Book Chat - CLOSED by original moderator discussion

.

Read any good books lately? We want to know about them.
How about real stinkers? We want to know about those too!

Enter your reading list and/or reviews here. Did you like it? Hate it? Feel lukewarm?

Share your thoughts with us.

Happy reading!


.

All Quiet On the Western Front – Erich Marie Remarque – 4****
Many have called this the “greatest war novel of all time.” I’m not certain I agree with that superlative, but it IS a powerful, emotional, gripping, disturbing, enthralling, and honest exploration of war and its effects on the young who become the pawns of their leaders.
My full review HERE

The White Umbrella – Brian Sewell – 3***
When British filmmaker, Mr B, spots a young donkey being abused in Peshawar, Pakistan, he leaps out of his Land Rover to rescue the animal. Told he cannot take the donkey on the plane home to England he vows to walk, and so he sets off. This is a charming fable of one man’s devotion, determination, and good luck. It was an engaging, gentle read, with a totally satisfying ending. A perfect escape from the hectic and stressful present day situation.
My full review HERE

--------- * * * * * * * * --------



Little Big Man – Thomas Berger – 3.5***
Berger’s novel purports to be a memoir/autobiography of Jack Crabb – frontiersman, Indian scout, gunfighter, buffalo hunter, adopted Cheyenne. I was completely entertained by this novel of the American West. Berger gives the reader quite the raconteur in Crabb, with a gift for story-telling and colorful language. By the narrator’s own account, he certainly has a gift for landing on his feet, managing to get out of more than one potentially deadly scrape by his wits or sheer dumb luck. If the scenarios stretch credulity, well that is part of the fun.
My full review HERE

In Island Christmas – Nancy Thayer – 3***
‘Tis the season for improbable holiday romances with ice skating, decorating a Christmas tree, hot cocoa, snow, at least one person who is “not into Christmas and/or kids,” and one or more missteps on the road to that happy-ever-after ending. If it isn’t already a Hallmark Christmas movie, it would make a good one. Fun, fast, holiday read.
My full review HERE

--------- * * * * * * * * --------



Where We Come From – Oscar Cásares – 4****
The setting is Brownsville, Texas, a border town with a mean reputation as a haven for human traffickers and drug runners. But it’s also a community of hard-working, middle-class people who want nothing but a safe home for their children, decent schools, good roads, a thriving business district and reliable city services. Cásares focuses on one such family. I really enjoyed this exploration of a complex issue. There are multiple layers to the novel and much fodder for a stimulating book club discussion.
My full review HERE

Christmas On the Island – Jenny Colgan – 3***
A charming, story set against a holiday season that raises expectations and sometimes sees our dreams come true. There’s quite a lot going on in this book, #3 in the Mure series. I think I might have had an easier time of it had I read the first two books before tackling this one, as Colgan generally builds relationships over the course her series.
My full review HERE

--------- * * * * * * * * --------



The Old Gringo – Carlos Fuentes – 1*
The novel is framed as the reminiscence of a woman. An old journalist heads to Mexico during the time of the Mexican Revolution seeking, not a story, but his death. There has been much praise for this work; it was the first translated work by a Mexican author to become a bestseller in the United States. But I had great difficulty engaging with the characters and the plot, such as it was. Our book club struggled to find anything positive to say about this work.
My full review HERE

Coming Home For Christmas – Fern Michaels – 2**
This is a collection of three novellas all set during the Christmas season. If you’ve seen even one Hallmark Christmas movie you know the basic plot line here. I found the scenarios pretty unbelievable and the chosen novella length left some significant holes in the plots. Still, they’re fast reads, and moderately enjoyable.
My full review HERE

--------- * * * * * * * * --------



Heaven, Texas – Susan Elizabeth Phillips – ZERO stars
Book # 2 in the Chicago Stars romance series. No. Just No. A “gentleman” does NOT play mind games for his own amusement to trick a virgin into succumbing to him so that he can then drop her like a hot potato when the fun is over. There is nothing remotely romantic or appealing about these scenarios. Shame on Phillips for propagating such a misogynistic message.
My full review HERE

A Long Petal Of the Sea – Isabel Allende – 4****
A family epic covering six decades of history from 1930s Spanish Civil War to 1990s in Chile. This is the kind of historical fiction at which Allende excels. She seamlessly weaves the real historical events into the story line, while giving the reader characters that come alive on the page and about which we come to care. Central to this work, as to all of Allende’s novels, are the strong women. Roser and Ofelia certainly take center stage. But the older women – Carme, Laura and Juana – are equally strong, resilient, intelligent and determined.
My full review HERE

A Gathering Of Old Men – Ernest J Gaines – 4****
A dead man. A running tractor. A white woman who claims she shot him. A gathering of old men with shotguns. A sheriff who knows everyone is lying. A father who needs revenge. What is so marvelous about this work is that Gaines tells it from a variety of viewpoints, as different characters narrate chapters. One by one they tell their stories simply but eloquently.
My full review HERE

Adequate Yearly Progress – Roxanne Elden – 3***
A year in the life of teachers at a struggling urban high school in a large Texas city. I’m not a teacher, but I have friends who have worked as teachers, and Elden includes scenarios that are familiar to anyone who has ever been required to attend yet another motivational speech or meeting to discuss implementation of a new process. There are moments of serious reflection, scenes of tenderness and of hilarity.
My full review HERE

Lady Osbaldestone’s Christmas Goose – Stephanie Laurens – 3***
Set in 1810 England, just on the cusp of the Regency period, this delightful Christmas mystery focuses on the recently widowed Lady Therese Osbaldestone, her three young grandchildren, a flock of missing geese, a “spinster” forgoing her own happiness to look after her younger brother, and a wounded war veteran. Lady O is a marvelous character; bright, opinionated, kind, inquisitive (some might say nosy), and confident in her right – nay, duty – to oversee everyone’s business. From the marvelous characters to the charming scenes of Regency village holiday life I found it entertaining and engaging.
My full review HERE

Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee – Dee Brown – 5*****
Subtitle: An Indian History of the American West. Brown’s interest in the history of the American West took him to many resources that were previously ignored in crafting the official textbooks from which millions were taught American history. This work is one attempt to correct the information so many thought they knew. Brown relates the systemic plunder of Native lands region by region, tribe by tribe, battle by battle, broken treaty by broken treaty. It is a very personal account. And it is heartbreaking.
My full review HERE

Women Of the Silk – Gail Tsukiyama – 3***
This work of historical fiction takes us to early 20th century China and the unique position of the women who worked in the silk factories in lieu of marriage. I loved the unexpected strength and determination of these young women as they made their own way in a culture that restricted opportunities for women. The independence they gained, though initially forced on them, became their most prized attribute.
My full review HERE

To Kill a Mocking Girl
by Harper Kincaid
Narrated by Renee Dorian.
3***
First in Bookbinding Mystery series. Typical of first in series books, much of this is devoted to introducing characters. Also typical, there are promises of romances. Narration was okay. As a mystery it was okay. Setting was okay with a not too small town providing a comfortable background.
Overall interesting enough to put book 2 on my TBR list though not at the top.

L J wrote: "
To Kill a Mocking Girl
by Harper Kincaid
Narrated by Renee Dorian.
3***
First in Bookbinding Mystery series. Typical of ..."

So your review makes me think I'll give this a try. I don't ever expect much from cozy mysteries, so a 3-star rating is "good"

Kitchen Confidential – Anthony Bourdain – 3.5***
Subtitle: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly. This is a wonderful memoir, as well as a bit of a tutorial, a travelogue, and a warning of what NOT to do. Bourdain is honest, profane, funny, enlightening and engaging. As a plus, he narrated the audio version himself.
My full review HERE

--------- * * * * * * * * --------


A Nantucket Christmas – Nancy Thayer – 3***
Thayer writes charming Christmas-themed stories where the reader knows in advance that things will all work out in the end. In addition to the blended family tension, this one also has a charming subplot involving a stray dog.
My full review HERE

Book Concierge wrote: "L J wrote: "
To Kill a Mocking Girl
by Harper Kincaid
Narrated by Renee Dorian.
3***
First in Bookbinding Mystery series...."

Look forward to seeing what you think if you decide to read it.

It had problems but I look for potential more than perfection in first in series books.

Claimed
by J.R. Ward
1*

Audio

Claimed
Narrator Jim Frangione Sorry, Jim, your narrating skills couldn't save this one.

Cliffhanger

First installment in a serial, not first book in a series.
I looked back at the information about the book and it says series. Maybe a series of serialized books? I don't know and at this point I'm not sure I care.
Usually when I get a new Ward book I read straight through it even if it means staying up late. It says something that with this one I started and stopped both the kindle book and the audio book several times.
I can't say I was really enjoying it before the cliffhanger. There were plot elements I didn't like but I probably would have continued reading a series hoping I would like other books more.
A serial installment disguised as a book in a series? That's a trick I don't like. I feel betrayed. I no longer trust Ward to deliver a complete book.

Friends Like Us – Lauren Fox – 3***
I really enjoyed this exploration of friendship and the choices one makes as one matures. I remember close friends I had in my twenties … I have witnessed (and been part of) break-ups that hurt so badly you wondered how you would ever survive. And I recognized how a best friend can say just the right thing to help you through what you believe to be the darkest moments. So, the relationships between these people and their emotions were completely relatable to me.
My full review HERE

--------- * * * * * * * * --------


The Secret Life of Violet Grant – Beatriz Williams – 3.5***
Williams uses a dual timeline and dual narrators to tell this story of Vivian Schuyler, Manhattan socialite and wanna-be advertising exec in 1964, and her aunt Violet Schuyler Grant, who endured an unhappy marriage to pursue her dreams of scientific research in 1914 Europe. I was quickly engaged and continuously interested in this story line. While I’ve grown tired of the dual timeline that is so popular these days with historical fiction, I thought Williams did a very good job of using this device.
My full review HERE

L J wrote: "I look for potential more than perfection in first in a series books...."

Well said!

Lions – Bonnie Nadzam – 3.5***
I can always rely on my F2F book club friend to recommend interesting, “odd” books! Nadzam’s work reminds me of classic fables with tragic heroes, especially opening with a mysterious stranger and his little dog. Her characters are familiar and yet distant. I recognize some of their emotions and motivations: loyalty, inertia, longing, adventure, boredom, duty, wonder, love.
My full review HERE

--------- * * * * * * * * --------


What Alice Forgot – Lianne Moriarty – 3.5***
After a head injury, Alice Love awakes thinking herself 10 years younger than she is, and with no memory of the last decade. What an interesting concept! Moriarty does a great job writing about women and their relationships – with friends, with siblings, with spouses. Here we have a woman who is possibly getting a “do-over” … or is she? Can she really erase the last ten years? Does she want to? I liked this approach to how our past shapes our present and future.
My full review HERE

This Tender Land – William Kent Krueger – 4****
Krueger references both The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain and Homer’s The Odyssey in this epic adventure set in America’s upper Midwest during the Great Depression. Krueger is a marvelous storyteller, and he keeps the plot moving with a variety of incidents. The travelers show intelligence, resourcefulness, and tenacity. They are also children - immature and prone to misunderstanding or misinterpretation of information they gather. And, of course, they are vulnerable. I loved watching them grow, both individually and in their relationships, through these experiences.
My full review HERE

--------- * * * * * * * * --------


Unnatural Causes – P D James – 3***
Superintendent Adam Dalgliesh’s planned seaside holiday goes awry when a headless, handless body washes ashore. First is the mystery of who the victim is; then comes determining the culprit. Plenty of suspects, some red herrings, and a thrilling climactic scene. I’ll keep reading this series.
My full review HERE

Whose Body?
by Dorothy L. Sayers
Narrated by Mark Meadows
4****

Read this years ago and when I saw it as hoopla bonus borrow decided to give it a try. I enjoyed it and will be checking for more. I grew up reading books, especially mysteries, written in this time period so nostalgia could be part of my enjoyment.

Warning: If you are upset by books depicting social norms and language of a hundred years ago you may want to pass on this one as it has not been rewritten/updated.

Death And Judgment – Donna Leon – 3.5***
Book # 4 in the Commissario Brunetti mystery series, set in Venice, Italy. This was definitely one of the darker works in this series. As usual, the Commissario relies on his wife for advice and comfort, but his daughter insists on helping and that gets uncomfortable very quickly. Leon crafts a good mystery, with enough clues keep the action moving forward and a logical solution. It’s a series I’ll continue reading.
My full review HERE

--------- * * * * * * * * --------


Death Cruise – Lawrence Block (editor) – 3***
This is a collection of short stories, all of which take place on a cruise ship. Authors come from multiple nations, starting off with Agatha Christie and including writers from Cuba, Belgium and the Netherlands. I enjoyed reading them and was happily surprised that there was sufficient difference from story to story to hold my interest – and keep me guessing.
My full review HERE

The Next Thing On My List – Jill Smolinski – 3***
After her passenger dies in an auto accident, guilt drives June to complete the dead woman’s bucket list by a certain deadline. This was about what I expected. I was not a big fan of the main character, June, who really seemed to have her priorities backwards. The plot moved along and there were some entertaining scenes. All told, it was fine, but not stellar.
My full review HERE

That Churchill Woman – Stephanie Barron – 3***
A novel of Jennie Jerome, American heiress of the Gilded Age, who married Lord Randolph Churchill and was the mother of Winston Churchill. I find Jennie a fascinating character. Barron does a good job of bringing her to life and giving the reader a “modern” woman who was able to bend the rules of the restrictive society in which she found herself to achieve some measure of personal happiness and fulfillment. The novel has piqued my interest in her, and I’ll seek out a biography of Jennie.
My full review HERE

A History of Loneliness – John Boyne – 5*****
Against the backdrop of the priest pedophile scandal, Father Odran Yates narrates his life story, from early childhood to his time in seminary to his long career as a priest and the final conflict that forces him to examine his part in the scandal. Boyne’s writing is marvelous. His characters are complex. This is a book I will be thinking about for a long time.
My full review HERE

A Well-Behaved Woman – Therese Anne Fowler – 3.5***
The subtitle is all the synopsis you need: A Novel of the Vanderbilts. I thought Fowler did a great job of bringing this fascinating woman to life. Alva Smith Vanderbilt was no shrinking violet; she was a Steel Magnolia - intelligent, cagey, and fiercely independent. Faced with a betrayal, she moved forward with a scandalous strategy. It was a courageous move, but she was determined. Among the causes she championed was suffrage for all women.
My full review HERE

Moonflower Murders – Anthony Horowitz – 4****
Two books, and three mysteries, in one novel! Susan Ryeland is a retired editor and the secret to solving the “current” crime lies in a book she edited, which features detective Atticus Pünd. I enjoyed the difference in style between the two storylines and was equally immersed in each mystery. I like both Susan and Pünd; both are meticulous, thorough and deliberate in analyzing the evidence they uncover. And I love the way that Horowitz plays with words. I haven’t read book one – Magpie Murders – yet, but I will! And I look forward to future installments.
My full review HERE

An Irish Country Christmas – Patrick Taylor – 3.5*** (rounded up)
Book three in in the charming and popular story of 1960s country GP, Barry Laverty, M.B., his partner / mentor Doctor Fingal Flahertie O’Reilly, and the people of Ballybucklebo. It’s Christmas and love is in the air. I came late to this party, but I’m glad I finally arrived, and now it seems that I may never leave. The books are charming and entertaining and just plain fun to read.
My full review HERE

In the Country We Love – Diane Guerrero – 4****
When Diane Guerrero was fourteen years old she came home from school to find an empty house. Her family had been picked up by ICE and were detained pending deportation. Fortunately for Diane, a family friend agreed to take her in, so that she could remain in school. This is her memoir. The author has an important message to convey about the effects on children of America’s immigration and deportation policies.
My full review HERE

The Girls – Emma Cline – 2**
I vividly remember the Manson murders of Sharon Tate et al. I followed the news coverage and could not imagine how these people became so enthralled and obedient to the obviously crazy Charles Manson. Cline’s Evie gives me some insight into how that might have happened. But I cannot bring myself to rate the book even with three stars. The subject was so distasteful to me. I cringed at how Evie is drawn in, at how she was abused, at how she “begged” for the abuse because she was so hungry for attention and for what she thought was evidence of love.
My full review HERE

All Over But the Shoutin’ – Rick Bragg – 4****
In this memoir, Pulitzer-Prize-winning journalist Rick Bragg outlines the difficulties of growing up “dirt poor” in Appalachia, with an alcoholic father who could never shake that demon and a mother who willingly sacrificed her own health and well-being for her children’s sake. Bragg left his home, but his home never left him. His story in an honest, gripping, heart-wrenching and inspiring love letter to his mother.
My full review HERE