Book Nook Cafe discussion

Here is the Folder to tell us what your monthly reads for May 2021 were.

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

I won't finish any more books today, so here's my reads for May:

Classics:
Dombey and Son (4-star) - I enjoy a good read of Dickens. This story was intricate, convoluted and chock full of colourful characters.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Black Veil (4-star) - a short story (10 pages) by Charles Dickens. Read this for a group read discussion coming up soon. Well written and a lot to think about in just a few short pages.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Mysteries:
All the Devils are Here (audio; 5-star) - a really good continuation of the Inspector Gamache series.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Murder in a Cold Climate (3-star) and The Shaman's Knife (3-star) - I enjoyed these two books (a series) featuring RCMP Inspector Matthew Kitologitak . I'm sad that the series wasn't continued.
Review of Murder in a Cold Climate: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review of The Shaman's Knife: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Dead Shot (4-star) - a historical mystery murder set in New Zealand in the 1880s. Bits of history and culture mixed into a good, tightly written, interesting mystery. Good characters. I will look into more of this series. Hope I can find copies of a few books.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Long Call (audio; 3-star) - written by the author of the Vera series. This is the first of her books that I've read but I enjoy the Vera TV series.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Sci-Fi:
The Human Son (4-star) - if humans were eliminated from the Earth and the Earth repaired to it's pristine condition, should humans be reintroduced?
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Non-Fiction:
The Danish Art of Whittling: Simple Projects for the Home (4-star) and Woodcarving Magic: How to Transform a Single Block of Wood into Impossible Shapes (5-star) - fun reads for woodcarvers.
Review of Danish Art of Whittling: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review of Woodcarving Magic: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion (4-star) - while a bit choppy in it's telling, the stories in here are heart warming (and heart breaking) and show how human compassion can change a life.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


Phew! That's a lot of books. A couple were started last month and not finished until this month and a few more had to be returned to the library without a renewal option. That will get one reading quickly. LOL.

My May Reads 📚


Squeeze Me by Carl Hiaasen
Fiction
Rate 5/5
A Big thank you to Gina and Barbara for the recommendation. I enjoyed this funny, zany, satirical novel. It's set in Florida. Need I say more ? ;)

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
Fiction
Rate 3/5
Twin sisters go their separate ways. One decides to pass as white the other does not. It's an interesting premise. However, I think the author tried to cover too many subjects. This watered down the focus and development of the characters. If the topic interests you, I think a far better book is Passing by Nella Larsen

The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History by John M. Barry
Non fiction
Rate 2/5
This book was published in 2005. There is a lot of good interesting info in the book. However, it is buried under too much minutia. The book is 500 hundred pages. If it were cut down to 300 it would have been a 5 star book.

Bad Monkey by Carl Hiaasen
Fiction
Rate: 2/5
I so enjoyed Squeeze Me this month that I wanted to read another book by this author. Unfortunately I picked the wrong one. This meandering plot simply wasn't funny or interesting.

Petra wrote: "I won't finish any more books today, so here's my reads for May:

Classics:
Dombey and Son (4-star) - I enjoy a good read of Dickens. This story was intricate, convoluted and chock ful..."

One scene that I'll always remember from Dombey was the funeral director having to change the proposed" his only child" to "his only son"; remind me of an ancestors obituary that stated "survived by his son (name given) 'and four daughters'."

Petra, what a busy reading month you had in May. And so many interesting ones that you also liked. I just added to my GR "Want to Read" list, having whittled them down last week. Hrumph! And, yes, the whittling book is on that list. Such a great idea to read & share about that one.

Last night i saw the recent The Personal History of David Copperfield, starring Dev Patel, which reminded me how much i relish Dickens. Then, your two reviews keep that notion in my head. I've read his best known, i suppose, but they were so rich, i want to read more, including Dombey.

I was already seeking out the two Scott Young mysteries, thanks to you, as well. And the Gregory Boyle sounds instructive and human to me, as well.

Your good reading month is a bonus for us all, thanks to your reviews. Thank you.

Alias, it's a pity your active reading month was more rewarding. I was wondering about the comparison of the Bennett novel to Larsen's, which i liked very much. Thanks for that.

It's a pity your second Hiassen wasn't as appreciated as the first. When that happens, i question where the author went awry but it seems you figured it out fairly quickly.

Thanks for sharing your list with us. It's neat to see all the books you've listed over the month in one lump post. I try to do that but am not as accomplished.

John, you've written about a bane to this researcher of our family tree. Unless you know the male members's names already, the obit cannot offer much illumination. "Four daughters", indeed!

Here's my May...

The Great Gatsby ⭐⭐⭐

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


A Disease in the Public Mind: A New Understanding of Why We Fought the Civil War ⭐⭐

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


Walking the Nile ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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


Good Prose: The Art of Nonfiction ⭐⭐⭐

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


Why Didn't They Ask Evans? ⭐⭐⭐

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

Thanks, Deb! It turned out to be a surprising amount of murder mysteries. I don't usually bunch them up like this. But I enjoyed them quite a bit.

Alias, I find Carl Hiaason's humour to get "old" fast. It's fun the first time, maybe the second, but I haven't moved on beyond that.
I am intrigued by Squeeze Me. A 5-star rating is awesome. Maybe I'll pick this one up over the summer for a light read.

John, yes, that scene is one that won't be forgotten. It was awful. Poor Florence!

You've read a wide variety of topics in May. Walking The Nile has taken my interest. I'll check the library for that title. Thanks!

It was a pretty good reading month for me, i'm pleased to report. I read the following:

The Kitchen Front--Jennifer Ryan was on one of the lists Alias shared in February. It is set in England during WWII, where a small town's residents are offered a competition with the award of sharing a BBC program series about cooking. The stipulation is the recipes must be something citizens can use with their ration cards, in addition to locally grown products. I liked the women involved and their stories were touching. The recipes actually fit the criteria but i'd use them mostly as a reference to finding a "real" recipe, not using rations. Some of the substitutions were unappetizing, imo.

The Huntress--Kate Quinn is another WWII novel, tied to the early '50s, as well. We learn about a heartless woman, married to a renown Nazi, who survives and tries to blend into a civilized world. I liked the story. Thanks to Simon for reviewing this one earlier this year, leading me to it.

The Little Book of Cottagecore: Traditional Skills for a Simpler Life--Emily Kent. There are only a few topics covered in this truly "little" book. I've tried most of the skills, so had a sense of them already. Addressed are the following: breadmaking, gardening, herbs, making tea, candle making, cross stitch, quilting and more. Despite having studied how to make bread & a subsequent several decades doing so, i still learned about the process. And i have made candles for almost as many years and yet found good material in it. Not great, but what can i say? It answered a need i didn't know i had until i saw it on the library shelf.

The next two books were on my 2021 Determination List. If you are interested, you may go there to find a fully opinion & accounting.
Women of the Sea--Edward Rowe Snow. Not quite the book i was expected, as he offered several stories of women whose only sea experience was surviving a wreck at sea. Still, there were several which were fascinating, including the chapter on his own mother, who pretty much lived on her father's ship until she was a teenager. This was written in the late '50s, so the writing is less informative than i wanted.

The Pathfinder: Or The Inland SeaThe Pathfinder--James Fenimore Cooper is chronologically the third in the Leatherstocking Tales, although not in the order written. In this one the Great Lakes are discussed and Bumppo is in love.

About This Life--Barry Lopez, highly recommended by John earlier this year. I have yet to post about this one, as my feelings were tough to put into words. Still, i know i will be reading more by the late Mr. Lopez, who is a gifted writer and observer.

Far Out the Long Canal--Meindert DeJong is a book about late 19th century Holland and their occasional frozen canals. How the citizens savor those special days, even cancelling school. It's a YA, which my late nephew, who was half-Dutch, owned.

Strange Weather in Tokyo--Hiromi Kawakami is one Alias mentioned a week or so ago. I got lucky & my library had an e-version available. It is the sweet story of a woman approaching 40 who runs into a former high school teacher of hers. I learned plenty about Japanese foods and manners in today's world. Additionally, there were a couple of chapters about mushroom hunting which fascinated me. Thanks for this one, Alias.

Glad you admire Lopez' writing as well!

The DeJong book reminds me of a series of kids' stories from around the world, early 20th century, each featuring the point of view a set of young twins. I owned the Scottish and Dutch ones, so your posted reminded me of the latter.

Petra wrote:
Phew! That's a lot of books. A couple were started last month and not finished until this month and a few more had to be returned to the library without a renewal option. That will get one reading quickly. LOL.
."

A very impressive mix of books, Petra. Are you going to try your hand at wood carving ?

John wrote: "remind me of an ancestors obituary that stated "survived by his son (name given) 'and four daughters'...."

Ouch ! Let's hope times are changing.

John wrote: "Here's my May...
[book:A Disease in the Public Mind: A New Understanding of Why We..."

Sorry the book wasn't better. However, I like the title a lot.

I'm going to pass the Walking the Nile title on to a friend. She loves walking books. Thanks !

FYI -- your link for the review of the book didn't work.

Petra wrote: "Alias, I find Carl Hiaason's humour to get "old" fast. It's fun the first time, maybe the second, but I haven't moved on beyond that.
I am intrigued by Squeeze Me. A 5-star rating is awesome. Mayb..."

I think the Trump character is what I found so funny. Also the person who did the audio, Scott Brick, I think did an amazing job. That also added a lot to my enjoyment.

madrano wrote: "
Strange Weather in Tokyo--Hiromi Kawakami is one Alias mentioned a week or so ago. I got lucky & my library had an e-version available. It is the sweet story of a woman approaching 40 who runs into a former high school teacher of hers. I learned plenty about Japanese foods and manners in today's world. Additionally, there were a couple of chapters about mushroom hunting which fascinated me. Thanks for this one, Alias...."

I'm glad you enjoyed it. I have it written down in my TBR notebook.

Congratulations on an excellent reading month. You get extra credit for tackling TWO off your Determination list. Well done, Deb !

Alias Reader wrote: "A very impressive mix of books, Petra. Are you going to try your hand at wood carving ?
..."

Thanks, Alias.
I've been woodcarving for about 2 years now. I started when I retired. It's a fun hobby. I'm really enjoying it.

Petra wrote: I've been woodcarving for about 2 years now. I started when I retired. It's a fun hobby. I'm really enjoying it.
."

Excellent. I've seen some absolutely amazing woodcarving on FB.

John, what a mix of books you read in May. Unfortunately i couldn't connect to the review link for Walking the Nile, which calls to me, having read Rosemary Mahoney's Down the Nile: Alone in a Fisherman's Skiff last summer.

I liked the Tommy & Tuppance series by Christie but still think i'll pass the one you read by.

Thanks for the sharing.

madrano wrote: "John, what a mix of books you read in May. Unfortunately i couldn't connect to the review link for Walking the Nile, which calls to me, having read Rosemary Mahoney's [book:Down the ..."

Thanks for letting me know of the broken link. I've fixed the post, but here's the review of Walking the Nile review as well: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Thanks, John. It seems a book i'd like. Sometimes i wonder how alone writers are when they report their journeys, so what you wrote helps people like me.

In May I read quite a few so here we go! lol

Tenants by Christopher Motz - 5 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

by Peter Topside - 4 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Death Whisperer by William Massa - 5 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Demon Within by William Massa - 5 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Haunting of Henderson Close by Catherine Cavendish - 5 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

At Night by Sam West - 4 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Host by D.J. Doyle - 4 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Shack by Brian G. Berry - 4 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Cannibal Creek by Jon Athan - 3 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Maniacal by C.M. Sutter - 4 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Switch House by Tim Meyer - 5 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Terror Threads by Mark Cassell - 4 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Curse Maker by William Massa - 5 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Web of La Sanguinaire & Other Arachnid Horrors by Ronald Kelly - 5 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

So that was my May reads - quite a few this time but I just packed them in! lol :)

A delight, as always, to read your comments, Marie. From Tenants--"I made it to about the 65% mark then the book exploded with a blood geyser that almost turned into a volcano of gore!" Wow.

The "bug Infested stars for "Host" creeped me out. I don't know how you slept the night you read that one.

The Jade Monroe series sounds interesting. On the other hand, i become irritated with authors who delve into minute descriptions of every day activities. Pity about this one.

The nightmare stars for "The Switch House" has me wondering how you ever fall to sleep. I would sleep with a light on, that's for certain.

You are really moving along in the "Hexecutioner" series. The job title is a terrific word.

The spider book sounds interesting, i must say. But i really liked that you found a book of short stories (Mark Cassell) after finding you liked a story from an anthology. This highlights one of the true pleasures of reading.

Thanks for sharing the stories you read with us.

madrano wrote: "A delight, as always, to read your comments, Marie. From Tenants--"I made it to about the 65% mark then the book exploded with a blood geyser that almost turned into a volcano of gore!" Wow.

The "..."

Thank you, Madrano! :)

On the book Tenants and some of the reviews I try to give descriptive reviews if possible hoping to get my point across of how I felt when reading them. The "blood geyser" just popped in my head so I thought I would just go with it! LOL

As far as the Mark Cassell review - there is an author that I read who also has his own publishing company and he has books of anthologies with different horror authors all the time, so I have found quite a few horror authors just through his books which then helps me pursue their other work. :)

Neat to know, Marie. It's a great way to get authors & stories "out there".