Book Nook Cafe discussion

Here is the Folder to tell us what your monthly reads for April 2022 were. What books did you start the new year with?

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

Finding myself in the middle of two larger books, i realize i will have finished books to list for this month. Here's what i read. As i believe i shared about each, i will try to be brief in my recap. (You've heard this before!)

The House of Fragile Things: A History of Jewish Art Collectors in France, 1870 - 1945--James McAuley. The amount of info i learned about art and history in France from 1850-1947 is enormous. Good book, well written and researched.

When the English Fall--David Williams. Post apocalypse in a Pennsylvania Amish community. As one might imagine their ways help them face problems better but also challenges their belief system.

Who is Mr Satoshi?--Jonathan Lee. Thanks to John for the introduction to this novel. A recent recluse photographer takes on an assignment from his late mother to give a package to a man he doesn't know. That he even flew from London to Tokyo is a breakthrough but there's more in this winner.

Death of a Red Heroine--Qiu Xiaolong. Curious mystery, in that we pretty much know who killed the Model Citizen early on. But how to catch and convict someone with high connections, even in China, is the story. Meanwhile, descriptions of life in the nation are wonderfully informative.

The Unfamiliar Garden--Benjamin Percy. A few years after a beautiful comet passes earth, strange killings occur. This is a mixed story, in that there is a Seattle detective and her ex-husband scientist who specializes in mushrooms. Slowly they uncover what seems to be happening. Good mystery and science fiction!

Poppy Harmon Investigates--Lee Hollis. First in a series i won't continue to read. Set in Palm Springs, where many people retire, Poppy learns her late husband left her broke. So, she sets up a detective agency because she used to act in a tv series about investigating crimes. The women are all so hung up on men and gossip that i found it unfortunate.

All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley's Sack, a Black Family Keepsake--Tiya Miles. A beautiful book which explores an item on display at the D.C. Museum of African American History and Culture. A burlap-ish sack a slave mother gave her 9-year-old slave daughter when the child was to be sold. Beautifully written and well researched, the book is so much more. If this isn't the best book i will read this year, i'm excited for what's to come!

Carbon Queen: The Remarkable Life of Nanoscience Pioneer Mildred Dresselhaus--Maia Weinstock. A good biography of a respected scientist who uncovered some of the nano-bits of carbon, all the while encouraging other women to enter the field.

The Shadow-Line--Joseph Conrad. Telling the story of a young man coming fully into his adult life. Conrad can write!

Deb, that's a great selection of books!
I'm drawn to a number of them: Who Is Mr. Satoshi?, The Unfamiliar Garden, Death of a Red Heroine.

Interesting reading month.

Books I read in April.
All the books were either 2-star reads or 4-star reads. No other ratings.

4-Stars:
Just One Damned Thing After Another - a time travel book that was interesting, quirky and very entertaining.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Empire of Wild - I had not heard of the legend of the Rogarou before and think it works well as a representative of our personal demons in Life.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Before the Coffee Gets Cold: Tales from the Café - (audio) as with the first book, I enjoyed the stories told about the people in this cafe.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


2-Star Stinkers:
The Haunting of Thores-Cross: A Yorkshire Ghost Story - a silly, nonsensical story with no tension, suspense or horror. Yawn.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Lost Village - (audio) this should have been a suspenseful story but it was dull. The ending was unbelievable.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Book of Fate - this started out well but turned into a story of a woman who kept herself victimized. The ending made me want to throw the book across the room, but I couldn't because it was on my ereader (which I didn't want to break). Frustrating!
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Bird King - another story that should have been suspenseful and exciting, but wasn't. It seemed that there was no action, or there was the potential for action...which then fizzled out. Another Yawn.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I gave The Bird King 4 stars, Petra. I was interested in Hassan. See my review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Shomeret, I'm glad you enjoyed the book. Nice review! I saw the potential but missed the growth aspect, I'm afraid.
I also thought that Nassan's talent was an interesting aspect of the story (and thought that it was undeveloped in the storyline....lost potential).
However, your review has given me a few ideas for thought. Thank you for that.

madrano wrote: "Finding myself in the middle of two larger books, i realize i will have finished books to list for this month. Here's what i read. As i believe i shared about each, i will try to be brief in my rec..."

Deb, what an excellent reading month you had !

I enjoyed reading your recaps.

Petra wrote:
Before the Coffee Gets Cold: Tales from the Café - (audio) as with the first book, I enjoyed the stories told about the people in this cafe."

I see it was a a mixed month for you, Petra. I hope next month is better for you.

I have a friend who enjoys magical realism. So I recommended this book to her. She really enjoyed it.

Note there are 3 books in this series.

Before the Coffee Gets Cold: A Novel (Before the Coffee Gets Cold Series Book 1)

Tales from the Cafe: A Novel (Before the Coffee Gets Cold Series Book 2)

Before Your Memory Fades: A Novel (Before the Coffee Gets Cold Series Book 3)

Petra, i'm glad you found a couple of titles from my list. It's not often that i'm pleased with so many novels lately.

NOTE: When i clicked on the review for Empire of the Wild, i got the review for Just One Damned Thing again. I'm not sure if it's my machine that is the problem or what.

Meanwhile, i really like the way Just ODTAO sounds & am adding it to my TBR. It sounds like the sort of adventure which pleases me. I'm happy to see that you liked the Toshikazu Kawaguchi series, too. Alias added a third, which i didn't know existed. Hurrah!

I liked reading your review of The Bird King (with it's beautiful cover!) and then Shomeret's. It sounds like you both saw much in it with more to consider. Thanks to both of you for taking the time to share about the book.

I'm glad you shared with us, Petra. It's terrific to learn what others here have read over the past few weeks.

Alias, i'm rather pleased with the variety in my reading for April. It's satisfying.

Thanks for the addition of the third installment of the Kawaguchi series. I didn't realize there was one. I can't see it listed yet on the GR list, darnit. Maybe it's not out for the public yet, only reviewers.

madrano wrote: "Thanks for the addition of the third installment of the Kawaguchi series. I didn't realize there was one. I can't see it listed yet on the GR list, darnit. Maybe it's not out for the public yet, only reviewers..."

According to google
Expected on: September 2022

Alias, thank you! I checked the library catalogue but the third book isn't listed yet. I'm sure it will be "on order" before too long. I'll keep checking and put myself on the wait list.

Deb, I fixed the link for Empire of Wild. Thanks for pointing that out.

madrano wrote: "Finding myself in the middle of two larger books, i realize i will have finished books to list for this month. Here's what i read. As i believe i shared about each, i will try to be brief in my rec..."

Glad you liked Satoshi as much as I did! I gave up early on Poppy Harmon.

Alias, thanks for the update.

Petra, thanks for the edit, the book sounds good, so i wanted to know what you thought. I hadn't heard of the Rogarou, either, which adds to the intrigue.

John, I'm glad to have my opinion of Poppy Harmon confirmed. Thanks.

Here are the ones I read in April 2022:

Answer Creek

The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia

The Arctic Fury: A Novel

Simon, thanks again for alerting me to The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia. I've been searching for a reasonable length book on the family.

My April 📚 Reads:


Why Sinatra Matters by Pete Hamill
Non Fiction
Audio book- Narrator, Joe Knezevich
Rating 4/5
This isn't a typical kiss and tell celeb bio. It's well written and there are many interesting side stories about the era that I thought were fascinating. For example, the 1891 New Orleans lynching. Which, sadly, I have to say I wasn't familiar with. The audio was very good. Though I wish they would have included some of the music. 🎵


The Accidental President: Harry S. Truman and the Four Months That Changed the World by A.J. Baime
Non ficiton
5/5
Excellent book. The first quarter is an interesting lead up to Truman's presidency. From his humble upbringing to the highest office in the land, he certainly rose to the occasion. He had an amazing work ethic. The author gives a balanced accounting. This is the first bio of Truman that I've read, but it won't be the last.

This book also checks-off items on my various Book Nook Cafe challenges.

-- Presidential Challenge
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

-- 2022 Determination List
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

-- 100 book Challenge
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...


Chasing History: A Kid in the Newsroom by Carl Bernstein
Non Fiction- memoir
Rating 2/5 - did not meet expectations

The book is a coming of age story that begins when Carl is in high school and ends around 1966 when he is around 22 and he is about to start his career at the Washington Post. Young Carl is completely enthralled with the newspaper business. I think I would have preferred a full life bio including his famous Watergate days with Woodward. Though to be fair, the title indicates it is about his early day and he has written about Watergate in other books.
If you are interested in the bygone newspapers era this book will appeal to you as Carl discusses how the newspaper room functioned. The parts that interested me were when he talks about JFK and the civil rights movement. I found the book a bit of slog. Therefore my 2 rating.


Personality Isn't Permanent: Break Free from Self-Limiting Beliefs and Rewrite Your Story by Benjamin P. Hardy
Non fiction - Self help
Rating 2 Did not meet expectations

I read this book for a mini book club with two friends. One friend thought it was worthwhile. My other friend and I didn't care for it as much. The author is a organizational psychologist. The title of the book comes from his strident dislike of personality tests such Myers–Briggs. The overall themes in the book are good. He basically says to stay future goal oriented and don't define yourself by your past. Unfortunately, I didn't like the writing style. He doesn't clearly define his terms, the end notes are not identified in the text so they were useless. He also goes on odd rants against millennials, the internet and movies. I felt if he didn't paint with such a broad brush I would have been more open to his arguments. There are also some religious overtones to the book which is not something I expect in a self help book. That said, there are some good ideas that I think would benefit people who feel they are in a rut or are young and starting out in life. The end of chapter quizzes and journaling ideas some may find useful.

If you want to get a feel for the author, there are numerous YouTube videos of him.

Simon wrote: "Here are the ones I read in April 2022:

Answer Creek

The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia

The Arctic Fury: A Novel"

I'm with Alias on the Romanov book. I liked the Arctic Fury quite a bit.

Alias, a 50-50 month, i guess. Really liking two of the four is good, at least. Here's hoping May is better for you.

Bollywood Kitchen: Home-Cooked Indian Meals Paired with Unforgettable Bollywood Films by Sri Rao ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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



Here We Go Again: My Life in Television by Betty White ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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



Death in Delft by Graham Brack ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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



Korea and Her Neighbours: A Narrative of Travel, with an Account of the Recent Vicissitudes and Present Position of the Country by Isabella Lucy Bird ⭐⭐⭐⭐


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



Villette by Charlotte Brontë ⭐⭐⭐


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

John wrote: "Bollywood Kitchen: Home-Cooked Indian Meals Paired with Unforgettable Bollywood Films by Sri Rao ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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

You had a really nice reading month, John.

I enjoyed your reviews. The "desi-'splaining" made me lol
Thanks !

It looks like a good reading month, John. I'm with Alias in liking that "desi-'splaining". It covers quite a number of books i've read lately. While the old style reporter requirement to act as though the reader knows nothing on the topic is understandable, it can easily become a tad insulting, as well.

The Brack series is harder to find than i suspected. Still, i've added it to my list, as i liked my visit to Delft, wishing i'd known more.

I may have mentioned last month that i own one of Bird's books, the one about the Rocky Mountains. In the process i read the Wiki article about her. Impressive woman, to travel in those times. Your comment about access to female-only quarters is a good one.

Your review of Villette is a good one. I was fortunate that my edition offered translations of the French in the back. Most weren't worth the effort but i was grateful, nonetheless. While i liked the ending & the way it was presented, i can understand what you meant about the tacked on feeling of it.

Thanks for sharing the time & links, John. Continued luck with May reading.

Heliosphere 2265, Volume 1: The Dark Fragment and Heliosphere 2265 - Volume 2: Between Worlds: The first two books of a sci-fi-series. Nice read.

Star Wars: Rogue One Adaptation: A graphic novel of the movie. Somehow it became a bit messy with the different storylines.

Scrivener's Moon and Night Flights: Two books that expand the world of the mortal engines-series. I really liked the books, especially scrivener´s moon as it shows the time before the main series. I liked the protagonist´s journey around the country and the people she met (yea, and also the love story in it)

Kat Menschiks und des Diplom-Biologen Doctor Rerum Medicinalium Mark Beneckes Illustrirtes Thierleben: A book by the famous forensic biologist Mark Benecke in that he presents his favourite animals. Only in German available.

Das Rabenhaus ["The house of the raven"]: It was actually a quite bad book, but it was so bad that it was funny. It started with a mother calling the new teacher in the village and telling her that she should go to the house of a friend of her child (spunds complicated, and yes, it doesn´t make sense) because he didn´t come back after a discovery tour to a dangerous cave. Then the teacher went there and met the father, they went to the cave and saw that the student fell down. Fortunately, the father was a cave rescuer, but he had claustrophobia. It was so ridiculously that it was funny again once you decieded to not take the book seriously

Florian wrote: ": It was actually a quite bad book, but it was so bad that it was funny..."

You had a good attitude about it. I'm usually not so generous.

Florian, i like the science fiction titles and series you tell us about. I'm not familiar with many, so your introduction leads me to them. Thank you for that.

I read 2 books that are a bit different for me. I finished The Bookseller’s Secret by Michelle Gable. I learned a little more about the Mitford family but the contemporary half of the book left me cold.
My 2nd read was the first in DCI Banks mysteries by Peter Robinson. I’ve enjoyed tv series about Alan Banks but this book written in the 80’s I found to be just a bit dated. Not in a good way. I hope some of the others in the series will be better.

Oops, sorry. The book by Peter Robinson is titled Gallows View

Lori, i like that "dated. Not in a good way." I've had that experience myself, so know what you mean.

The Bookseller's Secret could go either way for me, so i appreciate your comment.

Re: The Bookseller's Secret

The Amazon reviews seem to agree with you, Lori. They like the Mitford parts not the contemporary story line with Katie Cabot.

I have been meaning to come over here and put up my reads for April. So here I am! LOL :)


The Other Ann by Amy Cross - 5 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Shadow Detective #4-6 by William Massa - 5 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

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

Dead Man's Song by Jonathan Maberry - 5 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Apartment 401 by Boris Bacic - 4 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Last Call by J.A. Konrath - 4 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Wolfen by Whitley Strieber - 4 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Charnel House by Graham Masterton - 5 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Snow Shark by Brian G. Berry - 5 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

SCAR: A Deep Sea Thriller by Michael Cole - 5 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Adirondack Witch by Patrick Reuman - 4 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Good reading month for you, Marie! What a variety--snow shark, eternal night, siphoned skulls and more! When you write that an ending or turn of events sends you reeling, i am in awe of that author. It seems to me you would see it all coming. Cool, fun reading.

The premise of the first book, Amy Cross's, sounds awful. I cannot imagine have one's doppelganger living with a person. How freaky that would be. Then, that new discovery about the asylum. Yikes!

Were you aware the Hexecutioner series was ending? It was a long one, imo. Love the "Hellish Hexorcist" stars.

And i always like reading about that Jack Daniels series. Glad you shared all these, Marie. Enjoy your May reading.

Marie wrote: "I have been meaning to come over here and put up my reads for April. So here I am! LOL :)


The Other Ann by Amy Cross - 5 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/29..."


Another stellar reading month for you Marie ! Thanks for sharing.

madrano wrote: "Good reading month for you, Marie! What a variety--snow shark, eternal night, siphoned skulls and more! When you write that an ending or turn of events sends you reeling, i am in awe of that author..."

Thank you, Deb!

With the Massa series of the Hexecutioner - yes I did know that was the last book. I was buddy reading the series with a friend on here and we knew it was going to be the last one. But 10 books in a series I feel is not overly long compared to some series out there.

There are some series that has 15 or more books and that can seem to go on for awhile as the author has to come up with new scenarios for each book. Well for example - the Konrath series of Jack Daniels - there are 15 books in that series and it seems from Konrath's website there are going to be couple or so more books in that series eventually.

Sometimes I feel with series that 10 is a good round number as sometimes if the series is short with say four or five books I usually wonder if there could be more down the line. lol

As far as the doppleganger in the Cross book - that was an interesting story. Cross always seems to come up with wild stories for her books - lol. I don't know about a clone of myself living with me though - I think it would drive be batty. lol

I do love it with the stories that give you a twist as sometimes you think you know where the story is going and then the author lowers the boom like they are saying "not so fast reader - I have a twist for you" and then I am like "wait - what just happened?" - yeah definitely love twists and turns in stories!

Oh cannot wait to share the May reads with you all - I have some different genres going on this month! Like right now I am reading four books (2 horror - 1 crime thriller and 1 fantasy). May reads are going to be way cool! :)

Alias Reader wrote: "Another stellar reading month for you Marie ! Thanks for sharing...."

Thank you, Alias and you are welcome! Love sharing my reviews over here with you all. :)

Marie wrote:Oh cannot wait to share the May reads with you all - I have some different genres going on this month! Like right now I am reading four books (2 horror - 1 crime thriller and 1 fantasy). May reads are going to be way cool! :)
.."

I love your enthusiasm ! Only other readers can appreciate the thrill. :)

Marie wrote: "Sometimes I feel with series that 10 is a good round number as sometimes if the series is short with say four or five books I usually wonder if there could be more down the line. lol..."

This is true. I've read a number of series which went over 10 but i usually stop reading them for a number of years, there's just too much there. I agree that it doesn't mean 10 is too long as long as the author seems to be engaged, rather than just rolling out one after another.

You've certainly whet our appetite for reviews for your May reading!

Alias Reader wrote: I love your enthusiasm ! Only other readers can appreciate the thrill. :)".."

Thank you so much, Alias! :)

madrano wrote: "You've certainly whet our appetite for reviews for your May reading!...."

The reviews are coming. Getting ready to put them up on here in a little bit. :)