Book Nook Cafe discussion

Please share with us what you read February 2019 !

Please provide:

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

This is my first month of retirement with no commute and, therefore, no audio books except those on my jogs.

Too Young to Escape - 3-star; a look back at a young girl's experience when her family flees Vietnam to Canada and has to leave her & her grandmother behind temporarily (years).
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay - 4-star; a terrific continuation of the Neopalitan series. I'm looking forward to the fourth and final book of this series.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Tulipomania: The Story of the World's Most Coveted Flower & the Extraordinary Passions It Aroused - 4-star; an interesting & in depth look at tulips: their history, their migration into Europe, the mania of bulb selling, some after effects. Well told and researched.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Pilfered Promises - 4-star; the fifth book in the Victorian San Francisco mystery series. This is a fun, cozy series. It's more character driven than mystery driven.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Nobody's Fool - 3-star; a warm and interesting story of a small town and particularly one of it's residents. I enjoyed the book but the ending left me unsatisfied. I will, though, read the second book to find out what happens with Sully.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

river woman - 5-star; a beautiful collection of poems. Katherena Vermette manages to convey hope and hurt in these poems of her people's history, loss of language, strength and human love.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Grapes of Wrath - 5-star, audio; a terrific story of dignity, compassion and humanity.
I listened to this on my walks & jogs.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I've been in a whopping reading slump for a while, but here are a couple that I did finish in February of that I would recommend to others:

Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead - not for everyone, and I admit that much of the attraction had to do with the audio narration. However, I will say it gives a very strong sense of place to New Orleans. On the one hand it's a bit Grim, but on the other it has what I guess I would call a magical realism element to it. Looking forward to reading the sequel, though probably not right away.

The Zig Zag Girl - set in post-war Brighton, a homicide cop determines that he needs the help of a war time magician buddy because of the connection to magic. The two complement each other well, as the cop is, shall we say, rather earnest magician is a bit of a jaded curmudgeon.

Petra wrote: "Nobody's Fool - 3-star; a warm and interesting story of a small town and particularly one of it's residents. I enjoyed the book but the ending left me unsatisfied. I will, though, read the second book to find out what happens with Sully. "

I liked the movie. It starred Paul Newman.

My February Reads were:

Heart: A History~~Sandeep Jauhar
Non Fiction
Rate 5/5
This book was a selection for the NY Times PBS book club that I follow. I thought this book was really informative and well done.
The author is a cardiologist. It's the story of the major cardio advances and the doctors who led the way. He weaves in to this history his own family's history. It's quite touching and at times had me holding my breath and even bringing tears to my eyes. Well done !

The Spartan Way: Eat Better. Train Better. Think Better. Be Better.~~Joe De Sena
Non Fiction
Rate 4/5
This was my follow up read to last months .
The book, as the title says is how to : Eat Better. Train Better. Think Better. Be Better. The author is the creator of the extreme endurance Spartan races. While I have zero intention at this point in my life of ever doing a Spartan race, I did find the book and most of the author's advice very motivational for my own basic exercise/diet program. My next read by the author is . I am sure it will be the same message and info. I find reading books, listening to podcasts, YouTube etc on diet, exercise and health very inspiring and motivational and reinforces the attitude, discipline and grit one needs to bring their exercise program and life in general to the next level. I also follow the author on Facebook. He posts short motivational messages most days. It also fits in well with my current read Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones and my New Years resolutions.

Better than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives---Gretchen Rubin
Non Fiction
Rate 3/5
Audio Book- Read by the author.
I read this book based on the recommendation of a fellow gym goer that is also doing Habit Tracking & https://bulletjournal.com/ with me. We go out for coffee after the gym every few weeks and share our progress and how we might do better. It's helpful to have an accountability partner. The author also has a podcast that she does with her sister. I enjoyed the book and her podcasts.
https://gretchenrubin.com/podcasts/

John wrote: "I've been in a whopping reading slump for a while, but here are a couple that I did finish in February of that I would recommend to others:."

Sometimes I finding taking a break and just reading magazines or easy brain candy books for a few weeks helps to get me back on track.

Petra, what a nice welcome to retirement--Good reading all month! Grapes of Wrath is one of my favorite US novels. The beginning is almost poetry, which i didn't expect.

John, you are fortunate that even in your slump you've found a couple of winners. I hope reading improves this month.

Alias, what a neat idea from Jauhar to write about the heart with moving stories. It's also terrific that you have an accountability partner as you seek to find healthy habits.

As usual when on the road, my posting (& editing) ability is limited, as the link maker (?) on the app is tough to find/figure. Also typing is tedious. But i want to share, lest i forget when we return. Sorry to be vague on details but those are stored on my husband's computer.

Hana's Suitcase by Karen Levine was related in alternating chapters, one from a teacher living in Japan today, the other about Hana who lived during WWII. Hana's life ended in a concentration camp but in many ways her story is the teacher she hoped to be. I was extremely touched by the story about theJapanese woman and her diligence in learning as much about Hana as possible.

I finally completed two books i've been reading all year--American Ulysses by Ronald C. White and American Canopy by Eric Rutkow.I can recommend both, despite their length. Canopy is about the fact trees have been the lifeline in the development of the United States, starting with our virgin woods and "Liberty Tree".

Alias posted a list which included an interesting-sounding mystery set in Maine. Dead Cat Bounce by Sarah Graves . One of the appeals was that the main character is refinishing an old home. However, by the end i was less pleased and, worse, had the sense a ghost was going to be featured in sequels, so am passing. I liked the Maine parts very much, i hasten to add.

White Chrysanthemum by Mary Lynn Bracht was a Book Buddy read on our site. In alternating chapters we learn of two Korean sisters, separated when one was taken as a "comfort woman" during WWII by a Japanese solder. One story is in 1943, while her sister's story is set in this century. I have mixed feelings about this one, feeling the story of the kidnapped girl was too much like a fantasy in parts. Perhaps i missed something.

The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker is a YA scifi novel. The premise is that a sleeping plague sweeps a small California college town. The writing was fine but i felt it was rather unresolved and ended up feeling disappointed.

Madrano wrote: Hana's Suitcase by Karen Levine was related in alternating chapters, one from a teacher living in Japan today, the other about Hana who lived during WWII. Hana's life ended in a concentration camp but in many ways her story is the teacher she hoped to be. I was extremely touched by the story about theJapanese woman and her diligence in learning as much about Hana as possible...."

Thanks for taking the time and effort to share, deb. I know it's a pain when you are on the road.

I am putting Hana's Suitcase in my TBR notebook.

Deb, I enjoyed Hana's Suitcase, too.
Alias, I think you'll like it.

Deb, I thoroughly enjoyed Grapes of Wrath. It's so beautifully told and the descriptions are lyrical....as you say, they are poetry. This story doesn't age.

Thanks for taking the time to post your books, Deb. I love seeing these lists and yours would be missed.
Keep travelling and enjoying yourself.

Alias, Heart: A History sounds very interesting. I'm going to look out for this one. Thanks!

It's great that you have an accountability partner for the gym. That's a powerful motivator.

Thank you for the comments. It's such a thrill to be updated on what others here are reading each month. Of course it adds to my l-o-n-g list of books i'd like to read but who's counting?

Petra wrote: "Deb, I thoroughly enjoyed Grapes of Wrath. It's so beautifully told and the descriptions are lyrical....as you say, they are poetry. This story doesn't age.
"

I am not a big re-reader. However, I have read Grapes twice and thought is was amazing.

I read the Norton Critical edition which also added to my understanding and enjoyment. This edition even had various reviews the book received at the time of publication. Some as I recall not so positive and told of another side of the story.

For classics, I always try to read a Norton Critical edition.

Finally finished A Man Called Ove. What a beautiful story of a man and the friends he never knew he needed :) I absolutely loved this book! It took me forever to read though because I started school and haven’t had a lot of free time to read! Hoping to read more during break :)

Alias, the Norton Critical editions sound interesting. I haven't noticed them before and will look for them.

Stephanie, I also really enjoyed A Man Called Ove. It's such a beautiful story.

Stephanie, i hope this is a successful semester for you!

Petra, i don't always read Norton editions of classics but when i do, my understanding and appreciation is enhanced. There are times i feel I need the info and other times it feels almost too much. Still, i'm always glad to know that access is available to me, particularly if the writing just isn't getting through to me.

Stephanie wrote: "Finally finished A Man Called Ove. What a beautiful story of a man and the friends he never knew he needed :) I absolutely loved this book! It took me forever to read though because..."

I'm glad you were able to fit it in to your schedule, Stephanie. It was a book I really enjoyed.

Petra wrote: "Alias, the Norton Critical editions sound interesting. I haven't noticed them before and will look for them.

https://books.wwnorton.com/books/alls...

They are a tad more expensive, but for classics I think they are worth it.

Thank you, Deb ❤️
Alias and Petra, I’m so glad I got to read it! A part of me is sad the story is over. It’s one of those books that really gets a person right in the feels ❤️

My February Reads

To Die but Once by Jacqueline Winspear
Rating 4/5
Relative Malice by Marla Madison
Rating 3/5
The Destiny Thief: Essays on Writing, Writers and Life by Richard Russo
Rating 4/5

Good title for the Russo book. Meredith, did he give tips about writing or was it more about his own experiences as an author?

Stephanie wrote: "Thank you, Deb ❤️
Alias and Petra, I’m so glad I got to read it! A part of me is sad the story is over. It’s one of those books that really gets a person right in the feels ❤️"

You might want to try
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand----Helen Simonson

Yes. Major P is a good one along a similar vein. Good one, Alias.

Added to my TBR! Thank you, Alias!

You're welcome !

My February Reads:

1. The Vampire Book: The Encyclopedia of the Undead by J. Gordon Melton
A thoroughly researched encyclopedia of the Undead featuring, books, plays, movies, history, folklore about vampires and werewolfs. I especially liked reading about vampire folklore in different parts of the world and vampire fiction. The books is, at times, a bit repetitive so I read the same thing many times under different entries, which made it a bit boring. All the same, it was very informative, although already outdated, given that it was published in 1998 and covers the topic up to that time.

2. Crime Novels: American Noir of the 1930s and 40s by Robert Polito
My favorite of the stories was The Big Clock and independently I would give it a solid 4.5 stars. Next comes The Postman Always Rings Twice with solid 4 stars. The rest just didn't grab me and made me drag with the book. In conclusion, Crime Noir is just not my cup of tea and is definitely too much in a collection, maybe if I had read them separately with breaks, I might had been able to go through all of them.

3. No oyes ladrar los perros by Juan Rulfo
In short, the story, written in 3.5 pages, tells the story about an aging father carrying a wounded adult son on his shoulder, trying to get him to the doctor. It's dark and the village with the doctor is nowhere in sight. During this voyage, the father tries to keep his son awake by speaking to him, but at the same time he reproaches him the bad life he led.

4. The Bones of Louella Brown in Miss Muriel and Other Stories by Ann Petry
The Bones of Louella Brown is a story of deeply rooted racism and the idea of white supremacy in the 1947 American society. Highly entertaining and at the same time, sad story. Recommended!

5. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
I absolutely adored the prose. It just flowed naturally and the pages just escaped from me. So, for the writing style, the setting, the atmosphere of horror, this book deserves a pure A. The "minus" part: the relationship between the protagonists. It just didn't feel right to me.

6. Un día de estos by Gabriel García Márquez
A very short short story about a normal day in the life of a small-town dentist that turns out a bit risky when the mayor he detests requests an appointment.

7. Un señor muy viejo con unas alas enormes by Gabriel García Márquez
So, one day, during a storm, the people of an unnamed village/town, two citizens find an old man with wings lying in the yard. The local wise-woman proclaims that the old man is an angel. The news quickly spreads all over South America and a massive pilgrimage to see the "angel" starts.

Samanta wrote: "My February Reads:

5. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
I absolutely adored the prose. It just flowed naturally and the pages just escaped from me. So, for the writing style, the setting, the atmosphere of horror, this book deserves a pure A. The "minus" part: the relationship between the protagonists. It just didn't feel right to me."

I've read the book and seen the movie numerous times. If you can get a copy of the DVD from the library, I recommend it.

The movie is from 1940.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032976/...

Stars: Laurence Olivier, Joan Fontaine, George Sanders

Alias, I've watched the movie as part of my Oscar Best Picture Marathon and loved it. Because of that, when I read the book, I already knew the outline of the story, but from it got a deeper meaning to everything.

Petra wrote: "This is my first month of retirement with no commute and, therefore, no audio books except those on my jogs...."

Happy retirement Petra! You may have less audio time now, but you hopefully have more time in general for reading.
I haven't even listened to any audiobooks on my commute in awhile. My brain has been so tired from working hard that I can only handle music when driving home (and in the morning I listen to a local talk show).

Alias Reader wrote: "I am putting Hana's Suitcase in my TBR notebook..."

I added it to my list too.

Have tissues handy when reading Hana's Suitcase. The discoveries about her were touching but, as noted above, it was the dedication of the Japanese teacher which moved me. (view spoiler)[The finding of Hana's brother and his story were moving. As is happened, the week before i finished the book he died, so i sought out his obituary as well. Awful years in camps but the rest of his life was ordinary and remarkable. (hide spoiler)].

Oops. I forgot to finish my post--this bit for Samanta. James Cain wrote several great stories. My favorite is his Double Indemnity , which was a sharp film starring Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwick.

Samanta wrote: "Alias, I've watched the movie as part of my Oscar Best Picture Marathon and loved it. Because of that, when I read the book, I already knew the outline of the story, but from it got a deeper meanin..."

:)

Finished Lullaby

My Review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/2717324632

Dem wrote: "Finished Lullaby

My Review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/2717324632"

Glad you found a winner, Dem. Nice review.

Madrano wrote: "Oops. I forgot to finish my post--this bit for Samanta. James Cain wrote several great stories. My favorite is his Double Indemnity , which was a sharp film starring Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stan..."

Thanks for the recommendation, Madrano!

I did not read any books for February as I was in the process of moving at the time - I knew you all would probably look in on this month so I thought I would explain. I read books in January though so I will post those on that thread. :)

You are good to fill us in, Marie. I’m getting a number of titles to consider. Thanks.