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Bev's Classic Reads for 2016
THE BODY IN THE TRANSEPT by JEANNE M. DAMS (1995)4 stars
The first book in the Dorothy Martin Mysteries. I read this for our Mystery Book Club and am fairly sure that I've read it previously but it had been long enough that I remembered absolutely nothing about the story. Just a nice little cozy where Dorothy Martin who is recently widowed has moved from America to England and suddenly finds a body as she leaves the church after Christmas Mass. Naturally, she immediately takes it upon herself to "help" the police by doing a little sleuthing on her own. Neither a ghostly monk nor the almost poisoning of her cat can deter her from tracking down the killer. I love reading books about older women solving crimes--or at least trying to!!
Cast, in Order of Disappearance by Simon Brett4 stars
This is the first book in the Charles Paris series by Simon Brett. I met Mr. Brett at Magna Cum Murder last fall and wanted to try some more of his books--I had read one previously. This was a quick read and it kept me interested and guessing who the killer was. Charles Paris an actor whose abilities are becoming less requested. In his down time he drinks and chases women, when given the chance. He has an ex-lover, Jacqui, who has become involved with another actor. Now, suddenly, she can' contact him and she asks Charles to help her. He agrees to help and uses disguises and accents in the process of tracking down what's happened to Jacqui's love interest. I enjoyed this enough to go on to read the next book in the series.
If On a Winter's Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino4 stars
I am really not even sure how to go about writing this review. I read this for this month's F2F Page Turners group at our local library. I know this is considered postmodern which is, by partial definition, "literature characterized by reliance on narrative techniques such as fragmentation, paradox, and the unreliable narrator". I would certainly say that this book would fit under that definition. Fragmentation seems to be the underlying theme of this book. I know I don't understand most of what I read yet, I'm hoping for more clarification during our book group and I'll have to check out a study guide. There were parts of this book that I enjoyed very much. Just about every time I started enjoying a section it was over and a new totally unrelated story began. What I got out of this book was that the author bought a book he was really wanting to read. There was a problem with the book being incomplete and he returns it to the store where he purchased it. While there he meets a young woman who is there for the same reason. These two characters weave in and out and around the rest of the book continually trying to get the book they want but always ending up with a different incomplete book. It's a relatively short book to read and checks off another 1001 book that you must read before you die, so to that end I'm glad I read it. If you give it a shot and understand it all, get back with me!! :)
She Walks These Hills by Sharon McCrumb5 stars
I read this for my Mystery Book Club discussion for this week. When I first finished it this morning, I was on my way to another book club. I rated it 4 stars and didn't have time to write this actual review. So between then and now, I've changed my mind and decided that I loved the book and had to up my stars to 5. This is the 3rd book in this series and I hate to read out of order but I didn't have time to read the first two prior to this one so I don't know if there are repeating characters and/or additional background that might have had an impact on my opinions. I just know that I truly loved the way Ms. McCrumb presented the folks in this tale, whether born and bred hillbillies or wealthy town residents. Harm Sorley is 63 year old man who has been in prison for 30 some years for killing a man with an ax. He suffers from Korsakoff's syndrome which means his memory is gone and he believes he's still a young man with a wife and a baby girl. He manages to escape from the prison and is making his way home. When the residents of his area of the mountain realize that a "killer" is on the loose, they start over-reacting while the local radio host is selling bumper stickers to fund a legal defense for Harm. Harm's ex-wife is now living in a beautiful home with her new husband who doesn't want anyone to know of her "hillbilly" origins. His daughter is now a successful geologist. While all of this is going on, a young historian has decided to retrace the trail of Katie Wyler who was kidnapped by Indians in 1779 but was able to escape and find her way home. By the end of the book half a dozen residents from the area were roaming around in the wilds of the Appalachians for one reason and another. I thought the author did a great job of creating the proper atmosphere for this story, fleshing out the characters and keeping the reader turning pages. I just thought this was a great read and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
Floating in My Mother's Palm by Ursula Hegi4 stars
Some months back I read Stones from the River by this author and enjoyed it immensely. In discussing the book with some book club members I realized that it was actually the second book in The Burgdorf Cycle so I wanted to read the other books. This is the first in the series and enjoyed this as well. Hanna Malter is a young girl growing up in Burgdorf, Germany during the 1950's. The entire book is made up of individual stories of the lives of many of the town folk. Of course, the stories are all loosely tied together because of the various relationships that are always found with a small town but I loved the way that Hanna told them from her more childlike point of view. We hear about her mother who loved to swim and lost her red bathing suit one day, a young friend of Hanna's who has to go to the Baby Mansion after her grandfather took advantage of her, more about the dwarf, Trudi Montag (who features in Stones from the River), the operator of the pay library in Burgdorf and other interesting characters within the town. For me, after reading the second book, it was almost like coming home. I felt comfortable with the town and its inhabitants, almost like they were already friends. I might almost go so far as to advise anyone interested to read Stones from the River first.
If Ever I Return, Pretty Peggy O by Sharyn McCrumb.4 stars
Another winner for Sharyn McCrumb. This is the first book in her Ballad series. Having already read the 3rd book, it was fun to see some of the same characters prior to what I'd learned about them by reading out of order. In this story, a folk singer from the 60's has moved to Hamelin, Tennessee trying to regroup and come up with some new music to possibly revive her career. Meanwhile, a few of the series regulars from this small Appalachian town are discussing the possibility of having a 20th high school reunion. All in all, there are many memories recalled and not all of them are pleasant. Sheriff Arrowood's older brother Cal died in Viet Nam and neither he nor his parents have entirely worked through their loss. Joe LeDonne, a police officer, has horrible dreams relating to his time spent in Viet Nam and his less than approachable personality is a way to protect himself from getting too close to others. As the party planning continues, bringing more aging classmates to town, the new neighbor in town. the previously mentioned folk singer, starts getting postcards with ominous warnings--all written in the lyrics of her songs and they appear to be from her previous singing partner who died in Veit Nam. I thought this was another well written mystery that did a great job of keeping me intrigued and throwing a surprise ending at me.
The Dark Child by Camara Laye5 stars
I really enjoyed this lovely quick read. Being autobiographical just made all the emotions of this young man's journey to adulthood that much more poignant. As a reader I could just feel Camara's terror as he and the other boys heard the lions roaring at them during the ceremony for the society of the uninitiated and the frenzied exhaustion of the long days of dancing prior to their entrance into manhood. I felt as if his coming of age story really occurred in two very distinct ways--both within the confines of his family and village--where so much tradition was honored--and in a much more worldly fashion as he started experiencing the world by following his dream to a higher education. One of my favorites, so far, on the 1001 list.
Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol
3 stars
I read this for my Page Turners book discussion group this month. These reads, and this book is no exception, are usually from the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die list. Although I can't say that I enjoyed reading this book, there were certainly aspects of it that at least held my attention most of the time. As the main protagonist, Chichikov, roams around the countryside attempting to purchase the souls of dead farm workers, the reader meets an assortment of quirky characters who each have a different take on what Chichikov is doing and so a different response. He is convinced that he will be able to make an easy profit off these purchases and throughout the book I just kept thinking...if he could just use his intellect for something good rather than profiting from the "easy" way. Then at some point (I wish I had bookmarked the spot and could quote it), someone in the book actually makes that same reference. I really enjoyed the sections when Gogol described the countryside, or the foods or the interiors of some of the homes that he visited. His descriptions were so wonderfully done that it was easy to picture these settings. I thought it was interesting that there were so many sections, towards the end of the book that had been lost or were illegible. The truth of the matter is that I really didn't miss those sections nor did they seem to interfere with the reading, which just emphasizes the fact that I really didn't follow the entire story line very well.
Beverly wrote: "She Walks These Hills by Sharon McCrumb5 stars
I read this for my Mystery Book Club discussion for this week. When I first finished it this morning, I was on my way to another book club. I rated ..."
Thanks for reminding me about this series, Beverly. I've read some of them and really enjoyed them. :-)
Connie wrote: "Beverly wrote: "She Walks These Hills by Sharon McCrumb5 stars
I read this for my Mystery Book Club discussion for this week. When I first finished it this morning, I was on my way to another boo..."
You are very welcome. I think that Sharyn McCrumb is an under appreciated author.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
5 stars
My Page Turners book group read and discussed this book in December but I was unable to attend and just now got around to reading it. I have seen so many movies based on this book but never actually read the book. Interestingly enough, although we all know the story along with a lot of the dialogue, I still really enjoyed hearing it exactly as written. The reader of this audio on Lit2Go was Rick Kisner and I thought his reading was exactly the way I wanted to hear it and the story of the grumpy and miserly Scrooge meeting the 3 spirits who were then able to turn his attitude around was really brought to life.
I've never read it either, Beverly. I think that'll move up on my classics list.
Connie wrote: "I've never read it either, Beverly. I think that'll move up on my classics list."It's a quick read and if you listen to it on the computer through Lit2Go, you can multitask with other mindless jobs like doing dishes or knitting (straight garter stitch)!!
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
3 stars
I think that my optimism for this book was way too high. I have wanted to read this book forever and now that I finally have, I have to say I was disappointed. It was OK but I was not "wowed" by it. I listened to the audio which was read by the author and in the introduction she said that many people thought the book was beyond the comprehension of children. Ms. L'Engle said that children could understand it easily and it was adults that would have trouble with it and she must be right. I really enjoyed the first few chapters of this as they talked about the children meeting Mrs. Whatsit who had been blown off course during the storm. I liked the idea of the children wanting to find their father who had disappeared while participating in a top secret mission. But once they actually experienced a tesseract, the wrinkle in time, that allowed them to move through time, the story just lost it's appeal. One of the problems may have been the audio...whenever Mrs. Which (or Witch--I was never sure which it was) talked, her voice boomed out with a lot of reverberation which I found very annoying. So this may be one of those books that I would have enjoyed more if I had read it instead. I also liked very much the relationship between siblings Meg and Charles Wallace. They loved one another and there was no doubt about their closeness and loyalty to one another and their family. I did not like the children's father. Once they found him, I didn't think he behaved in a very fatherly way--he was just wimpy, in my opinion. The back of my audio says that 5 and up is the recommended audience, I can't imagine any 5 year old I've ever known being the least bit able to sit and listen to this production without being scared and/or bored. Maybe reading out loud in small amounts where they could be interactive and easily ask questions but even that, to me, is a stretch. Overall, I was unimpressed but glad that I finally read it.
O Pioneers! by Willa Cather (1913)
4 stars
A lovely, straightforward little book which describes one family and their community during a time when pioneering types from many countries are attempting to make their mark on American soil. Alexandra Bergson is the only daughter and the most level headed of her siblings--all boys. Her father leaves the farm and it's handling to her and over the years, with careful management and continual expansion, the family is doing extremely well. Now, after all these years, Alexandra may finally have found someone to share her life with and her brothers are not exactly happy about the situation. Just a wonderful snapshot of the hard life in a less than perfect environment as these dedicated farmers try to make their way towards sustaining their families and helping their neighbors. This audio was read by Barbara McCulloh who had, in my opinion, the perfect voice for this story.
A Highland Christmas by M. C. Beaton
3 stars
I've been wanting to give this series a try for awhile and I'm glad that the first book was just short and sweet--a nice taste of what, I hope, is to come in the following volumes. My library actually lists this as the first in the series but Goodreads says it is 15.5. I don't know, but I think it was a good book to start with, it gave me a good indication of what the lead character, Hamish MacBeth, will be and I really liked what I saw. It's Christmas time in the highlands but it doesn't appear as if anyone is really celebrating--no decorations, no caroling, no festive foods. Constable MacBeth goes on about his daily activities. A elderly lady's cat has gone missing, Christmas lights and a massive Christmas tree are stolen from a nearby town, the local nursing home needs some entertainment for the holidays and a young student at the local school has few social contacts and her "older" parents just take it for granted that she acts like a small adult and is happy about it. How do all these things combine to make for a feel good holiday read? You'll just have to read it to find out. Just a cute, quick read.
Richard III by William Shakespeare
3 stars
I read this play for my Page Turners book discussion group this month. I can't say that I'm wild about Shakespeare but after reading the play, reading the analysis of the various parts and now listening to a full cast audio, I at least feel ready for the book discussion next week and seeing the play next month. Since I'm not into politics (court or otherwise), manipulative people and/or bullies, this is just not my cup of tea but the historical significance made it worth my time to become familiar with it. I also understand that in May we are going to be reading Josephine Tey's "Daughter of Time" which has some basis in this play. These folks at the library are really trying to make this "old" person think!!!
The Radetzky March by Joseph Roth
3 stars
This was much more interesting than I thought it would be. The book, which is a family saga, brings the lives of the von Trotta family to life during the time frame just before World War I. The 3 generations covered start out with Lieutenant Trotta, who during the Battle of Solferino actually knocks Emperor Franz Joseph I off his horse to keep him from being shot by snipers. The Emperor rewards Trotta by making him a Baron. Although he doesn't take himself too seriously, those around him now consider him a nobleman. Baron Trotta proceeds to encourage his own son to get involved in government rather than having a military career and so the second Baron Trotta becomes a district commissioner. When the third Baron Trotta reaches the age of majority, his father wants him to become a cavalry officer. His military career kind of devolves into wine, women and gambling, almost to the point of ruining his life but he is then financially bailed out by none other than Emperor Franz Joseph I, who his grandfather had saved. It was interesting to me how many times, the Radetzky March was actually mentioned in the book. Composed by Johann Strauss, it was an extremely popular piece of music at the time.
The Woman in White by Wilke Collins
4 stars
Considered to be one of the first mystery novels and I thoroughly enjoyed this. The first line of the book absolutely sums up the story--This is the story of what a woman's patience can endure and what a man's resolution can achieve. Walter Hartright briefly meets a mysterious woman in white under strange circumstances. When he then becomes the art instructor for Laura Fairlie, he is shocked to see such a strange resemblance to his "woman in white". They fall in love but she has been promised by her uncle to Sir Percival Glyde, who seems to be an attentive and charming gentleman--older than Laura. Through various observations by different characters in the book, it comes to light that Sir Glyde may be more interested in Ms. Fairlie's money than he is in her. I'm not comfortable trying to summarize any more of the book for fear of spoiling the story line but it's a great story!! I listened to this and it was read by Josephine Bailey and Simon Pebble. I thought that both of the readers did a wonderful job.
The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
4 stars
We read this for my Page Turners book group this month. I had only read Kindred by Octavia Butler previously and really enjoyed that book but had not sought out others, so I'm glad that this was our assignment. I really enjoyed this book as well. It actually put me in the mind of The Road by Cormac McCarthy only with more people. Lauren Olamina lives inside the walls of her small community. The walls are there to keep everyone else out, the poor who have nothing and will do anything to get what they need. So, as the need outside the walls becomes greater, there are more and more breaches to their protecting fences. Finally, on one terror filled night, Lauren realizes that she must travel and attempt to find someplace safer. As her journey progresses, she sees the possibility of a new religion for humanity to adapt to. Something that may finally offer hope in a hopeless world.
Broken April by Ismail Kadare
3 stars
This was certainly a more interesting read than I would ever have expected. The entire story revolves around the ancient tradition of the blood feud. The reader first meets Gjorg, a young man who is set on avenging his older brother's death. When this is accomplished, he is granted a 30 day truce and then expects to be killed himself. The story line then introduces a newly married couple on their honeymoon who have come to the high plateaus of Albania to study the customs of the area, including the blood feud. The young woman is horrified at the unending string of "revenge" killings and it seems to change her entire outlook on her own life. It was fascinating to me to read about all the "rules" that governed, what I considered, continuing senseless killings. Overall, a quick and easy read with an extremely captivating subject.
The Bunnicula Collection: Bunnicula, Howliday Inn and The Celery Stalks at Midnight by James Howe
3 stars
All I can say is cute, cute, cute. I'll certainly have to remember these when my grandsons get older!! I listened to the audio collection of the first 3 in the series: Bunnicula, Howliday Inn and The Celery Stalks at Midnight. This was read by Victor Garber, who I have always liked as an actor and he did a great job as a reader as well. The stories are accounts, provided by the family dog. Bunnicula is a baby bunny that the Monroe's found while they were at a Dracula movie. They brought him home and introduced him to the other furry members of the household--Harold the dog and Chester the cat. When strange white vegetables start showing up every morning, Harold and Chester have to figure out what's going on, whether Bunnicula is a vampire or not! The other two tales just carry on with this animal attitude of paranormal events occurring and their investigations of the events. Just a lot of fun. Children must love these.
During the Reign of the Queen of Persia by Joan Chase
3 stars
Not at all what I thought I was going to read when this book was announced at my book club. This is a story about the women of a family told by the 4 young cousins who spend their summers with their grandmother, mothers and aunts on a farm in Ohio. Life has its ups and downs and the girls coast along with them; gossiping, playing, dreaming and watching their elders and observing how their role models handle things. This is not a page turner full of adventure but it is certainly a study of a close family of women, who are sometimes at odds with each other but always there for support, love and encouragement through thick and thin.
The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
4 stars
(Original review--really short and then my update):
I really enjoyed this short story although once I started reading it, I'm sure that I've read it before. But rereading has refreshed my memory and I'm glad that I did.
ADDENDUM:
This short read was selected for our Random Selection book read this month in 1001. It's such a short story but so complex that I decided to read it once again. It's amazing to me how little I remember of this horrifying tale of a woman who is slowly losing her grip on reality during a 3 week vacation. I really should try something else by this author.
Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey
4 stars
I have had this book on my TBR list forever, but I am really glad that I waited till now to read it. Last month I read Richard III. Then I listened to the full cast audio and then went to see the production at one of our local collages. If all of that hadn't happened last month, I don't think I would have enjoyed this book nearly as much. The only problem is now I'm not sure that I think he was quite the monster that I was sure he was last month! I can't say that I fully understood all of the ins and outs of this particular historical time frame. With all the court intrigue, interrelated blood lines and what Alan Grant (who is a Scotland Yard investigator and the books protagonist) calls "Tonypandy" (which describes widely-believed historical myths), it is really difficult to keep everyone and every occasion straight--but I have to admit that I enjoyed the ride. The whole story begins when Grant is hospitalized with a broken leg. General boredom causes him to start thinking about Richard III's historical significance after a friend brings him a number of photos of people's faces and Richard's is among them. He enlists the help of a young research assistant to try and find out whether or Richard III was the horrible monster that history has made him out to be. A very enjoyable read.
Midaq Alley by Naguib Mahfouz
4 stars
I had a bit of trouble at the beginning of this book but soon starting being able to sort the characters out and understand some of their daily life. Once that happened, I flew through the rest of the book. It was interesting to me to hear about some of the beliefs and rituals of this small community who lived in one small alley in Cairo. From the man who helped other men become beggars to the beautiful young woman who is seduced with jewels and lavish clothing away from her fiancee. Each of these characters seemed so real to me and the writing certainly conveyed the hustle and bustle of their daily lives. I wanted to know what would happen to them all.
Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
3 stars
Once again, as seems to happen frequently with the 1001 list, I'm glad I read this book but am sure I didn't appreciate it or understand it as thoroughly as I should. The story's narrator, Jonah (or John, as his parent's called him) tells the story of the Hoenikker family and what the 3 grown Hoenikker children remember from the day the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, the development of ice-nine and the religion of Bokonon . The book starts when Jonah attempts to contact Newt, a midget and the youngest of the Hoenikker children, to ask him about his memories of the day Hiroshima was attacked, with the intention of writing a book about the event more from the human side of the experience. Eventually Jonah ends up on an island with the 3 and learns about the island's covert religion and the invention of a weapon that can instantaneously freeze liquids, effectively bringing about the end of the world. I need to read something else by Mr. Vonnegut and hope that I enjoy it more.
B is for Burglar by Sue Grafton
3 stars
Took me awhile to get around to this second book in the series. I liked this offering better than the first one and will move on to the third book. I'm hoping these get even better, it seems like others really like them. Again I listened to the audio read by Mary Peiffer and again I thought she did a fine job. In this second book, Beverly Danziger is looking for her sister, Elaine, and can't seem to locate her. She needs her signature on some legal documents before a will can be settled, so she hires Kinsey Millhone to find her. Turns out, Elaine had been headed to Boca Raton with her cat Mingus and her lynx coat. None of them ever arrived but someone else is staying in her apartment. When Kinsey raises the issue of something sinister happening to Beverly's sister, Beverly fires her. This was suspicious enough but then Aubrey, Beverly's husband, shows up spouting some wild accusations regarding his wife and Kinsey discovers that Elaine's next door neighbor was murdered just a few days before Elaine disappeared. She really just can't, in good conscience, stop the investigation. Again, the ending surprised me. I really have to start realizing that things are not always what they seem!
The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
3 stars
This story begins with the description of a happy, carefree wedding party. The joy of this occasion contrasts sharply with the rest of the book as it follows an immigrant family of Lithuanians as they settle in Chicago and begin working in the slaughterhouses there. The horrors of the slaughtering process and the working conditions are presented in harsh detail, so easily upset readers be warned. Every time I thought that the family was finally getting ahead, another crisis would arise. It was almost unbelievable to me that these and many other naive people from many other countries were treated so poorly, constantly being taken advantage of with little hope of becoming self-sustaining. At some point toward the end of the book, the story itself seems to come to an abrupt stop and the rest of the book becomes a rallying cry for socialism. Although I'm glad that I read this book and I look forward to our book discussion regarding it, learning about the atrocities that took place in both the industry and the private lives of the workers was difficult and apt to stay with me for a long time.
ADDENDUM: And yet it didn't...stay with me for a long time that is. I did remember that the working conditions were horrific and that the families struggled constantly to make ends meet but I had certainly forgotten the particulars and so was horrified all over again. Other than that comment, I stand by my original review.
Death in Venice by Thomas Mann
3 stars
This was an amazingly quick read. I thought the writing was very descriptive but I had a difficult time feeling anything for the protagonist. I really enjoyed the introduction written by Michael Cunningham and feel glad that I read this particular translation by Michael Henry Heim. Cunningham seems to think that this is better book because of this translation which makes Aschenbach much more "human" and subject to human foibles. Basically, Aschenbach travels alone to Venice for vacation. During his travels, his attention is caught by a Polish family consisting of 4 daughters and a son, who, to Aschenbach, is exquisitely beautiful and he becomes obsessed with the boy, Tadzio. Soon, without actually making any acquaintance with the boy, Aschenbach realizes that he is in love with him.
Mrs. Ike by Susan Eisenhower
3 stars
I was not excited about reading this book and the read was not exciting. But, I found myself getting through it rather quickly and it was interesting. Eisenhower is the first president that I remember and I certainly remember his wife as well--especially her bangs and her hats. But I knew very little else about them. This book is full of personal correspondence between the 2 of them, as well as revealing their lives and lifestyles. It turns out that Ike was quite the romantic and Mamie was extremely loyal and supportive of him. There are pages of photos from different stages of their lives which were fascinating to me. I came away from this book with the feeling that our country has fallen a long way from the moral, hard working, family loving ways of the Eisenhowers.
Follow the River by James Alexander Thom
5 stars
I have wanted to read this book for so long and am so glad that I finally had to read it for a book group! I really like books about the settling of America and those that are based on true stories so this was right up my alley! A young, very pregnant mother, Mary Ingles, and her 2 little boys are stolen by the Shawnee from their small settlement. Many of their neighbors were killed during the raid. Mary and her boys endure the hardships of the trail. She earns some admiration from her captors along the way because of her strength and bearing. Throughout her trip she makes every effort to memorize her surroundings and the trail. She actually has her baby before they reach the Indian encampment. Mary does her best to fit in, gaining as much information as she possibly can until she is able to make a plan to escape. Along with an older German woman, Mary makes her getaway. Over the following months, in spite of scarce food, few supplies and challenging weather, she is able to make her way back to her home. This is an amazing story of endurance, perseverance and love.
You're doing a great job of reading these serious books, Bev. This last one sounds really interesting to me too.
Connie wrote: "You're doing a great job of reading these serious books, Bev. This last one sounds really interesting to me too."Thanks Connie--most of these are either for book club reads (I belong to 6 through my library) or books I'm reading to get through the 1001 books you should read before you die. I have a long way to go!! But Follow the River was really good and I like the fact that the author is from Indiana, like me!! :)
Towards Zero by Agatha Christie
4 stars
I think I've enjoyed every Agatha Christie I've ever read but this just might be my favorite so far, just because I loved the idea of it. The premise is that to understand any outcome, you have to appreciate all the different choices that were made leading up to that outcome...all decisions ultimately leading "towards zero" which is the occurrence itself. Sometimes those choices may occur over days, weeks or months before zero hour finally all comes together. The murder is a given but who did it and why???? Come to the gathering at Gull's Point and find out. It won't be who you think!!!
C is for Corpse by Sue Grafton
3 stars
This is my 3rd book by Sue Grafton and I'm still liking them enough to continue the series. I liked the roll out of this story. One day at the gym, Kinsey is approached by a young man, Bobby Callahan, that she's noticed for awhile. He has obviously been through a traumatic situation as he is covered with scars but he's aggressively attempting to rehabilitate his body by exercising continuously. His story is shocking. He's certain that someone attempted to kill him when they tailgated his car and then ran into him. His passenger, himself and the car went over the embankment and his friend died. Unfortunately, his friend died and Bobby was not only badly injured but suffered some major memory problems to boot. He can't quite remember everything yet but feels like he may be regaining some of his memories and is afraid that whoever tried once may try again. He wants Kinsey to find out who's after him. Three days later, Bobby is dead but true to her word, Kinsey will not rest until the killer is found. This audio is read by Mary Peiffer, as were the first 2, and I'm liking her voice more since I now associate it with this series.
July's People by Nadine Gordimer
4 stars
This is the story of the dissension in South Africa. Now that the situation has finally come to a head, it is no longer safe to be white in the city. July, who works for the Smales family, has helped them to leave the trouble behind--at least temporarily. July drives Mr. and Mrs. Smales and their 3 children to his own small village. They hide the car in the bush and began living their lives as well as they can under such challenging conditions. I found this to be an interesting character study. It was fascinating to see how the relationship between July and the Smales changed and how the Smales family adapted to the huge differences in their living conditions.
August is a Wicked Month by Edna O'Brien
1 star
August is a Wicked Month just made my August reading it depressing. This book just had no redeeming qualities, in my opinion. I didn't like Ellen and thought she was extremely selfish. She decides to go away for a vacation by herself while her husband and son go for a fishing trip. She also decides that she is open to any sexual encounters that may arise. Then, when she's on her own and having various dalliances, she's not really happy about it. I just felt like this was a self-absorbed woman who didn't know what she wanted and then the entire book ends on a disastrous note. I wasn't even convinced that her response to the tragedy was appropriate. I'm glad I read it to tick it off my list but the only thing I really appreciated was that karma bit her in the ass.
All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
4 stars
I have surprised myself 3 or 4 times this year by grudgingly reading a "war" novel and then finding that I really liked it. All Quiet on the Western Front is definitely one of these. The book tells the story of a group of young German men who were all classmates and joined, with naive enthusiasm, the German Army during World War I. The viewpoint is all from one of these young men, Paul Baumer. Although, like any war, the book is overwhelmingly sad and horrifying, there is still a constant vivid ribbon of dedication and brotherhood among these boys that makes you feel like you know them and that affects the reader deeply. A quick read with a powerful message because the nationality of the combatants and the time frame of the battle can be forgotten...these young men who fight for us and each other could be anyone's son, father or husband.
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
3 stars
I have wanted to read this for so long and now I wonder why. It's not that I didn't like it at all, it just wasn't what I thought it was going to be and struggling with all those Russian names just wore me out. There were bits and pieces that I really enjoyed and then I'd get bogged down in other parts. Overall, I found it interesting to get glimpses into the lives of these characters, even though some--especially Anna--seemed tormented by issues that I had a difficult time understanding. I'm glad to have this huge book out of the way and ready to start on my next quarterly read.
I suspect I would have a similar reaction. I decided to cheat and watch the movie, and I didn't connect to any of the characters. I could not understand Anna and I suspect there are 100s of pages about her isssues.
Connie wrote: "I suspect I would have a similar reaction. I decided to cheat and watch the movie, and I didn't connect to any of the characters. I could not understand Anna and I suspect there are 100s of pages a..."I saw the movie as well and the book didn't hardly even bring it to mind! :(
Enduring Love by Ian McEwan
4 stars
This was a very interesting book. It started out so unexpectedly, with a balloon accident during which a man dies. This horrific accident impacts so many lives in such unexpected ways. Joe and his wife are soon caught up in an unexpected "stalker " situation that each looks at differently and so start growing apart from one another. Joe continues to do the right thing (i.e. try to get the police involved) until a startling confrontation pushes him past his limits. This was very different from Atonement but it certainly held my attention.
The Last September by Elizabeth Bowen
3 stars
I had a difficult time getting through this book. It was just so sad. It's 1920 and Richard Naylor, his wife and family are at their country home in County Cork, Ireland. They are attempting to live a normal life full of socialization mostly by totally ignoring and/or disbelieving what is going on around them. There are tennis parties and visiting with friends and family but all along, Britain's rule in southern Ireland is coming to an end and there are troops marching through the area and homes are occasionally invaded. The young people are still falling in love, worrying about fashion and trying to stretch their wings in the midst of all the political upheaval and impending change of life. Overall, the story was just upsetting to me because I really felt like there was never a satisfactory outcome. None of the characters ever seemed to come to a final realization that what was coming was inevitable.
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
3 stars
Beautifully written but hauntingly sad. A young black girl whose belief is that if she just had blue eyes she would be beautiful and happy! Unfortunately, she is from a low income family and her life has been an uphill climb from the beginning. Ultimately, she is deceived by one of the very people that should always protect her. Heartbreaking.
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
3 stars
So, even though I've known the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde for years and years, the book was still a surprise to me. I think that part of this was due to having seen the stage play twice and I thought there was actually a "love" element to the book, which would have made the overall impact even more tragic. Overall the basic story was much the way I thought it went but since it's such a short book the impact was stronger than I expected. It really came down to the fact that this poor man just came to a point where he had no choice in which personality took control of his life. I enjoyed the read.
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
5 stars
This was a reread for me but I was thrilled to be reading it again--it was almost like reading it for the first time. Such a Gothic romance but such a satisfying tale. A young girl is "learning" to be a companion for a wealthy, older woman and in the process meets a wealthy widower who finds her charming. They fall in love, marry and return to his home at Manderley where she is immediately intimidated by the memory of Max's first wife, Rebecca who was beautiful, in charge and loved by seemingly everyone. All is not as it seems though and as the mystery surrounding Rebecca's drowning unfolds, secrets are revealed that will surprise everyone.
Beverly wrote: "RebeccaRebecca by Daphne du Maurier
5 stars
This was a reread for me but I was thrilled to be reading it again--it was almost like reading it for the first time. Such a Gothic roman..."
I love this book!
Lifetime Classics Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Parable of the Talents (other topics)Decline and Fall (other topics)
Seabiscuit: An American Legend (other topics)
Silas Marner (other topics)
Envy (other topics)
More...
JANUARY
1. The Body in the Transept Jeanne M. Dams (1995)
2. Cast In Order of Disappearance Simon Brett (1975)
3. If On a Winter's Night a Traveler Italo Calvino (1979)
4. She Walks These Hills by Sharon McCrumb (1994)
5. Floating in my Mother's Palm Ursula Hegi (1990)
FEBRUARY
6. If Ever I Return, Pretty Peggy-O Sharyn McCrumb (1990)
7. The Dark Child Camara Laye (1953)
8. Dead Souls Nikolai Gogol (1842)
9. A Christmas Carol Charles Dickens (1843)
MARCH
10. A Wrinkle in Time Madeleine L'Engle (1962)
11. O Pioneers! Willa Cather (1913)
12. A Highland Christmas M. C. Beaton (1999)
13. Richard III William Shakespeare (1591)
14. The Radetzky March Joseph Roth (1932)
15. The Woman in White Wilke Collins (1859)
APRIL
16. The Parable of the Sower Octavia Butler (1993)
17. Broken April Ismail Kadare (1978)
18. The Bunnicula Collection (first 3 in series) James Howe (1979 to 1983)
MAY
19. During the Reign of the Queen of Persia Joan Chase (1983)
20. The Yellow Wallpaper Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1892)
21. The Daughter of Time Josephine Tey (1951)
JUNE
22. Midaq Alley Naguib Mahfouz (1947)
23. Cat's Cradle Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. (1963)
24. B is for Burglar Sue Grafton (1985)
25. The Jungle Upton Sinclair (1905)
26. Death in Venice Thomas Mann (1912)
JULY
27. Mrs. Ike: Memories and Reflections on the Life of Mamie Eisenhower Susan Eisenhower (1996)
28. Follow the River James Alexander Thom (1981)
29. Towards Zero Agatha Christie (1944)
30. C is for Corpse Sue Grafton (1986)
31. July's People Nadine Gordimer (1981)
AUGUST
32. The Reader Bernhard Schlink (1995)
33. August is a Wicked Month Edna O'Brien (1965)
SEPTEMBER
34. All Quiet on the Western Front Erich Maria Remarque (1928)
35. Anna Karenina Leo Tolstoy (1877)
36. Enduring Love Ian McEwan (1997)
37. The Last September Elizabeth Bowen (1929)
OCTOBER
38. The Bluest Eye Toni Morrison (1970)
39. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Robert Lewis Stevenson (1886)
40. Rebecca Daphne du Maurier (1938)
41. The Island of Doctor Moreau H. G. Wells (1896)
NOVEMBER
42. The Amazing Mrs. Pollifax Dorothy Gilman (1970)
43. At Wit's End Erma Bombeck (1965)
44. The God of Small Things Arundhati Roy (1997)
45. Embers Sandor Marai (1942)
46. Envy Sandra Brown (1999)
DECEMBER
47. Silas Marner George Eliot (1861)
48. Seabiscuit: An American Legend Laura Hillenbrand (1999)
49. Decline and Fall Evelyn Waugh (1928)
50. Parable of the Talents (1998)