HARVEST (Fiction/Mystery – England – 18th Cent) - Standalone - Jim Crace The order and calm of a pre-industrial village in England is upset by a mysterious fire and the simultaneous appearance of three strangers. The insular community strikes out against the newcomers but turns on itself in a fit, literally, of witch hunting.
Corona – DNF – She did not finish it, but did read enough to know the prose was very good. Linda S – VG - Beautiful prose, evocative, really well done. She took the book out of the library and the physical book was lovely, which added to the experience. She did feel the character wasn’t that compelling as the narrator was one of the villagers and a participant. The story is definitely about the plot. LJ – Ex – I found it frustrating to read a book in which neither the setting nor the time period are undefined. However, the author does drop enough hints that one might surmise the setting is England and the time probably in the 1500s/1600s, although it could be a bit later. The story is almost all narrative, which some can find very boring. The descriptions are wonderful and the rich language suitable to the time The story has many levels. The author describes life in an agrarian setting, struggling to survive. We learn of the coming transition from crops to sheep and the impact that will have on the villagers. But we also see the dreadful results foolish actions can bring, not only to the perpetrators but to the entire village. Walter Thirsk, the protagonist, brings life to the story as we are told it through his eyes. We learn both his history and that of the villagers. Through his telling, it becomes a very human story; one that has increasing dread. You sense the fear and uncertainty of the villagers, and of Walter. And yet, in the end, it is a story of survival and perseverance. “Harvest” isn’t a long read, but it is an impactful one. It is also an allegory as to how those in authority can use rumors to raise suspicion and mistrust in order to achieve their own ends. Lest you think it is a depressing book, it is not. It is compelling and one I found I couldn’t put down.
GROUP RATING AVERAGE: G+
THE ROUND HOUSE (Suspense – North Dakota – Contemp) – Standalone – Louise Erdrich Set on an Ojibwe reservation in North Dakota, a boy on the cusp of manhood who seeks justice and understanding in the wake of a terrible crime that upends and forever transforms his family.
Christine – VG – She’s trying to push herself to expand her reading. She did read this and though it was beautifully written. She liked the story and thought the ending was really interesting. Linda S – Ex - Really loved it. The story is told through the son’s eyes but when he is an adult. She felt the books had shades of “Mystic River” and of “To Kill a Mockingbird.” The dealing with grief was spot on. It was so beautifully written. While there were so many characters, each was finely drawn. It’s also a really beautiful tribute to friendship. She thought the book was really beautiful and true. It worked on so many levels.
GROUP RATING AVERAGE – VG+
THE GREY GHOST MURDERS (Police Proc/PI – Sheriff Martha Ettinger/Sean Stranahan – Montana –Contemp)- 2nd in series - Keith McCafferty When the graves of two men are discovered on Sphinx Mountain, Sheriff Martha Ettinger suspects murder. But with the only evidence a hole in a skull that might or might not have been caused by a bullet, she once more finds herself turning to private investigator Sean Stranahan for help. Stranahan already has a case, having been hired by a group of eccentric fly fishermen called The Madison River Liars and Fly Tiers Club to find a valuable fly that they suspect has been stolen. Could the disappearance of a vintage Gray Ghost from a riverside cabin in the Madison Valley be connected to the gray ghosts who haunt Sphinx Mountain?
Charlotte – G+ - It was the least heavy of the three books. She liked it overall even though there was a bit too much description of fly fishing for her. But she did enjoy it. Corona – VG - She recognized the style as it reminded her of John Sandford, only not quite as refined. She enjoyed the book and the fly fishing was relevant because it was so real; it made the book work. She liked his attention to the details and found it interesting. LJ – VG - Even if fishing and hunting, are not your style, don’t let that stop you from reading this book for it is the characters that carry the story. Even though Stranahan may be described as extremely good looking, he is anything but a womanizer. He doesn’t own a gun, although he knows how to use one. And there’s not profanity in the book. What’s nice is that each of the characters is clearly drawn and distinct. McCafferty provides excellent descriptions which help the reader understand the love of fly fishers and give a desire for traveling to Montana. The plot is interesting and compelling. There are layers and twists enough to keep you going. There is a classic short story referenced which, if the reader is familiar with the story, gives a hint of the story’s path, but one isn’t certain quite how it’s going to play in. There are characters one suspects, but enough uncertainty to keep one guessing. “The Gray Ghost Murders” is an easy read and a good one. It kept me involved from first page to last.
HARVEST (Fiction/Mystery – England – 18th Cent) - Standalone - Jim Crace
The order and calm of a pre-industrial village in England is upset by a mysterious fire and the simultaneous appearance of three strangers. The insular community strikes out against the newcomers but turns on itself in a fit, literally, of witch hunting.
Corona – DNF – She did not finish it, but did read enough to know the prose was very good.
Linda S – VG - Beautiful prose, evocative, really well done. She took the book out of the library and the physical book was lovely, which added to the experience. She did feel the character wasn’t that compelling as the narrator was one of the villagers and a participant. The story is definitely about the plot.
LJ – Ex – I found it frustrating to read a book in which neither the setting nor the time period are undefined. However, the author does drop enough hints that one might surmise the setting is England and the time probably in the 1500s/1600s, although it could be a bit later. The story is almost all narrative, which some can find very boring. The descriptions are wonderful and the rich language suitable to the time
The story has many levels. The author describes life in an agrarian setting, struggling to survive. We learn of the coming transition from crops to sheep and the impact that will have on the villagers. But we also see the dreadful results foolish actions can bring, not only to the perpetrators but to the entire village. Walter Thirsk, the protagonist, brings life to the story as we are told it through his eyes. We learn both his history and that of the villagers. Through his telling, it becomes a very human story; one that has increasing dread. You sense the fear and uncertainty of the villagers, and of Walter. And yet, in the end, it is a story of survival and perseverance.
“Harvest” isn’t a long read, but it is an impactful one. It is also an allegory as to how those in authority can use rumors to raise suspicion and mistrust in order to achieve their own ends. Lest you think it is a depressing book, it is not. It is compelling and one I found I couldn’t put down.
GROUP RATING AVERAGE: G+
THE ROUND HOUSE (Suspense – North Dakota – Contemp) – Standalone – Louise Erdrich
Set on an Ojibwe reservation in North Dakota, a boy on the cusp of manhood who seeks justice and understanding in the wake of a terrible crime that upends and forever transforms his family.
Christine – VG – She’s trying to push herself to expand her reading. She did read this and though it was beautifully written. She liked the story and thought the ending was really interesting.
Linda S – Ex - Really loved it. The story is told through the son’s eyes but when he is an adult. She felt the books had shades of “Mystic River” and of “To Kill a Mockingbird.” The dealing with grief was spot on. It was so beautifully written. While there were so many characters, each was finely drawn. It’s also a really beautiful tribute to friendship. She thought the book was really beautiful and true. It worked on so many levels.
GROUP RATING AVERAGE – VG+
THE GREY GHOST MURDERS (Police Proc/PI – Sheriff Martha Ettinger/Sean Stranahan – Montana –Contemp)- 2nd in series - Keith McCafferty
When the graves of two men are discovered on Sphinx Mountain, Sheriff Martha Ettinger suspects murder. But with the only evidence a hole in a skull that might or might not have been caused by a bullet, she once more finds herself turning to private investigator Sean Stranahan for help. Stranahan already has a case, having been hired by a group of eccentric fly fishermen called The Madison River Liars and Fly Tiers Club to find a valuable fly that they suspect has been stolen. Could the disappearance of a vintage Gray Ghost from a riverside cabin in the Madison Valley be connected to the gray ghosts who haunt Sphinx Mountain?
Charlotte – G+ - It was the least heavy of the three books. She liked it overall even though there was a bit too much description of fly fishing for her. But she did enjoy it.
Corona – VG - She recognized the style as it reminded her of John Sandford, only not quite as refined. She enjoyed the book and the fly fishing was relevant because it was so real; it made the book work. She liked his attention to the details and found it interesting.
LJ – VG - Even if fishing and hunting, are not your style, don’t let that stop you from reading this book for it is the characters that carry the story. Even though Stranahan may be described as extremely good looking, he is anything but a womanizer. He doesn’t own a gun, although he knows how to use one. And there’s not profanity in the book. What’s nice is that each of the characters is clearly drawn and distinct. McCafferty provides excellent descriptions which help the reader understand the love of fly fishers and give a desire for traveling to Montana. The plot is interesting and compelling. There are layers and twists enough to keep you going. There is a classic short story referenced which, if the reader is familiar with the story, gives a hint of the story’s path, but one isn’t certain quite how it’s going to play in. There are characters one suspects, but enough uncertainty to keep one guessing. “The Gray Ghost Murders” is an easy read and a good one. It kept me involved from first page to last.
GROUP RATING AVERAGE – VG+