The Reading Challenge Group discussion
2022 Personal Threads
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Debbie's Book of 2022
Book Number: 2Title: Twisted Tea Christmas
Author: Laura Childs
Finished: 1.8.22
Comment: Twisted Tea Christmas by Laura Childs gives this weary reader a reprieve to jump into Charleston society and enjoy the teas and the wonderful food and parties that Theodosia Browning creates. I wish that Laura Childs would publish a book containing all these delicious recipes and lovely tips for a party. Of course, the story follows the same format as the other Tea Shop Mysteries, but the setting and characters of Charleston shine in each mystery. Each story also features rescue dogs and the sense of providing for those less fortunate. Plus, the commentary on the stealing of priceless artwork reveals a world of greed.
Book Number: 3Title: Murder at the Castle
Author: M. B. Shaw
Finished: 1.10.22
Comment: Someone had suggested Murder at the Castle by M. B. Shaw. The description of the Scotland country provides a wonderful backdrop to the story. Local traditions seep into the current day and hinders the police many times. Shaw uses many interesting similes in the story: tighter than a virgin’s ass and like a turd in a swimming pool. These release a comic relief when the story intensifies. Again, an old crime uncovers when Iris goes to Scotland to do a painted portrait of a bride. Shaw presents many likeable characters, as well as mean and totally wretched characters. Too many men involved in the cover-up and a few loose ends forgotten. I guess that wife #2, Fiona, stands as a red herring, as well as headmaster, John Donnelly. Really wanted to hear what Fiona knew about her ex-husband, Jock.
Book Number: 4Title: The Invisible Intruder
Author: Carolyn Keene
Finished: 1.11.22
Comment: Wow, almost 60 years have passed since I read Nancy Drew, so I spent a day revisiting Nancy and her gang of ghost busters. The Invisible Intruder contains five cases that Nancy and her friends must research and aid the police and assist the landowners in stopping ghost rumors. I thought that this would be a simple reading, but seashells entered into the various jaunts and a thorough description of seashell collecting transpired. I had forgotten the forceful nature of Nancy and her bossy attitude. She runs amok so many times and throws caution to the wind. Luckily for Nancy that her group of friends rescue her from serious consequences. Again, a very enjoyable read that does not contain killing and graphic violence.
Mod
I revisit Nancy Drew every so often as well, though I'm a bigger fan of Trixie Belden.
Book Number: 5Title: The Sisters Mao
Author: Gavin McCrea
Finished: 1.20.22
Comment: The Sisters Mao contains mostly dialogue, and the setting and individual psyche suffers in this book. What did I learn from this book? The experience of LSD on the mind. And the attitude of people who must have their drugs. The artist world runs rampant in this story and talks of revolution and life in a commune. A world that I have never entered, and still chose to avoid. At least this novel exposes the horrors of this lack of control.
Book Number: 6Title: Death in the Clouds
Author: Agatha Christie
Finished: 1.22.22
Comment: Agatha Christie constantly provides an enjoyable afternoon of reading, thus Death in the Clouds heightens that pleasure. Hercule Poirot investigates the puzzling death of Madame Giselle, a French moneylender. Madame Giselle meets death neck on as a poisoned thorn jabs her neck during a flight from Paris to London. All the passengers and the two stewards may have committed the deadly deed, but no one has seen anything. Poirot must reconstruct the journey and search high and low for clues. Poirot is aided by Chief Inspector Japp, Inspector Fournier, and Jane Grey. Poirot plays a little matchmaker for several characters: Jane Grey and Venetia Kerr. Oh what fun he has with his little gray cells. Agatha Christie masterfully uses her skills in employing a poisoned arrow as the means of murder. But many little red herrings abound.
Book Number: 7Title: Winter Garden
Author: Kristin Hannah
Finished: 1.29.22
Comment: Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah evokes poignant memories of relationships with my mother and my sister. As a rule, we leave so much unsaid, but Anya, Meredith, and Nina work through years of silence to find one another. The story and imagery flow beautifully as a fairy tale transcends into a nonfiction saga. The story repeats too often and many of the pages could have been omitted. Yes, the horrors of Russia and its citizens during the German invasion reek of events that continue to happen as aggression replaces acceptance. The story shows all the problems of life in Russian but fails to mention the hardships of running an apple orchard. A surprise awaits Anya, Meredith, and Nina when they arrive in Alaska. I felt that this final event really stretched the truth, but each reader may think differently.
Book Number: 8Title: Such a Fun Age
Author: Kiley Reid
Finished: 2.4.22
Comment: I do not like the use of profanity, especially so often. I realize that the language of the individual creates a more realistic novel, but I do not like this practice. This story features a rich white family and their black babysitter for the older daughter. Alix Chamberlain has gained fame by writing and reviewing products. She knows how to work the system and receive perks and gifts with her writing. She dotes of her younger daughter, Catherine, but ignores the older daughter, Briar. Emira Tucker spends hours with Briar and loves this little girl. Emira and Briar enter an elite white supermarket late one night, and a security guard accuses Emira of kidnapping Briar. The event leads to an examination of the relationship among various individuals. The story highlights how the past influences the future, especially when an old boyfriend of Alix’s reenters her life as Emira’s new boyfriend. The story moves quickly, but never dips into real, honest feelings.
Book Number: 9Title: Why We Swim
Author: Bonnie Tsui
Finished: 2.6.22
Comment: Bonnie Tsui presents interesting stories about swimming and the benefits of swimming. What I fail to see in this book is the constant danger of swimming in outdoor bodies of water. Ms. Reid talks of swimming from the coast of San Francisco to Alcatraz Island and calmly skips over the dangerous water. She also talks of swimming in sub zero water during the winter. Again, the dangers seem minor. The benefits of swimming outweigh the disadvantages. The joy and pleasure derived from swimming show how this exercise brings more advantage than running or cycling. The stories involve many popular swimmers in many countries. Swimming heals and provides excellent exercise and moments for meditation. The quotations at the beginning of each chapter set the mood for the dialogue.
Book Number: 10Title: Murder at the 42nd Street Library
Author: Con Lehane
Finished: 2.17.22
Comment: Murder at the 42nd Street Library provided an intimate look at New York’s 42nd Street Library. Con Lehane provides a multitude of unique characters, but too many twists and turns with the cast. Everyone seem to be jumping into bed with everyone, ensuing a difficult menagerie. A many of the solutions to the issues involve a shot in the dark. Too many senseless deaths happen in the story. Of course, the main issue is child pornography and the consequences for the child. The main character, Raymond Ambler, falls into an unlikely romance, which may not last in this series. I am not enamored with this novel.
Book Number: 11Title: Something to Hide
Author: Elizabeth George
Finished: 2.22.22
Comment: Wow, a reading marathon with close to 700 pages. Something to Hide by Elizabeth George races to the last page and the reader could endure more pages. Poor Barbara Havers with her nonexistent love life and her slovenly appearance. The story line addresses the practice of infibulation. This practice centers in north Africa, but as these Africans migrate to other countries, the practice follows. Yes, many countries have outlawed this mutilation, but the practice still exists. A policewoman attempting to bring to justice the butchers in England is killed. So many red herrings in who may be responsible. Elizabeth George manipulates characters and setting to enhance the tale.
Book Number: 12Title: Murder in Mesopotamia
Author: Agatha Christie
Finished: 2.24.22
Comment: What fun with Murder in Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie as Nurse Amy Leatheran narrates an investigation by Hercule Poirot. The wife of the archaeologist, Louise Leidner, dies by trauma to the head. No weapon can be found and supposedly no one entered the enclave. In his usual method, Hercule Poirot methodically investigates the crime. So many possible suspects. Louise Leidner is an American and married to Dr. Erich Leidner only two years. Her beauty and intelligence both provoke and stimulate the other people at the dig. But who would actually kill Louise and for what reason? Agatha Christie creates a delightful story with her diverse cast of characters and the detailed setting. I love all the phrases, such as: It is one way of calling a goose a swan AND Remember, the pudding proves itself only when you eat it. Agatha Christie provides great characters and funny scenes.
Book Number: 13 Title: A Game of Fear
Author: Charles Todd
Finished: 3.7.22
Comment: I just finished A Game of Fear by Charles Todd, that mother and son writing team and discovered that she died in October. I wonder what will happen to the two series. I prefer the Ian Rutledge series. Ian reminds me of Louise Penny’s Armand Gamache. Both men are honorable and kind. This story, set in 1921, deals with the aftermath of WWI and how a war may hide murder. The countryside and the details of the manor house made the story alive and vivid. Ian Rutledge slowly and carefully investigates a report of murder in which no body or blood can be found. The killer will be discovered in the end, but not before killing more people. As the story unfolds, the reader discovers that the killer has no remorse, that killing is a sport for him. As always, we see Ian’s good friend, Melinda assisting Ian in so many ways. And as usual, Ian restrains himself from any romantic encounter.
Book Number: 14Title: The Clue of the Tapping Heels
Author: Carolyn Keene
Finished: 3.8.22
Comment: An enjoyable book rests in The Clue of the Tapping Heels. What imagination of all the nooks and crannies hidden with the tapping heel house. Of course, no graphic description of the mystery nor any graphic sexual content. My only dilemma rests in that Nancy and her friends seem to have no schedule of school or work, and also parents that allow them to traipse of all hours of the day. The unsavory neighbors that reside near Miss Carter that only care about financial gain at any cost. After reading some heavy psychological mysteries, The Clue of the Tapping Heels provides a pleasant afternoon read.
Book Number: 15Title: Death on the Nile
Author: Agatha Christie
Finished: 3.9.22
Comment: Currently, Death on the Nile, the movie has opened to a hungry public anxious to return to the cinema. The Agatha Christie novel delights with the tale of three murders on a trip down the Nile. As even the reviews and plot summaries suggest the first murder is Linnet Ridgeway, a young, beautiful heiress. Men fall at her feet and women adore her. Instead of marrying a stuffy English lord, Linnet steals the lover of her oldest and dearest friend, Jackie de Bellefont. Simon Doyle and Linnet plan to honeymoon on a Nile river trip. Much to the surprise of everyone, Jackie books passage on this cruise. Murder and mayhem follow the flow of the river. Agatha must be a lover of Shakespeare, as many of the couplings resemble Shakespeare’s twist of lovers. The setting and dialogue present a well versed and funny novel at times.
Book Number: 16Title: When Christmas Comes
Author: Andrew Klavan
Finished: 3.11.22
Comment: A cousin recommended When Christmas Comes by Andrew Klaven and I thoroughly enjoyed the novel. The story centers on a town populated by retired Army Rangers and their mentality. A handsome college, Cameron Winter, has been asked to prove that Travis Blake is innocent in the brutal murder of a elementary school librarian, Jennifer Dean. The best section of the book rests in the conversation that Cameron has with Margaret Whitaker, a psychotherapist. The reader learns about Cameron’s life: his joys, his regrets, and his longings. Does this cloud the story of Jennifer and Travis? No---this colors the decisions that Cameron makes in regard to Travis and Jennifer.
Book Number: 17Title: The Vanishing Half
Author: Brit Bennett
Finished: 3.18.22
Comment: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett presents two different viewpoints concerning the thoughts of light skinned African Americans. These light skinned blacks often pass as Caucasian and must live that fib the rest of their life. This is a story of light skinned twins who flee a small town in Louisiana and begin a new life in New Orleans. Brit Bennett does a wonderful job with the dialogue, setting, and characters. Desiree returns home to Mallard, Louisiana with a child “black as tar.” Stella escapes to California as the pampered wife of a rich, white American. Luckily, Stella’s daughter has white skin and golden hair. Jude, Desiree’s daughter begins a search for her aunt. The story dwells on secrets and the choices we make. Life is never easy. So many of the characters begin as lowlife but are later redeemed. An interesting story into an African American community.
Book Number: 18Title: The Sweet Life
Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher
Finished: 3.20.22
Comment: Suzanne Woods Fisher writes often of the Amish life, which this book does not explore. I had anticipated a fluff book, but as I progressed, the story encased me in memories of my own life. The book shows the love/hate relationship between mother and daughter. Ms. Fisher does a fabulous job with her list of characters, thought provoking discussions questions, and the lovely ice cream quotations at the beginning of each chapter. The directions for the making of ice cream amazed me. I just thought all you needed was eggs, sugar, and milk; but so much else must be done. Ms. Fisher stresses that life is not easy, but we must never give up, we must find a different solution. I enjoyed the rapport between Dawn Dixon and her mother Marnie Dixon. The story also focuses on a relationship with God, which is interesting.
Book Number: 19Title: Strong Poison
Author: Dorothy L. Sayers
Finished: 3.26.22
Comment: Strong Poison by Dorothy L Sayers shows a well written mystery story. Ms. Sayers explicitly displays the steps in catching the killer. The dialogue leaves nothing implied, every action presents itself. Sometimes, I feel that the detail boggles down the flow of the story. We learn about all types of poison and how they are used. We learn of typewriters and solicitors. Lord Peter Wimsey must have a huge purse for all the people he helps. Lord Peter reminds one of Hercule Poirot, but Lord Peter has a multitude of friends to aid in his investigations, as Poirot works alone.
Book Number: 20Title: The Midnight Library
Author: Matt Haig
Finished: 3.27.22
Comment: The Midnight Library begins on a sad note, as Nora Seed contemplates her death. Each chapter brings Nora closer to death, but before that conclusive event, Nora visits a library where her school librarian guides her in exploring Nora’s life decisions. Nora’s librarian, Mrs. Elm, shows Nora all her choices, a little like Clarence, the angel, in “It’s a Wonderful Life” shows George Bailey what would happen without George. The Midnight Library made me realize that every life brims with choices, and suicide should not be one of the decisions. The travel to the many life choices became tedious, that should have been reduced. Not a favorite book, but interesting ideas presented.
Book Number: 21Title: The Secret of the Old Clock
Author: Carolyn Keene
Finished: 3.30.22
Comment: The journey into the mysteries of Nancy Drew begins with The Secret of the Old Clock. What a joy to read about stylish Nancy Drew and her wardrobe of matching clothes. And this eighteen year old has a dark blue convertible at her disposable. Nancy interviews and aids so many people in this story who have been swindled out of a hefty inheritance. Of course, the amounts mentioned in the book seem paltry compared to modern amounts, but the people involved gladly accept their inheritance. Nancy encounters a few detours in her investigation, but helps the police locate furniture thieves. The vivid description of the characters completes a poignant story.
Book Number: 22Title: A Death in Vienna
Author: Frank Tallis
Finished: 4.3.22
Comment: Frank Tallis writes an extremely descriptive and thought provoking novel. His novels have been adapted by PBS into a series called Vienna Blood. The novel outranks the television series immensely. One of the distractions in the novel is the frequent use of German for coffee, desserts, and buildings. Frank Tallis should have added a glossary. The detailed description of the setting and characters embellished the story. Of course, I had seen the PBS episode and knew many of the sequences and the mystery of the locked door and absence of a bullet. The introduction of Sigmund Freud and his psychoanalysis proved very interesting. I adored the Jewish jokes of Freud. Music provides a dramatic sense of relief during the most gruesome aspects of the novel. Oskar sings and Max plays the piano to express their love of music. A hint of the melody floats through the pages. The dark side of life appears in the treatment of women and in the hatred toward the Jewish community. I would love to be drinking coffee and savoring a Viennese pastry.
Book Number: 23Title: Among the Innocent
Author: Mary Alford
Finished: 4.7.22
Comment: Among the Innocent by Mary Alford sprints to the apprehension of the killer, and what a surprise. The pace rushes along as the frenzy intensifies. But, the characters lacked dimension. The end of the story uncovers a little of Marge’s past, but the psychology of the past events is never explored. Also, the handling of the Amish people lacks compassion for members of their community. The Amish seem to stand still and wait for whatever comes their way. Why do the Amish not try to locate the killer? This book provides action, but psychology and emotions remain dormant.
Book Number: 24Title: Run, Rose, Run
Author: Dolly Parton and James Patterson
Finished: 4.30.22
Comment: Run, Rose, Run was a highly anticipated book as I waited on a library hold list for over a month. What a terrible disappointment and quickly returned the boring novel back to the library. James Patterson writes superb mysteries that provide a reader with suspense, romance, and page-turning intrigue. Run, Rose, Run opens with a prologue in which the main character, AnnieLee Keyes, jumps over a hotel banister. Will she plummet to her death, or will a miracle occur? So that should have provided a compelling story, but the story never ascends from the ashes like a phoenix. An aging music diva, Ruthanna Ryder, takes AnnieLee under her wing, but everything follows a trite formula. AnnieLee runs from her past, but this past is not mentioned soon enough. A handsome hunk, Ethan Blake, discovers AnnieLee, but his story remains hidden. Knowing that AnnieLee’s name is really Rose and that she runs from her drunken step-father does not redeem the story. A big waste of time.
Book Number: 25Title: A Sunlit Weapon
Author: Jacqueline Winspear
Finished: 5.14.22
Comment: Jacqueline Winspear writes a lovely novel complete with the English countryside and the strong characters. This story centers on the women pilots that transport planes to different locations in the 1940’s. The cast of characters present many sides of different women, but Maisie Dobbs now Mrs. Mark Scott remains the same efficient lady. Maisie must balance her adopted daughter’s problems at school, Mark’s military maneuvers, and Billie’s sons in the army. The story outlines personal grudges of many people and how these grudges influence present day. The person killing pilots by shooting a gun will be discovered, but not before other issues are solved
Book Number: 26Title: Death of An Avid Reader
Author: Frances Brody
Finished: 5.31.22
Comment: My first reading of a book by Frances Brody and my observations are mixed. The characters and setting stand very still and need a bigger push to shine. I felt that too much emphasis ran rampant with dialogue. I prefer more psychology of the characters. The description of each character provided a clear picture of the physical aspects of the person, but no delving into the characters feelings. I appreciated Frances Brody’s mention of earlier English writers and have obtained a copy of a book by Winifred Holtby. I will see where will take me. What provoked the murders? An attempt to hide past wrongs by a prominent citizen.
Book Number: 27Title: The Maidens
Author: Alex Michaelides
Finished: 6.7.22
Comment: Alex Michaelides presents an interesting and suspenseful novel with The Maidens. The main character, Mariana Andros, ranges from intelligent to oblivious. Michaelides includes many lines from Alfred Lord Tennyson. And also delves into tidbits of Tennyson’s life and loves. The cast of characters runs amok and so many red herrings concerning who kills these young and beautiful girls. Mariana plummets into grief on the drowning death of her husband, Sebastian. Mariana’s niece, Zoe, convinces Mariana to travel to Cambridge University to help solve the brutal murder of a young girl. Mariana remembers Cambridge from her years as a student and her meeting with Sebastian. Michaelides dares the reader with numerous clues and the books mentioned. The final chapters bring resolution, but at a dear cost.
Book Number: 28Title: Crimson Lake
Author: Candice Fox
Finished: 6.9.22
Comment: Crimson Lake set in Australia gives an ex policeman who ended in prison for a crime he did not commit. Ted Conkaffey must now piece his life together. His new life far away from any city starts with rescuing a goose and her babies from the crocodiles. Any man who would save animals cannot be a murderer. Before too long, Ted hooks up with Amanda Pharrell, who runs an investigation office. Their first job is to locate novelist, Jake Scully, who has disappeared. Amanda, like Ted, went to prison for the murder of a schoolmate. What a quirky individual resides in Amanda, who does not drive a car, nor will she ride in a car. Candice Fox drops many interesting and strange characters into the story. The forensic pathologist, Valerie Gratteur, assists Ted in his investigation and also helps him with Woman, the goose, and her babies. Yes, I would read another book in this series.
Book Number: 29Title: Cards on the Table
Author: Agatha Christie
Finished: 6.16.22
Comment: I wish I understood bridge because so many clues landed on the bridge table with the dummy hands. At the beginning of the story, we learn that the killer of Mr. Shaitana rests with one of the four bridge players. Poirot, Colonel Race, Superintendent Battle, and Mrs. Oliver race to determine the killer using their greatest detective skills. Mr. Shaitana a devilish man knows a secret concerning each of the four likely killers: Dr. Roberts, Mrs. Lorrimer, Anne Meredith, and Major Despard. A few of the suspects admit to the killing, but why? Poirot must piece each clue and finally arrive at the correct answer. Two more people die before the killer is discovered. Again, too much bridge for the novice bridge player.
Book Number: 30Title: Redemption Point
Author: Candice Fox
Finished: 6.18.22
Comment: I enjoyed Crimson Lake, but Redemption Point outshines the first book. I feel dismay that both Ted and Amanda must encounter danger and brutal beatings in each book. Lee Child does the same with Jack Reacher, as well as several other writers do for the main character. Too many beatings would kill the average character. Dale Bingley, Claire’s father, enters the story and hangs around Ted’s house trying to solve the mystery of Claire’s abduction. A new detective, Pip Sweeney, enters the story as she leads her first murder investigation. Two bartenders at a low-class bar, Barking Frog Inn, have been killed and the father of the young man has hired Amanda and Ted to find the killer. So many adventures with Ted and Amanda and Dale. So many clues that only Amanda follows and finds herself in the hands of killers. The scenery entertains and educates the reader about Australia. One learns of the peccadilloes of the rich. A fun detective story. Waiting to read the third book of the series and maybe have some questions answered.
Book Number: 31Title: Dumb Witness
Author: Agatha Christie
Finished: 6.24.22
Comment: An old maid dies, but her will just recently was changed. What did Emily Arundell discover before her death that made her change her mind concerning her heirs? What a delicious story of a limited number of suspects like the previous story of Cards on the Table. This story presents a better story and with more understanding. Agatha Christie utilizes many quaint phrases such as “nigger in the woodpile” that would be very incorrect today. Poirot must wade through many piles of mud to uncover the most important source of greed. The killer attempts murder by leaving a thread for Miss Emily to catch her foot and fall down the stairs. This attempt fails. So, a second attempt does work, but the doctor states that Miss Emily died from pre-existing conditions and foul play is neglected. Enter Hercule Poirot and all his little tricks and of course, his little grey cells. So utterly delightful. Just wish I could talk with Agatha and find out the significance of the names of her characters.
Book Number: 32Title: Gone by Midnight
Author: Candice Fox
Finished: 6.26.22
Comment: I have finished the Crimson Lake series and wonder if Candice Fox will return to these characters.
The main characters: Ted Conkaffey and Amanda Pharrell do not fit the mold of investigators. Amanda, a petite fairy-like woman, has tattoos all over her body, plus multiple scars on top of the tattoos. Amanda has so many rules: no touching, no riding in cars, etc., but I like her. Both Amanda and Ted have internal and external scars from their time in prison. In this adventure, an eight-year-old boy has disappeared. Has he been kidnapped or is he dead? Ted’s three-year-old daughter comes to visit for three days. One of the geese, Peeper, must go to the vet due to a fungus. Enter a love interest for Ted. What focal points enter the story? Mother love/hate and loyalty among friends. Amanda and her bikies give an example of loyalty regardless the circumstance. Really enjoyed this novel.
Book Number: 33Title: Appointment with Death
Author: Agatha Christie
Finished: 7/8/22
Comment: What a delightful way to spend a dreary, rainy day then hunkered with Agatha Christie. Appointment by Death presents an interesting tale of a domineering mother and her four children. Mrs. Boynton controls her four children and does not allow any breach from her orders. The Boynton family travels to Jerusalem and Petra, and while in Petra, Mrs. Boynton is discovered dead. Enter our favorite and conceited detective, Hercule Poirot, who determines that Mrs. Boynton has been murdered. Using his little grey cells, Poirot, details why or why not each of the children may have committed the murder. Christie beautifully captures the essence of the Middle East and displays the domination of Mrs. Boynton. Yes, this type of controlling woman does exist, and what a shame for those under her hands. I love Christie’s use of examples to show how subservient an individual may act. The example of a line drawn on the floor and a man places a rooster’s beak on the line, the rooster will not move because he thinks he is tied down. This example shows Mrs. Boynton’s control.
Book Number: 34Title: A Quilt for Christmas
Author: Melody Carlson
Finished: 7/10.22
Comment: My first Christmas novella of 2022 and a simple story filled with forgiveness and love. A Quilt for Christmas does not delve into the psychological stories of the main characters, just a little when Eleanor Rasmussen relays her story of grief and suffering with the death of her husband and her daughter. But Vera Swanson has also lost her husband and does act so boorish. The other characters show diversity: Beverly Clark, Tasha Ellison, and the Albright family. I realize this is a Christmas story, but the intrusion into the Albright family needs more limitations. Yes, the family needs assistance, but are they ashamed? Love and romance creep into the story, but too quickly and with the wrong individuals. The quilt making process seems a little too trite. Vera takes the finished top part of the quilt and attaches the batting and backing herself. When does the needle work of attaching the back and front occur? A simple but heart-warming story.
Book Number: 35Title: Strangers on a Train
Author: Patricia Highsmith
Finished: 7/13/22
Comment: What a treat Strangers on a Train provided! I had seen the Alfred Hitchcock movie a few times, but the novel heighten your senses. I could feel the terror, frustration, and fright of both Bruno and Guy in the excellent language of Patricia Highsmith. Patricia Highsmith created characters and setting that enhanced the story. In the movie, Guy was a tennis star, but in the book, Guy is an architect. What a maniac in the presentation of Bruno, who controls Guy and forces Guy to commit murder. Both Guy and Bruno fall under the control of a mother. Bruno does nothing but drink and read murder mysteries. Guy attempts to work, but hope seem lost once Bruno takes control of Guy’s mind. I did not know that Highsmith also wrote The Talented Mr. Ripley, which has also been made into a movie. I look forward to reading more of Patricia Highsmith’s novels.
Book Number: 36Title: Hercule Poirot's Christmas
Author: Agatha Christie
Finished: 7/18/22
Comment: I am slowly reading Agatha Christie and really enjoy this adventure. Yes, many of the books contain the same characters and plot, but variations do exist. In this yarn, an old man summons his relatives for a Christmas celebration. Before the festivities begin, Simeon Lee is murdered. Who is the culprit? Enter Hercule Poirot and his little gray cells to expose the murderer. I love the description of characters! The setting shows the thoroughness of Agatha Christie. Christie does not employ the gruesome details of death that many writers fall heavily upon. I enjoy Christie’s exploring the multiple reasons for murder among the family. The sins of the past always catch up with an individual.
Book Number: 37Title: That Summer
Author: Weimer, Jennifer
Finished: 7/27/22
Comment: That Summer by Jennifer Weimer did not interest me at first and I almost did not finish reading. The book discloses strong women devoid of a college degree fighting for equality. A fifteen-year-old girl goes to Cape Cod as a mother’s helper. The summer ends with Diana, the mother’s helper, being raped by an entitled boy that she loved and trusted. Many years later, Diana tracks her tormenters and seeks revenge. Enter Daisy/Diana, Beatrice, and Hal as the ideal family. Daisy centers all her love and energy on home. Her teen-age daughter, Beatrice, rebels against all the comforts of an ideal life. I like the method that Weimer utilizes to show that education and corporate jobs are not the measure of success. A big contrast in masculine character rests with Michael and Hal. Is Hal capable of change? The attitude that men are entitled to whatever they want, and no excuse given presents itself when Vernon, Hal’s father, gives him a box of condoms when Hal goes off to Emlen. Very sad rendering of life.
Book Number: 38Title: Horse
Author: Geraldine Brooks
Finished: 8/5/22
Comment: So many glowing comments on Geraldine Brooks Horse. Yes, the fictional story of the racehorse Lexington presents an interesting topic, but Geraldine Brooks’ writing bordered on a haughty, prestigious language that missed the vernacular language of many of the characters. The down-to-earth language of the horse trainers and jockeys jumped too high. The discussion of horse training and breeding and care opened my eyes to a world of excessive work if done correctly. Many horse lovers do not know the story of Lexington due to this horse’s pre-Derby racing. An interesting, but pompously written book.
Book Number: 39Title: A Street Cat Named Bob
Author: James Bowen
Finished: 8/10/22
Comment: A fellow book club member lauded A Street Cat Named Bob by James Bowen. Yes, this book details many traits and practices of cats, but I never encountered any tear-jerking chapters. According to James, Bob saved him from a return to drug addiction and threw James into a better life style. Maybe, my callous heart did not see any redemption in this story. I have been owned by cats for over fifty years. My three feral cats give me a purpose for rising every day. They must be fed! I could not understand how Bob would leave the apartment and yet return after completing his “business”.
Book Number: 40Title: The Ruin
Author: Dervla McTiernan
Finished: 8/14/22
Comment: A knitting designer recommended the books of Dervla McTiernan, set in Ireland. I just finished the first of the Cormac Reilly series and I am very impressed with the writing that delves into the psyche of the characters. The description of the landscape and buildings left me with a longing to visit Ireland. But ever present religious differences expose the under current bitterness of each religious group. So many obscure rules force women to face a life of exile for telling a truth or living a lie in order to find employment and lodging. The Ruin shows the utter helplessness of the social institutions in trying to aid women and children.
Book Number: 41Title: The Scholar
Author: Dervla McTiernan
Finished: 8/19/22
Comment: What a curvy trip to catch a murderer! And what is the motive for brutally killing two young women? Dervla McTiernan captures the doubt and suspicion of the characters from Cormac Reilly to his second-in-command. Cormac even begins to doubt his girlfriend, Emma Sweeny. The story centers on finding what has happened. All clues point to Darcy lab, as the two women both worked for John Darcy. The case centers on intelligence, money, and courage. The first lady to be killed was intentionally hit by a car and so disfigured that identity is difficult. Cormac chases the clues, but his love of Emma blinds him to the truth. Dervla McTiernan writes an interesting mystery set in Ireland with all the quirky characters and psychological insights that heighten the story.
Book Number: 42Title: Sad Cypress
Author: Agatha Christie
Finished: 8/21/22
Comment: A return to Agatha Christie, that is always a delight. The title of the book emerges from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Two deaths enter into Hercule Poirot’s investigating. An rich, elderly lady dies and no thought of murder enters the picture. But a second death which involves a young woman and foul play creeps into the picture. The young niece of Mrs. Welman, Elinor Carlisle, falls under the suspicion of murder. And frankly, Elinor appears to gain from the two deaths. Elinor narrates the first and last part of the novel, while Poirot plods through his narrative to Dr. Lord. The presentation of the story provides intrigue and vivid characters. From the first page, Elinor becomes my favorite character and I hope she will not fall prey to being chosen as the killer.
Book Number: 43Title: The Family Upstairs
Author: Lisa Jewell
Finished: 9/9/22
Comment: So many narrators telling little bits of the story, until the end of the book and all stories merge into one tragic tale. Libby receives a letter on her 25th birthday from English solicitors informing her that she is the owner of a house on Cheyne Walk, a prestigious address. Now begins Libby’s journey to claim the house and learn about her parents. Libby, an abandoned baby in the Cheyne Walk house grew up with adoptive parents. Lucy enters her depressing narrative about living on the streets of France with her two children and trying to get back to England and the Cheyne Walk house. But why? Henry jumps into the picture, explaining many areas of what has happened in the house on Cheyne Walk, but he is only a young boy when he begins his tale. So many red herrings in the story that the reader goes up and down the roller coaster afraid of what might happen next. A fun story.
Book Number: 44Title: Book Woman of Troublesome Creek
Author: Kim Michele Richardson
Finished: 9/12/22
Comment: The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson closely resembles The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes. Both novels cover the rugged life of Kentucky traveling librarians. These women worked as librarians for $28.00 a month and were required to provide or rent their own transportation such as mule or donkeys. The mountain terrain hindered the journey to the readers who struggled to survive hunger and the trials of life. Richardson goes further into the story with the introduction of the blue-skinned Kentuckians that came from France with a genetic problem that translated to blue skin. This abnormality created these people to be classified as “colored”. The story briefly touches on the miscegenation laws in Kentucky and how the blue-skinned people fall into this law. Richardson describes the terrible conditions of the community where very few of the people actually had food to eat every day. And the mining companies took advantage of these squalid conditions.
Book Number: 45Title: Funeral Train
Author: Laurie Loewenstein
Finished: 9/14/22
Comment: Funeral Train by Laurie Loewenstein opened my eyes to the terrible discrimination directed to the blacks in the 1930’s. A train headed to Vermillion, Oklahoma, jumps the track and falls into a ravine. Someone had tampered with the track to cause this horrible tragedy that kills dozens of people. Every black person on the train, except one, dies in the crash due to the construction of the “colored” cabin which is made of wood and falls directly behind the train engine. This story shows the poorness and despair of the people living in the Dust Bowl. Of course, these people are not as destitute as the mountain people of Kentucky. Crops have failed and people struggle to survive. Sheriff Temple Jennings and railroad detective Claude Steele carefully follow the clues and try to solve this mystery. Why has this happened? Who is responsible? Small town gossip enters into the story. Laurie Loewenstein based this story on the 1929 passenger train that derailed close to Henryetta , Oklahoma, where 11 passengers were killed instantly.
Book Number: 46Title: Death of a Rainmaker
Author: Laurie Loewenstein
Finished: 9/16/22
Comment: I enjoyed the first Dust Bowl book. Laurie Loewenstein developed the characters in a refreshing manner. And the terrible dust storm that settled over the town after the rainmaker set off fireworks to poke the rain that does not arrive. So who has killed the rainmaker and why? Is one of the farmers or businessmen responsible for this odious crime? Loewenstein leads the reader to many theories of the who and why, but the final resolution provides a surprise. The journey shows the everyday life of the Oklahoma individuals during a bleak period for framers and businessmen, but also focuses on food and parties and love.
Book Number: 47Title: And Then There Were None
Author: Agatha Christie
Finished: 9/24/22
Comment: What fun with Agatha Christie’s super mystery as she indicated herself. Christie labored with this story and the reader can easily see all the nuances. Ten people arrive on Soldier Island off the coast of Devon, but none escape the island. Each of the deaths follows the lines of a child’s nursery rhyme. So who is the killer and what is the reason for these deaths? Each of the victims had previously caused the death of someone else. The killer plays judge and executioner. The story moves quickly from line to line of the rhyme. Of course, police arrive on the island too late and relate the deaths as listed by the killer in the swan song of the events as recorded in a bottle with a note. The story reads like those mysteries where the victim is locked inside a room and how does the killer escape.
Book Number: 48Title: A Truth to Lie For
Author: Anne Perry
Finished: 10/6/22
Comment: A new series by a great author. This is the first Elena Standish novel I have read, and the book presents multiple sides of Hitler’s rise to power. Hans Beckendorff shows a side of Hitler’s chosen that exposes the mixed moral code of many Germans. The story also portrays the ruthlessness of the Brownshirts and many Gestapo leaders. And Hitler’s quest to control the world with the aid of science and power. Elena, a M16 agent must return to Berlin and help a German scientist escape Berlin. The mission holds many dangers for both Elena and Heinrich Hartwig, the scientist. Will Elena be successful? A well written account of pre WWII Germany.
Book Number: 49Title: Killers of a Certain Age
Finished: 10/8/22
Comment:
Deanna Raybourn has written a new novel which has received glowing reviews. I do not see the brilliance of this novel as I waded through this muck. The story centers on four sixty-year-old women who have worked as assassins for forty years and are now hoping to retire. Well, the Museum, the assassin-for-hire agency has other plans for these four senior citizens. The story jumps back and forth between the career of these women and the present day dilemma of staying alive. The novel never caught my interest and wasted precious time.
Title: Night Rounds
Author: Helene Tursten
Finished: 1.6.22
Comment: Night Rounds by Helene Tursten takes many twists and turns in an effort to discover the killer of several night nurses at a private hospital. Supposedly, Nurse Siv, who committed suicide fifty years ago has returned to seek vengeance. So many love interests for the nurses and doctors and wading through old records. Irene Huss shines as the detective inspector in this Swedish mystery series. Of course, the Maude series is funnier and more thought provoking, but Irene provides enjoyment with her quick wit and avid mind. The final chapters closely tie up all loose ends and give the hospital a sigh of relief as the killer becomes tangled in Irene’s web.