Paul Lima > Recent Status Updates

Reading the exquisitely written "The Umbrella Mender" by Christine Fischer Guy. Not a cliche or trite phrase in site. The writing is beyond superb. Characters are are fully drawn. Events are intriguing. I'm only 4 chapters in, but wow, this is brilliant writing so far, coupled with a story that makes you want to know more. Confess, I was hooked from the amazing prologue.

If you like sacrilegious humor, this book is for you!

Really enjoying this book. Great voice. And learning a lot about South Africa towards the end of apartheid.

I have read a lot of good books in my 61 years. So far, this is one of the best! Here is what I have posted on Facebook: 20 or so pages into Dark Matter. There has been domestic bliss, dramatic foreshadowing, academic rivalry, kidnapping, mystery and suspense. All solidly written and well paced. Wish I were not so tired so I could keep on reading. So far so very good!

I have a love-hate relationship with Ken Follett. I am loving EDGE OF ETERNITY by him. If you want a sprawling epic with three-dimensional characters, mixing fiction with reality, that brings to life the early '60s -- takes place in the USA, Russia, Germany and England -- this book is for you!

I've been totally engaged by Bohjalian before. I am not by this book. I've put it aside; may come back to it. Not sure....

I am so bogged down in this book!

Like the characters and writing; am wondering, though, where this book will go. Okay, we have the beginnings of a love story between two old farts and the conflict over the inheritance of an antique gun -- but there really isn't a plot thread that has grabbed me yet. Still, well written with interesting and three-dimensional characters.

Just getting into this ... Am watching Sherlock on PBS, so I thought I'd go back to the roots as well!

Wow, this is a long book! I liked in until our main character -- you young teen from New York whose mother is killed in a domestic terrorist attack -- moves to Las Vegas. It now seem stuck in the minutia of the main character and a new fried who drink and smoke one helluva a lot. The story feels stalled.

At first I thought this was a romance and almost abandoned it. Then it seemed like it was more than that so I kept on reading ... Now I think it's a romance. I don't know if I will finish this one.

What is it about lawyers that intrigues us so? Decent read so far.

Found it interesting, initially, but am afraid this may become a by the numbers romance -- but will read on to see rather than just abandon it.

Intrigued so far.

Classic. Love the first person narrative. Moan and whine, but I love it!

Not for the feint of heart. A gut-wrenching look at child abuse -- from the perspective of the abuser. A unique and engaging narrative style, the book does not attempt to elicit sympathy for, or understanding of, the abuser. Just lets him speak. I am recommending it, and at the same time I know it's not for everybody.

Not a big Grisham fan. Then read the Litigators and enjoyed it verymuch. Followed by Callico Joe -- not a lawyer in site! And a great read. This one? Not so much. A decent plot, but typical Grisham two-dimensional characters and long digressions that advance nothing.

I really like the three other John Green books I've read. They got me right from page one. This one, not there yet. But I will give it time.

Years ago I read two Wally Lamb novels: I Know This Much Is True and I Know This Much is True. Once was incredibly marvelous. One was very 'meh'. (I don't remember which was which, it was that long ago.) This is in between, although tilting towards pretty darned good.

I believe this book is creative non-fiction in that the dialogue has to be made up based on what the author has found out and surmised about 'the lost child.' The movie, Philomena, looks at the quest that Philomenia and a former journalist, Martin Sixsmith, go on to find her son -- a son the Irish Catholic church sold to an American couple. The son is one of thousands of children of unwed mothers the church sold.

Vintage Sherlock, although it focuses for a long time on Watson as Sherlock is too busy to take on the case. Fun to see Watson working diligently on his own.

Vintage Sherlock, although it focuses for a long time on Watson as Sherlock is too busy to take on the case. Fun to see Watson working diligently on his own.

A 20-something coffee shop worker loses her job, which she enjoys very much. Ends up working as a nanny for a bitter quadriplegic. The book is about how their relationship changes both of them. I'm about half way through it and think I have a sense of where it might go. There have been some intriguing twists so far.