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KATHY F'S (TOCCUA) 50 BOOKS READ IN 2012
JANUARY1.
Robert R. McCammonFinish date: January 12, 2012
Genre: Science Fiction
Rating: B+
Review: A post-apocalyptic tale much like
Stephen Kingexcept that this apocalyptic event is nuclear instead of viral.Both books are about the survivors of an apocalyptic event and both have a devil-like character walking around stirring things up. This book held my interest more than the previously mentioned book did. I was more attached to the characters, and thought the story was very exciting. Quite a page-turner, and did I mention that it is 856 pages long. Quite a feat to keep someone interested, better yet, gripping the arms of their chair for 856 pages! I definitely recommend it for anyone interested in this type of work.
Good job, Kathy. I read this book when it was first released in paperback.....a really big paperback!!! I thought it was very good and you have now made me consider re-reading it.
Great, I wanted to read this book for a long time and this review will make me seek it out :-)
Though not my fovourite of his, I too enjoyed this book when I read it in the '80s. I worked in a local park snack bar and had left it accidentally one night. The next time I had a shift it was gone, but later found that the other employees were talking about it. They were all reading it a chapter at a time and discussing it. It was quite fun.I then sought out most of his novels and short stories books. None of the others are nearly as lengthy as
by
Robert R. McCammon.
I loved this book! I read it ages ago and fell in love with his writing. Glad you enjoyed it.
OK, twist my arm-I started it and liking it :-)
2.
Margaret AtwoodFinish date: January 17, 2012
Genre: Science Fiction
Rating: B
Review: Story is set in the near future where religious fundamentalists rule the United States, now called Gilead. The monotheocracy has reacted to social unrest and a sharply declining birthrate by reverting to a repressive intolerance that has really bizarre consequences, especially for women. Women are not allowed to own property. They cannot read or get an education because "ideas are dangerous". They are forced into strict roles of either: wife, Marthas (servants) (a jab at Martha Stewart!), or if they have viable ovaries, Handmaids. Each class of women has to wear specific colors and uniforms that label who they are. This causes a rift between the classes of women, making it hard for them to unite. The author raises some interesting ideas such as there being more than one kind of freedom; freedom to do what you would like versus freedom from things happening to you. Do you chose safety or independence? The book also shows how this could happen. We are seeing evidence of this happening in the US after 9/11. We have given up some of our freedom for safety. The problem with the book, though, was that it wasn't as developed as well as it could be. I feel a lot of "space" was wasted on the protagonist's reminiscing. There was so much more that could have been developed in this story. I give it a B, though, for coming up with a truly original idea.
Bryan wrote: "OK, twist my arm-I started it and liking it :-)"I'm glad. I always worry that others won't like it as much as I did!
I just found my copy in the bookshelves and put it out to re-read.....as if I need more books on my TBR list!!!!
I'm a horror fan as well as a history guy, so I enjoy hearing about other horror titles out there. I actually owned a paperback copy of it 20 years ago, but gave it away. Now I put it on my kindle which works better for those big books anyway.
Robert R. McCammon
3.
David LissFinish date: January 31
Genre: Historical Fiction/Financial Thriller
Rating: B
Review: The focus of the book is not on the Whiskey Rebellion itself but rather on the development of banking and commercial trade under Alexander Hamilton's influence during the period of 1789-1792. Hamilton believed a central bank was necessary to stabilize and improve the nation's credit and improve the handling of the finances of the US government. His opponents (mainly Jefferson and Madison) believed a central bank increased federal power and also benefited the rich (merchants) at the expense of the majority of the population. Each side is presented fairly by the author. The story is about a group of pioneers, who have been financially hurt by a whiskey excise tax, trying to cause the collapse of the First Bank of the United States. I love finance and history so I will definitely read more by David Liss.
FEBRUARY4.
Geraldine BrooksFinish date: February 6
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: B+
Review: The story of Bethia, the daughter of a Puritan minister, who is refused an education because of her gender, befriends Caleb, the first Native American to graduate from Harvard. Bethia is trying to balance her identity as a "good" Christian woman of the 1600s with that of a seeker of knowledge who longs for an education. Caleb is trying to stay true to the Wampanoag way of life while also finding a place for himself and his people so that they may survive the inevitable change that the Europeans bring. The story addresses interesting questions concerning the merging of two different belief systems. Is it possible to be more than society demands without threatening the social structure? How do we remain true to ourselves while also adapting to the belief system of the majority?
5.
Laura J. SnyderFinish date: February 24
Genre: History, Science, Biography
Rating: A
Review: Recounts the life and work of four men who met as students at Cambridge University: Charles Babbage, John Herschel, William Whewell, and Richard Jones during the mid-1800's. Inspired by Francis Bacon; the 17th century philosopher, politician, and scientific reformer, and also another former student of Cambridge; the Philosophical Breakfast Club was responsible for developing the philosophy of modern science and the scientific method. Chalked full of interesting tidbits from cryptology to astronomy. Great philosophical discussions of whether science discounts or proves that there is a God. Interesting insight into the life of the "intellectual" elite of Europe in the mid 1800s. My personal view is that Babbage was a butt head! Criticism is that the book is long. Loved it anyway. Recommend it for anyone interested in history, philosophy and/or science.
MARCH6.
Sarah WatersFinish date: March 21
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: A
Review: A den of thieves, a creepy mansion, damsels in distress, an insane asylum, dastardly deception . . . Orphaned children trained in the art of swindling and stealing. It's Dickensian with Gothic overtones. The plot has more twists and turns than a country road (but that makes it sound too dull!). Waters is a fantastic historical fiction writer. Her descriptions of "madhouses" are dead on, both in their function of locking up unwanted wives and sisters and in the way patients were treated. She even threw in a bit of philosophy (to my delight) in the nature vs. nurture debate. However, with how twisted the plot is, what you think was nature turns out to be nurture. Wink! Wink! Now that I have totally confused you, you will have to read the book to understand my review!
7.
Paula McLainFinish date: March 26
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: C-
Review: Hated it!!! How many ways can people who are supposedly in love be cruel to each other. I didn't like Hemingway who was a self-centered bully. I didn't like Hadley who was a drunken pushover. Had to laugh at the idea that they could only afford a one bedroom apartment in Paris without a bathroom. Yet she still had to have a someone come in and cook, clean and be a nanny for her son, Bumby. Oh, and she didn't even work! I don't know how much of this was a product of their times or just that they were really pathetic people. The whole "Lost Generation" were portrayed as a bunch of silly, pompous expats who drank absinthe and didn't wake up before noon. I also had a problem with the artwork on the dust jacket -- why is there a 1950's woman on the cover of a book about 1920's Paris? Oh, and if my husband slept with another woman while I was lying beside him . . . well maybe he could write a great book about survival, too. Except Hadley just laid there pretending to sleep.
Mod
I agree with Bentley......that is a very funny review....obviously better than the book!!!
if my husband slept with another woman while I was lying beside him . . . well maybe he could write a great book about survival, tooYou gave me a much needed belly laugh with that one, Kathy. Mine might have to write about the afterlife in his next incarnation.
APRIL8.
Melanie BenjaminFinish date: April 1
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: A
Review: A remarkable story about the relationship between muse and artist. Historically based on the relationship of Alice Liddell and Charles Dodgson aka Lewis Carroll. The story chronicles their friendship, the development of the story of Wonderland, the falling out of Dodgson and the Liddell family, and Alice's path through adulthood. Alice never spoke publicly of the true nature of her relationship with Dodgson. His family tore out the pages of his diary concerning that period after his death. What remains are the photographs that he took of her and two wonderful stories dedicated to her. I loved the quote: "I suppose, at some point, we all have to decide which memories -- real or otherwise -- to hold on to, and which ones to let go." I believe that is true for all of us.
Sounds like a book I would like since there has been much speculation about that relationship.
The author gave a different perspective than I had previously suspected. The author also did a follow-up interview to her story about how fame affects young children. It seems that Peter Llewelyn-Davies, the inspiration for Peter Pan committed suicide as an adult. Christopher Robin, son of A. A. Milne "Winnie the Pooh", became estranged from his father resenting him for the exploitation of his childhood. I guess it doesn't just affect Hollywood child stars. The price of fame seems to be the loss of innocence.
From what little bit of information I have read about Dodgson, he was a strange man who had a liking for young girls.....and not necessarily in a sexual manner. But he certainly wrote a wonderful story about his Alice.
Dodgson definitely had a bit of a creep factor about him in the book. The pictures he took of Alice and her sisters were also disturbing. The author tried to say that what was acceptable in Victorian ages was different than what is acceptable today. That when people saw pictures of scantily dressed children it was more angelic and less sexual than how we perceive it. She also stated that boys were sent off to school where as girls were more available because they were left behind with governesses. Thus, Dodgson's easy access to the Liddell girls. Interesting idea. However, the missing diary pages, to me at least, speaks more truthfully than Victorian viewpoints.
9.
Suzanne CollinsFinish date: April 8
Genre: Dystopian sci-fi
Rating: B+
10.
Suzanne CollinsFinish date: April 14
Genre: Dystopian sci-fi
Rating: B
Review: The first time I have read three books (Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay) in a week and a half. While working full time! I expected the books to be pretty shallow, action packed but there were many layers of complexity to the story. The Capital and the districts reminded me of Rome and its conquered territories. The Hunger Games were a perfect analogy for the Gladiator games that became more complex until they were actually flooding the colosseum and having naval battles for the citizens enjoyment. The Roman govt controlled their citizens by giving them free entertainment. The Capital tried to control their citizens in the same way. Kudos to Suzanne Collins for giving us a brief history of the Roman empire!
11.
Chris BohjalianFinish date: April 29
Genre: Horror
Rating: C
Review: The book involves a haunted and traumatized pilot who survives a dramatic crash landing, a creepy Victorian house with secrets of its own, a set of young twin sisters, a cohort of small town, New England herbalists, well . . . it should have been a great story. However, the plot is divided into two main storylines which have nothing in common with each other. First storyline deals with the pilot's PTSD from the plane crash. He starts seeing the ghosts of a father and daughter who were passengers on the plane. They want him to kill his daughters so ghost child has playmates. Second storyline deals with the creepy herbalists who want to kill one of his daughters for a potion. The two plots don't merge until the very end of the book when it becomes a free-for-all WWF wrestling match in a greenhouse! Needless to say the story made me giggle more than it scared me. Most famous line: "The child is losing blood fast and it's being wasted. Wasted! You're a New Englander, how can you abide that?" Dang, I'm glad I'm from Georgia!!
MAY12.
Erik LarsonFinish date: May 6
Genre: Biography
Rating: B-
Review: A biography about William Dodd, American historian who served as the United States Ambassador to Germany from 1933 to 1937 during the rise of Hitler. His daughter, Martha Dodd, who would later spy for the Soviet Union against the United States from before WWII until the height of the Cold War, also plays a prominent role in the book. The central question of the book: "why didn't the US government try to stop the rise of Hitler and why did it do practically nothing to stop the persecution of the Jewish people before WWII" is never, I felt, adequately answered. There are hints of isolationist feelings; domestic economic problems (depression and dust bowl) and anti-semitism being practiced in the US. Plus it seems that not many in the govt seemed to take Hitler seriously based on his raving antics in public. One interesting theory comes on page 241: "Roosevelt would be put in an embarrassing position . . . to explain why the negroes of this country do not fully enjoy the right of suffrage; and why the lynching of negroes is not prevented or severely punished." A quote my Mom used to say seems relevant here: the kettle calling the pot black.
13.
Ann PatchettFinish date: May 16
Genre: Literary Fiction
Rating: C
Review: The Amazon, a miracle fertility drug, anacondas, cannibals, and the mystery surrounding a man's death. This book should have been fantastic. It even threw out some interesting ethical questions such as should they delay the release of a money-making drug (extending the fertility of women beyond the normal time of menopause) as they secretly try to make a drug which would help the poor (curing malaria) while being funded by the pharmaceutical company only interested in the money maker. However . . . what can I say, I never felt empathy for the characters. I found the plot unbelievable. The science was silly; in a magical circle of trees, the females chewed the bark to make them fertile, the bark also immunized those who chewed from malaria, and at the base of the trees were magical mushrooms that made you see God. I also didn't like the characterization given to the SA tribes. The author made them out to be either a thieving bunch of children who really liked to braid women's hair or cannibals. On the plus side, the author does write beautifully: “It is said the sesta is one of the only gifts the Europeans brought to South America, but I imagine the Brazilians could have figured out how to sleep in the afternoon without having to endure centuries of murder and enslavement.” Even when she is being condescending.
14. 
Nathaniel PhilbrickFinish date: May 24
Genre: Maritime History
Rating: A
Review: A well constructed history of the whaleship "Essex" that was rammed and sunk by an enraged sperm whale in 1820. This incident served as the inspiration for Herman Melville's 1851 novel, Moby-Dick. This story is full of irony. First, the Essex was a whaleship. It hunted and killed whales for their oil. As the crew was engaged in hunting a sperm whale pod, a sperm whale, much larger than normal – estimated at 85 feet – charged the ship, ramming it twice. The whale crushed the bow like an eggshell, driving the 238-ton vessel backwards. The whale finally disengaged its head from the shattered timbers and swam off, never to be seen again. The ship sank 2,000 nautical miles west of South America. Here begins the second irony. The crew, escaping on three smaller whaleboats, had to decide where to go. They were terrified of the reports of cannibalistic tribes from the closer islands to the west , the Marquesas. So they decided to head back east towards South America, 2000 nautical miles away. Since they attempted this ordeal without much food or water, they started dying. And as they died, the survivors had more food. In order to escape being eaten by cannibals, they in fact became cannibals. The question of the hour is: What would you do to survive?
JUNE15.
Lawrence AnthonyFinish date: June 2
Genre: Memoir
Rating: B
Review: This memoir was written by Lawrence Anthony, a South African conservationist and wildlife expert. He undertook a private rescue mission of the Baghdad Zoo eight days after the 2003 American invasion of Iraq. Prior to the invasion, the Baghdad Zoo was the biggest zoo in the Middle East. When Anthony reached the zoo, out of the original 650 to 700 animals only 35 survived due to bombing of the zoo, looting of the animals for food, and starvation of the remaining caged animals. With the help of American soldiers, South African mercenaries, and Iraqi and Kuwaiti zookeepers, he restores the zoo to a liveable habitat. An amazing story of the devastation of war, and how people of all backgrounds can unite in a common cause.
16.
Lisa SeeFinish date: June 17
Genre: Mystery/Political Thriller
Rating: C+
Review: Good but could have been better. The story involves a Chinese criminal conspiracy to smuggle bear bile into the United States. When a deputy U.S. attorney uncovers a murder in the United States, he is put in touch with a Chinese police investigator who has been investigating a similar murder in Beijing. By coincidence, the two happened to have been former lovers who still yearn for each other. The story has weaknesses. The plot relies too much on coincidence . The author occasionally slips into teaching mode, even at moments of high tension, and delivers a five paragraph tutorial on various aspects of Chinese history or culture. The characters are wooden. The dialogue is stiff and unnatural. The heroine, Hulan, delivers a heartfelt confession about her role in the Cultural Revolution where she is forced to denounce her father. Afterward, she is whisked away to a swanky boarding school in Connecticut for her protection. "That must have been quite a culture shock," her lover, David says. Hmmm. On the positive side, the story explores the state of US-China international relations, especially in terms of human trafficking and the smuggling of illegal goods such as bear bile which is used for holistic medicine.
Mod
17.
Wilkie CollinsFinish date: June 23
Genre: Mystery
Rating: A+
Review: The novel was written in 1868. It is generally considered to be the first detective novel in the English language. A wonderful whodunit about the theft of a diamond. It is written in the form of a series of letters. The letters describe the same incident yet each person interprets the actions of the other participants differently. No letter is completely accurate and like the skin of an onion each letter adds to the story. It encompasses all that I love about English novels from this time period: the beautiful descriptions of the English countryside, the wonderful use of words that are rarely used today, the witticisms of the characters. A truly delightful story.
Mod
Jill wrote: "I like Collins' books. You might want to try the one cited below:
by Wilkie Collins"I have this one saved on my kindle. I can't wait to get to it!
JULY18.
Caroline AlexanderFinish date: July 8
Genre: Maritime History
Rating: B
Review: One of the most famous mutinies due to popular media exposure (books/movies), and I must admit, I knew very little about it. The mutiny occurred on April 28, 1789 on the British Royal Navy ship HMS Bounty. It was led by Fletcher Christian against commanding officer Lieutenant William Bligh. This I knew. What I didn't know was that The Bounty was on a scientific journey to bring breadfruit from Tahiti to Jamaica. The British Admiralty cut corners every way it could -- smaller crew, less pay, no commissioned officers/Marines to carry out Bligh's orders. They also delayed by months sending him orders to start the voyage which forced The Bounty to stay in Tahiti, with its paradise like surroundings and society, longer than normal due to the monsoon season. So the age-old debate rages: Was Lt. Bligh a cruel and unjust commander that deserved to have his ship taken from him and be banished to the sea in a small overcrowded launch with little food or water or was Christian, and company, a second rate crew filled with misfits and deviants with a touch of anti-social and anti-authoritarian tendencies? The author argues convincingly that Lt. Bligh was an excellent captain but fell victim to circumstances outside of his control.
19.
by
Yann MartelFinish date: July 22
Genre: Fantasy Adventure Fiction
Rating: B
Review: How do you describe a book that depending on your philosophical leanings means something very different to you than say your best friend. On the surface, the story is about a young boy from India adrift in a life boat with a Bengal tiger. Do you believe a young boy can survive 227 days alone in a life boat with a tiger? Or do you believe the alternative ending offered at the end of the book? As the author puts it, "reality is a story, and we can choose our own story". This book is a mirror held up to the reader allowing you to choose the story you prefer. As Pi himself says, "since it makes no factual difference and you can't prove the question either way (your life, faith, the meaning of everything) which story do you prefer?"
20.
by
Stephen ProsapioFinish date: July 27
Genre: Horror
Rating: B+
Review: And now for something completely different. . . I love a good ghost story; and I love those idiotic ghost-hunting shows! Needless to say, I loved this book!! The author combines a ghost story with a behind the scenes look into a reality TV show that investigates paranormal activity. The story is fast paced. The characters are interesting and interact in realistic ways. There is a mystery that needs to be solved. There are no major twists to the plot; however the story was so entertaining that it didn't matter.
21.
by
William LandayFinish date: July 31
Genre: Legal Thriller
Rating: B
Review: A very interesting court-room thriller about an Assistant DA who finds himself removed from a case due to the fact that his 14 year old son is implicated as the murderer. The book presents a very accurate description as to the criminal procedures of both a trial and a grand jury hearing. It also raises many ethical questions: should the ADA remove himself from the case due to a conflict of interest (when it involves the murder of his son's schoolmate?); how far should a parent go to protect his child (destroying evidence?); should we allow “pseudo-science” to be used for the defense as a mitigating factor to reduce a criminal's sentence. Instead of the “twinkie” defense, we now have the “murder gene”. This theory proposes that certain people are predisposed to committing extreme acts of violence which can lead to murder; and thus, may not be able to control their actions. Interesting ideas, yet somehow, for me, the story dragged. I think the author tried to cover too many ideas in this book and lost the flow of the story. Basically, I want to know, was Jacob a “psycho killer”?
AUGUST22.
by
Tom Rob SmithFinish date: August 12
Genre: Murder Mystery/Political Thriller
Rating: B+
Review: The author has taken his idea for the book from the true story of a Russian serial killer, Andrei Chikatilo, who murdered over 50 women and children in Russia during the 1980s. Smith sets his story in the former Soviet Union around the time of Stalin's death (1952). He recreates the atmosphere of paranoia and suspicion of that time period with ease, adding an extra layer of tension to the story. On the surface, the book is about a serial killer who tortures and kills children. The protagonist, Leo who works for the MGB, has been told that there is no crime to investigate because one of the fundamental ideals in Stalin's Soviet Union is that its citizens can live free from fear of crime since the State provides for all their needs. No longer willing to safely toe the political line, Leo sets out to find the killer despite the fact that doing so makes him a political dissident and prime candidate for the Gulags or worse. Leo, in the end, has to confront his own idealistic dedication to the State as an MGB officer and take responsibility for sending innumerable innocent citizens to the Gulags or marking them for execution.
23.
by
L.M. MontgomeryFinish date: August 15
Genre: Literary Classic
Rating: B
Review: Believe it or not, I have never read this book. At first, it was a slow read. I have to admit that I found Anne to be very annoying with her rambling soliloquies. She complains about her skinny body, freckles and red hair – the little flawed heroine! She holds a grudge for five years to a boy who calls her a carrot. But then you start to notice the little gems of wisdom tucked into her many discourses. “It's not what the world holds for you. It's what you bring to it.” “Life is worth living as long as there's a laugh in it.” “It is ever so much easier to be good if your clothes are fashionable.” Ok, she is a girl child! It was fascinating to see how the author takes a young, undeveloped character who is vain, silly, sentimental, proud, and impetuous, as most of us are as children. And, by the end of the book, not so much change the character but allows her to grow and learn how to channel her passion, intelligence and energy in more constructive ways. This review provided by “Chatty Kathy” as I was called as a child!
You are one up on me, Kathy.....I still have never read it!!!
It is amazing how many books I still have to read. Too bad work gets in the way!
24.
by
Tom FranklinFinish date: August 18
Genre: Southern Literature/Mystery
Rating: B
Review: Silas is a black deputy sheriff . Larry is a white mechanic. Both live in a small rural Mississippi town where they used to be boyhood friends. In high school, Larry is blamed, though never charged, for the disappearance of a local girl. Larry lives a solitary, shunned existence. Silas gets a scholarship for baseball and goes away to college. Twenty years later, another girl disappears, forcing the two men who once were friends to confront a past that has been buried for decades. The story is not only an interesting mystery, but it also makes you think about social ostracism, race relations, and issues of friendship. A nicely complex plot.
Kathy F wrote: "14. Nathaniel PhilbrickFinish date: May 24
Genre: Maritime History
Rating: A
Review: ..."
I love Philbrick! If you get the chance you should read
Nathaniel Philbrick
Brandon wrote: "Kathy F wrote: "14. Nathaniel PhilbrickI will definitely read that one. Have you read
Nathaniel Philbrick? I read it during Thanksgiving break last year. Totally different from they way we were taught in school!
The History Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer (other topics)House of Leaves (other topics)
The Murder Room: The Heirs of Sherlock Holmes Gather to Solve the World's Most Perplexing Cold Cases (other topics)
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (other topics)
The Mapmaker's Wife: A True Tale of Love, Murder, and Survival in the Amazon (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Siddhartha Mukherjee (other topics)Mark Z. Danielewski (other topics)
Michael Capuzzo (other topics)
Ransom Riggs (other topics)
Robert Whitaker (other topics)
More...
Our Format:
JANUARY
1.
Finish date: March 2008
Genre: (whatever genre the book happens to be)
Rating: A
Review or a Few Words about book: You can add text from a review you have written but no links to any review elsewhere even goodreads. And that is about it. Just make sure to number consecutively and just add the months.
Note: I will delete required format post once you get started.