFather Scourge.

At 48% I started skipping through because I could not endure more descriptions of body parts. I was bored with description of his equipment by about third time and with the description of hers and her clothing at least as soon if not sooner. I was bored with the characters. I was bored with the story/plot or lack there of. Some things that were probably supposed to be funny I found to fit "so stupid it's not funny" category.

The second half of the book did have more story but this was too little, too late. Really too little as most non-romance plot(s) were glossed over or went nowhere.

The romance of the two main characters is complete at end of book but other relationships are up in the air, though it's pretty obvious where they are going, and SF plot is cliffhanger, evidently a series story arc. If you're looking for erotica you may want to try this since last I knew it's free on Amazon in kindle format. If you are looking for SF romantic comedy this may not be what you are wanting. The author's website shows 50+ Kindred books and more than one Kindred series with more species of Kindred added as they go along but I doubt I'll read any more books in any Kindred series.

I am so ready to be finished with reading these books I agreed to read and get back to reading authors and series I'm familiar with and know I like. I'm surviving by re-reading favorites or parts of favorites when I just have to have a break.

The Last Mrs Summers, Rhys Bowen

★ ★

Darcy is off on a Royal assignment, Georgiana's father is off to a hob, & her friend Zou Zou is off to Paris...

Belinda comes to see Georgiana & off they go to look at a small cottage that Belinda has inherited from her grandmother on the Cornish Coast.

While in town looking for someplace suitable to stay during the process of finding someone to make the Fishing Shack habitable; Belinda & Georgiana come across the local "Lady of the Manor" (the former cook's daughter & current Mrs Summers) who pleads with them both to come stay.

The previous Mrs Summers fell off the cliff... and the current Mr Summers is soon found dead & naked, stabbed to death in Belinda's bed....

So, if you read the introduction & pay attention to the other clues, it will be "obvious who done it"... Shades of "Rebecca"

I'm beginning to tire of the series; Georgiana is a whiner and her former maid-turned cook, Queenie, is a disrespectful B!+@h....

The Bookshop of Yesterdays, Amy Meyerson

★ ★ 1/2

Very interesting premise:

After Uncle Billy & her mother have a huge fight on the night of Miranda's 12th birthday, Uncle Billy disappears from her life and she never hears from him again....

Sixteen years later, Miranda is living in Philadelphia and embarked on a successful teaching career. Miranda receives a letter informing her that Uncle Billy has died, along comes a package w/ a book and a clue... leading Miranda to Billy's Bookstore (which she is now the owner of) and on a treasure hunt that leads her & the truth of her life.

An interesting book and story, but I really didn't like the characters as they were so wrapped up in themselves that you really didn't get to know them.

What Pissed me off: Although the author teaches writing at USC, she doesn't know how to properly spell the name of our most famous cemeteries; FOREST (not Forrest as in Gump) Lawn.... Such a glaring & sloppy error.

Booked For Trouble – Eva Gates – 3***
Book two in the Lighthouse Library mystery series focuses on Lucy Richardson’s socialite mother, Suzanne. She may be intent on getting Lucy back in Boston, but Lucy loves her library job and has two potential suitors on Bodie Island. This cozy is full of literary references and peopled by an interesting array of secondary characters, including the cat, Charles (Dickens). An enjoyable read, and I’ll continue the series.
My full review HERE

The Whole Town's Talking, Fannie Flagg

★ ★ ★ ★

Elmwood Springs was started up by Lordar Nordstrom a Swedish immigrant in 1889, where he began a Dairy farm; he eventually married Kristina (a maid in Chicago who answered his ad for a wife in a local paper) after corresponding with her for quite a long time>

This is the story of Lordor, Kristina, their neighbors & off-spring until 2016, which is told in part by the inhabitants of Still Meadows, the cemetery that Lordar & the other founders of Elmwood Springs created soon after they became a town.

It is a good story with good strong characters who warm the heart of the reader for generations. It reveals the changes small towns gone through from decade to decade... the goodness & strength of community and of loss & forgiveness.

I read it until early morning hours and then finished when I got up in the morning....

The Second-Worst Restaurant in France
by Alexander McCall Smith

I like his #1 Ladies Detective Agency series so I thought I would try another book by McCall Smith. Just started so no opinion yet.

Kitchens of the Great Midwest, T. Ryan Stradal

★ ★ ★

When Eva Thorvald was a baby her mother walked out, and then her father died.. she was raised by her Aunt Fiona (who died when Eva was 14) and her Uncle Jarl.

Eva has a thing for chili peppers and the hotter the better, which she grows in her closet. She loves good food & eventually becomes a chef with her own exclusive private dining venue...

Lives come together & diverge... and at last Eva is destined to meet her mother; or is she?

The book was a very interesting premise and held my interest. What it didn't do was endear me to any of the characters except, Pat, of the prize winning Peanut Butter Bars... Everyone else meant little to me, including Eva, as she was mostly an enigma.

Find the Good, Heather Lende

★ ★ ★

Short snippets about people who've died in Haines, AK by the writer of their obituaries. Interestingly she goes out to the house & interviews each person's family prior to writing their obituary...

From the snippets they all seemed like they were good people...

Did I learn anything else form this book? Not a thing, but it was interesting... so for that I gave a third star.

See the full review @ Mybookjoy.com


Court of Bitter Thorn by Kay L Moody - ⭐⭐⭐



Recommended: sure
For a faery tale that is pretty much exactly what you would expect, for fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses, for a story that's more about the character and the plot than any romance

Thoughts:
The details and world are fascinating, but some of the larger story elements could have used more attention. Things that should have been siginificant -- like her getting wings in the first few chapters -- were hardly ever mentioned after the first incident. The "romance" aspect was also just tossed in last minute and felt like a box to tick rather than an integral part of the story. I liked that the focus was on Elora and the world she's in rather than a romance, but having it just thrown in at the end felt cheap and placating. Overall this is a good first book in a series, but not amazing as a standalone read. Think of it as prepping for exciting things to come.

Death Of a Winter Shaker – Deborah Woodworth – 3.5***
Book # 1 in the Sister Rose Callahan cozy mystery series, set in a Shaker community in 1930’s Kentucky. I really enjoyed this mystery. Woodworth has given the reader some very interesting and complex characters. Rose is determined, clear-thinking, intelligent and tenacious. And I learned a little about the Shakers.
My full review HERE

This book is about a group of high schoolers (Harper's friends) who broke in each other's home and stole any replaceable belongings. This time, instead of breaking in each other's house, they robbed a classmate's house. As a result, each one of them slowly started to die. But, it has been found out that one of them were the ones to kill the ones in their friend group. As a result, Harper, the main character, was the one who found this out and confronted the killer in her group. After a series of events with facing the killer, Harper killed him, and the police came into the scene, and then she had to go to a juvenile center for her crimes of stealing and breaking in houses. Overall, I recommend this book! Very Mysterious, but you can find out what happens.

This book was about a book hunter named Poggio. After he served as a secretary for a deposed pope named John XXIII, he went to find books from ancient Greece and Rome. He found a long poem called "On the Nature of Things," slowly rotting away in a German monastery on his journey. If he did not get this work, the work would be forever lost. But the book had many ideas that were considered dangerous at that time (15th century). These ideas, if spoken publicly, can lead to punishment such as death. These ideas sparked the Renaissance and other major events/discoveries later in history. Without the finding of this book, life may be different today. Overall, this book was good to read. I would recommend this book to anyone is interested in history, philosophy, or just a book to read!

Be Frank With Me – Julia Claiborne Johnson – 4****
This is a delightful, engaging novel. The characters are complex and the author deftly handles the difficulties of dealing with such an unusual situation. While no specific diagnosis is ever given, it’s clear that Frank is on the autism spectrum. He is the catalyst for the book’s most hilarious … and heartbreaking … moments. I love a book that leaves me wanting more, and this definitely did that. I can hardly wait to read what Johnson writes next.
My full review HERE

Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man, Fannie Flagg

★ ★

Well I wanted to like this, I've liked two of her other books.... but what can I say, except: I never warmed up to the characters, they seemed flat and I just don't see the humor in a dysfunctional family.

I did like Grandma & her BINGO playing friends....

Daisy Fay's father invests in an Ice Cream Parlor and moves the family from Alabama (?) to a small resort town Florida.... and the story is of that family's life as the years pass.

The Princess Bride, William Goldman

★

So: before you ask me: "Why do you read books you don't like?" People I know have read many of the same books I do & given them good reviews, so I am ever hopeful & tricked into reading books I end up disliking"

First not one, but TWO Introductions adding up to 70+ pages of "all about me & my experience with this book" Right off the bat Tedious.

A pretend author writing a book of a fairy tale: Actually Goldman pretending to be someone else writing this story....

The language of the characters' dialog, was primary level, as if a child was speaking/writing.

The characters, I didn't like them, they bored me, were not very well developed, nor were they particularly nice people albeit interesting ...

Too many trite interjections by William Goldman as himself into the writing of the (fake) author Morgenstern.

The Red Address Book – Sofia Lundberg – 2.5**
I am so over the dual time-line device in historical fiction! Just tell the story. This seemed very disjointed, what with the drama occurring in present day – both Doris and Jenny have some serious problems – and the drama of her great lost love in the past, I just never felt connected to these characters or to the story.
My full review HERE

The Jackal
by J.R. Ward
Jim Frangione narrator
4**** because I will read it again

I did kindle book and audio.

I usually read the Black Dagger Brotherhood books as soon as I get my hands on them but put this one off for two weeks. A friend told me it was darker than usual and I wasn't in the mood.

Dark isn't the term I'd use for the book but I can see why she said it. I plan to read again for details as second reading does not have as much emotional impact on me as first reading. This is setting up a spin-off series so it has some first book in series problems.

Did I like it? I liked characters. The plot was interesting. The book was interesting but I'm not sure like is a term I would apply to the book as a whole. Outside a series I am already reading this is not the type of book I usually choose to read.

When I think dark I think dark night thunderstorm and there was some of that. To me it was part sad, part sweet, part horrifying and part hopeful with some surprising and interesting information that should lead to major changes in Vampire society. (view spoiler)[I'm emotional when it comes to Darius and part of this was like seeing Darius die again. I would have loved to have seen a future with more of the character who reminded me of Darius. (hide spoiler)] I'm used to BDB books that cause me to smile or even laugh, at least occasionally. I didn't laugh and don't remember smiling. Overall, to continue the weather metaphor, it's more like a dreary day than a dark night thunderstorm.

I think the Prison Camp series will be interesting but I am disappointed in the BDB and the King. I know they were fighting a war but how, with friends as well as enemies in the glymera, was this allowed to go on? This is not the first time we've seen the King and the Brotherhood abysmally not just ignorant but oblivious to Vampire society as a whole and that bothers me, probably more than it should.

Brown Girl Dreaming – Jacqueline Woodson – 5***** and a ❤
Jacqueline Woodson is an award-winning author and poet. This memoir of her childhood, growing up in the turbulent 1960s is written entirely in free verse. The language is appropriate and accessible for the target middle-school audience, but eloquent and complex enough to engage and interest adults.
My full review HERE