Around The World discussion

We'd love to hear about the latest book you've read.
What was the book like? Your opinion?
And how many stars ★?
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The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt – 3.5***
There is much about this novel to like, and quite a few things not to like. In the end I’m struggling with how to rate it because of these conflicting issues. I like the way Tartt writes, particularly the way she so vividly depicts the scenes in this book, but I thought the book needed stronger editing. How often must we read about their drunken episodes to get the point? And I was really unhappy with the ending. David Pittu does a superb job narrating the audio version of this novel. He has great pacing, and his skill with voices made the characters come to life. He’d get 5* for his performance alone.
Full Review HERE

Murder Must Advertise by Dorothy L Sayers – 2.5**
Book #10 in the Lord Peter Wimsey mystery series. I’ve never read any of this series before, and though I see the potential (a likeable main character – witty, wealthy, smart, charismatic) I just wasn’t captivated by the story. It seemed to take forever to get interesting, and I was bored with much of it. I finished only because it fulfilled a book group challenge.
Full Review HERE

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness – ZERO stars
Todd is many ways a typical young teen – full of anxiety about growing up, certain he knows much more than he actually does, prone to rash actions, and lacking impulse control. My stars, but he got on my nerves. His use of vulgar language and everyone’s lack of grammatical English just made my teeth hurt. Add the “spooky” atmospheric music /sound effects to the audio and the cliff-hanger ending and … well, I can’t give negative stars … Can I?
Full Review HERE

A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn – 2**
This modern re-telling of the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale missed the mark for me. Plot elements were too implausible (and I’m not talking about the magic, witch and fairies), and the dialogue was tortured. I see the appeal for the YA crowd and it was a fast read. I did like the way these two teenagers matured over the course of the novel.
Full Review HERE

Zia by Scott O’Dell – 3***
This sequel to O’Dell’s Newbery Award winner, Island of the Blue Dolphins is not so compelling a story as the first book, but I still thought it was a good middle-grade book. Zia is a strong heroine – intelligent, resourceful, loyal and brave. I also liked the social history lesson O’Dell imparts.
Full Review HERE

A Shelter of Others by Charles Dodd White – 3***
Talk about Southern Gothic! This is a dark story, where the characters are greatly affected by (and seemingly unable to avoid) forces greater than themselves. White’s writing has some powerful images, but the book is light on dialogue and I found this approach resulted in less character development since much of their interaction was missing. White also tell the story from alternating character’s point of view. This serves to keep the reader slightly off balance, while also giving the reader more information than the individual characters might have.
Full Review HERE

The Night Strangers by Chris Bohjalian – 3***
I’ve read several books by Bohjalian, but this one is quite a departure. I’m not a big fan of the paranormal/horror genre, but this certainly captured me, held my attention and kept me off balance. Tension builds to a dramatic confrontation that really had me on the edge of my seat. And then we come to the epilogue … totally took me in a direction I did not see coming. Alison Fraser and Mark Bramhall did a fine job narrating the audio version. They have good pacing and Fraser uses a number of different voices for the various characters. Bramhall’s voice is appropriately “creepy” as he performs Chip’s point of view; I really got the sense of Chip’s slow deterioration into depression, paranoia and mental distress.
Full Review HERE

From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne – 3***
The fourth of the Extraordinary Voyages series, this was first published in 1865. That was 104 years before the USA actually did send a man to the moon, and it’s interesting to read the “science” and compare Verne’s suppositions with what actually happened in 1969. Verne populates the novel with a colorful cast of characters. It was an enjoyable adventure tale, though I admit to skimming over much of the scientific calculations.
Full Review HERE

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy – 3***
Is there anyone who doesn’t know the basic storyline of Alexei Karenin, his wife Anna, and her lover Count Vronsky? Tolstoy’s novel explores much more than this love triangle, but this central story was what I found compelling. Too bad I had to wade through all that other stuff. Nadia May does an okay job of narrating the audio version. She does tend to “read” rather than perform but her pacing was good and her diction clear.
Full Review HERE

B is for Burglar by Sue Grafton – 3***
Book two in the mystery series featuring private investigator Kinsey Millhone. I like this series. Kinsey is a smart, resourceful woman who takes her job seriously and doesn’t rely on some strong handsome type to come along and save her. The action is fast, the characters entertaining and Grafton includes enough twists and red herrings to keep this reader guessing right along with the characters.
Full Review HERE

Wedding Belles by Haywood Smith – 2**
In book three in the Red Hat Club series Georgia’s only daughter, Callie, has just announced her engagement – to a totally unsuitable man! The novel covers several months of Georgia commiserating with her pals in the Red Hat Club as she worries about the great mistake her daughter is about to make. The writing is repetitive and the two subplots did little but fill pages. Still, it’s a fast read and there were a couple of entertaining (if totally implausible) moments.
Full Review HERE

Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne – 3***
This is a classic adventure tale – imaginative, humorous, suspenseful and even though high implausible still great fun. Simon Prebble does a fine job narrating the audio version. He has good pacing and he brings the characters to life. I especially liked his voice for the irascible Professor Lidenbrock.
Full Review HERE

The Poet Slave of Cuba by Margarita Engle – 4****
Subtitle: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano. Engle studied Manzano’s poetry and life and decided that to do justice to the power of his words, the biography should also be written in verse. Her poems are powerful, evoking a visceral response to the cruelty, sadness, dashed hopes and lost opportunities the young Juan experienced. But there is also the triumph of his indomitable spirit and a voice that would not be silenced. I’m so glad I came across this little gem.
Full Review HERE