Rating: 3.5 / 5 IN COLD BLOOD by Truman Capote is a book that has been on my TBR for a while, so it was a good one to pick up for the book related to sRating: 3.5 / 5 IN COLD BLOOD by Truman Capote is a book that has been on my TBR for a while, so it was a good one to pick up for the book related to something cold prompt on this year’s Around the Year in 52 Books reading challenge! I have been wanting to get some more nonfiction into my reading and this book is categorized first as nonfiction and second as a classic on Goodreads, so it seemed an appropriate place to start. I also picked this as my book outside of your comfort zone for the recent #spookathon readathon and it definitely fit the bill for that as well!
In 1959 a viscous murder occurs in Holcomb, a small town in Kansas with a tight knit community. Four members of the Clutter family, husband wife and their two youngest children, were killed by shotgun blasts that nobody heard. There appeared to be no motive for the crime and the police had little to go on to investigate. Even so, investigators were determined to come to a resolution on this shocking crime.
The book tells the family’s story in the days leading up to their death, painting a picture of a conservative and tight family loved by their community. Alongside their story is that of the killers, Perry Smith and Dick Hickcock, in their days leading up to the crime and afterwards. The author has pieced together statements from witnesses, the investigators and the killers themselves to track the before, during and after of this horrible event right up through the trial, conviction and execution of the two perpetrators.
I found this to be a very interesting narrative overall. The time and effort Capote put into his investigation and reconstruction is clear, especially given that the crime occurred in 1959 when records were much less easily accessed. That said, the execution was a bit slow for my taste and my attention did wander quite a bit during some portions of the book. You know the identity of the killers and the outcome from the very beginning which maybe is an element of true crime that might not be a perfect fit for my thriller and mystery reading tastes.
I found the character studies of the Clutter family, Smith and Hickock to be very interesting, but the investigation itself was a bit long and drawn out (as it was in real life as well, no doubt). The actual format of the book is pretty dense as well, but I thankfully had the book on audio as well so that helped quite a bit.
Overall, this is an interesting read and I’m glad I picked it up, but it isn’t one that i would personally classify as a “must read”....more
This year’s Around the World in 52 Books reading challenge on Goodreads includes a prompt for a book about reading, books or an author. WRating: 3 / 5
This year’s Around the World in 52 Books reading challenge on Goodreads includes a prompt for a book about reading, books or an author. While I do have many books about books, I spotted THE JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB by Karen Joy Fowler at my local used bookstore and couldn’t resist checking it out to satisfy my challenge prompt.
THE JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB is about a group of six people who gather to read and discuss the works of Jane Austen. As they meet and discuss the merits of the various characters and romances and situations, their own lives play out dealing with broken relationships and new romance. The group is comprised of six people: a woman who has recently been left by her husband, her daughter who struggles with her author girlfriend, a dog breeder, a French teacher, a woman known for her many marriages and her long winded stories and one token man who (gasp!) likes other genres including science fiction!
The idea of a book about a book club intrigued me, but I have to say that I left this book feeling okay about it, but not really engaged by the story. It is high on drama, but I didn’t feel particularly compelled by any of the romances being developed and I didn’t feel a close connection to any characters in particular. It was entertaining enough with an interesting premise, but it isn’t a book that will stick with me.
As for the Jane Austen references, I did enjoy the discussion about the books and the book quotes interspersed. I read Jane Austen’s works during college and on deadline for class, so while I remember quite a bit, that was a lot of years ago and I do feel that I should do some revisiting. I likely could have drawn more parallels between Austen’s work and this novel if I had read Austen more recently. I also personally would have loved to see a bit more discussion of Jane Austen given that she is in the title!
Overall, a book that had some good going for it, but overall not a book that I loved....more
As part of this year’s Around the World in 52 Books reading challenge on Goodreads, I was asked to read a book by Shakespeare or inspirRating: 4.5 / 5
As part of this year’s Around the World in 52 Books reading challenge on Goodreads, I was asked to read a book by Shakespeare or inspired by Shakespeare. I decided to pick up Shakespeare’s THE TEMPEST because it was a play I had not read before. In trying to determine how I wanted to tackle another prompt from this list, a book inspired by the “Something Borrowed” part of the wedding rhyme, I decided to pick a book that borrows content from another book. I decided on HAG-SEED by Margaret Atwood which is a retelling of THE TEMPEST.
In HAG-SEED, Felix is forced out of his position as the director of the Makeshiweg Theater Festival, canceling his much anticipated production of The Tempest. Having recently lost his three year old daughter, his lowly assistant manages to oust him from his position. He is utterly alone save for the imagined Miranda who still lives in his mind, with nothing but time to plot his revenge.
Eventually, Felix takes a job teaching theater at a nearby correctional institution, helping the prisoners learn the works of Shakespeare as they put on performances for the other prisoners, guards and invited guests. The performance that will be put on this year at the correctional institution, The Tempest, of course, will include a very directed interactive portion for the special invited guests that the former assistant who turned on him won’t see coming.
This book was fantastic! Having read THE TEMPEST earlier this year, the plays on the original play were a lot of fun. There are fun details like Felix requiring the prisoners to go through the play to pick out their favorite curse words and limiting all cursing to those Shakespearean terms throughout the course of the production. The prisoners and Felix break down the play to come up with their own interpretations of the text and the characters.
Whether you’ve read THE TEMPEST or not, this was a great retelling and I highly recommend you give this one a read!...more
While I don’t think I necessarily read this book as a child, I certainly do remember seeing Pippi on TV as a kid (and the references in Gilmore Girls,While I don’t think I necessarily read this book as a child, I certainly do remember seeing Pippi on TV as a kid (and the references in Gilmore Girls, of course). Pippi is an independent young girl, living on her own with her monkey and her horse. Her new neighbors Tommy and Annika are entranced by her zeal for life and her ability to outsmart the adults and get herself in trouble!
I’m not going to go into great detail on this one, but it was so much fun to revisit the story of Pippi Longstocking and her crazy red braids and her crazy impressive strength! I’m also really pleased to end off my ATY challenge on a happy note!...more
THE BELL JAR by Sylvia Plath is a book that has been on my TBR for a long time. I pulled it out to read during Mental Health Month in May, but didn’t THE BELL JAR by Sylvia Plath is a book that has been on my TBR for a long time. I pulled it out to read during Mental Health Month in May, but didn’t get to it, so was happy to be able to finally give it a read for the mental health prompt on the #RWM19 bingo board.
Set in the 1950s, THE BELL JAR is the story of Esther Greenwood, an aspiring writer and college student for whom life seems to be going well. She has a coveted internship for a fashion magazine in New York. While things seem to be going well, Esther is struggling with her mental health. She begins to isolate, spending a lot of time in bed. She begins to contemplate ways to kill herself and eventually she attempts suicide.
As an author better known for her poetry, Sylvia Plath’s language brings a lot of poetic language to her prose in this book. She does well at drawing a picture of what life was like for a woman like Esther who had big ambitions, but lived in a society that expected her to find a husband and settle down.
In the book Esther contemplates writing a novel with a heroine who is her, but in disguise. Knowing that THE BELL JAR is at least partially based on Sylvia Plath’s own life and her own struggles with mental health gives the book an extra sense of sadness. As someone who works in the realm of mental health services, the descriptions of mental health treatment in the 50s was very interesting (and very scary!).
This isn’t a plot heavy book or what I would call a page-turner, but I think it gives a very important view into the mind of someone struggling with depression and I’m glad I finally read it! ...more
This year’s Around the World in 52 Books reading challenge has a prompt for a book you’ve owned for at least a year, but haven’t read yetRating: 4 / 5
This year’s Around the World in 52 Books reading challenge has a prompt for a book you’ve owned for at least a year, but haven’t read yet. In browsing my shelves, I happened on QUICKER THAN THE EYE by Ray Bradbury which is a book I’ve owned for many years, but hadn’t yet started. I like to keep a collection of short stories on my currently reading shelf to pick up between longer reads, so this seemed a perfect choice.
QUICKER THAN THE EYE is a collection of 21 short stories, most taking that “short” description to heart. The stories are widely varied from an older couple trying to outdo each other in their quest to kill each other off to a story tribute to the comfort of the library. Having recently picked up a copy of THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY for an upcoming buddy read, Bradbury’s spin on the story in “Dorian In Excelsus” was a timely surprise.
I have had this book for so long on my shelf that I don’t remember when or where exactly I picked it up. I do know that it was my grandmother who passed along an appreciation for Ray Bradbury, having been a big fan of his. This collection includes humor and sadness, fantasy and reality, so it has a little something for everyone. It was a fun read over the last few months and I’ll look forward into delving into more of Ray Bradbury’s stories....more
THE MANGO BRIDE by Marivi Soliven was one of the Reading Women podcast discussion book picks for May as part of their focus on Asian Pacific Islander THE MANGO BRIDE by Marivi Soliven was one of the Reading Women podcast discussion book picks for May as part of their focus on Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month. I haven’t read much literature focusing on that region of the world, so this sounded like a great book to pick up.
The book focuses on two women from the Philippines. Amparo has had a privileged upbringing in a family with money and staff. Beverly has been raised by her aunt in relative poverty after her single mother’s death and she must work to help support herself. Taking very different routes both women wind up in California seeking freedom and a better life. There, Amparo and Beverly find their lives interweaving in unexpected ways.
This was a beautiful book and I felt like it conveyed a lot about life in the Philippines. The author’s descriptions of the food will leave you hungry and her descriptions of the culture’s customs and celebrations give this novel a strong sense of place.
The men in the story are cast in a much more negative light. The local men are caught up in family appearances and making a living. Men from the U.S. come to seek the perfect subservient “mango bride” to take home more as a servant than a true life partner. While the female characters are well developed, both imperfect and relatable, I would say that the male characters are a less developed.
This book was heart-breaking and beautiful and I’m glad that I was encouraged to pick it up as it is probably not one I would have otherwise read on my own. This also fulfilled my #aroundtheyearin52books...more
For me, picking up THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD by Agatha Christie was a return to a favorite of sorts. I hadn’t read this particular title, but I did For me, picking up THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD by Agatha Christie was a return to a favorite of sorts. I hadn’t read this particular title, but I did read quite a few Agatha Christie mysteries once upon a time and I was glad to have this be the book pick for the @mysteriousmusingsbc book club for May.
The book begins with the suicide of a wealthy widow and suspicions. It is suspected that she had murdered her husband and as a result was being blackmailed. It was also rumored that she was having an affair with our title character Roger Ackroyd who is murdered the next day.
The book is narrated by the town doctor, Dr. James Sheppard who was one of the last to see Mr. Ackroyd the night before. When he answers a phone call summoning him back to the house, he is also the one who discovers Mr. Ackroyd’s body. Detective Hercule Poirot has recently retired to live next door to Dr. Sheppard and he is asked to help investigate the case. Dr. Sheppard keeps a written account of the investigation, though he isn’t always sure what deductions the detective is making.
This book is the only Agatha Christie novel on the 1,001 books to read before you die list which had me curious (and allowed me to mark off a challenge prompt too). I really enjoyed revisiting Agatha Christie’s writing. She does an excellent job laying out the mystery, the clues and the detective’s investigation while keeping the reader guessing as to what the ultimate reveal will be. This book is touted as being one of her best with the surprise twist ending and while I had some suspicions, I didn’t guess it all.
If you’re an Agatha Christie fan or a mystery fan in general and you haven’t read this one, I definitely suggest you give it a read!...more
THE KIND WORTH KILLING BY Peter Swanson was added to my May TBR after seeing the book and the author both praised in comment about the author’s newestTHE KIND WORTH KILLING BY Peter Swanson was added to my May TBR after seeing the book and the author both praised in comment about the author’s newest release.
The book begins in an airport bar where Ted and Lily meet while they are both waiting for their delayed London to Boston flight. Over a few too many drinks Ted reveals that his wife is cheating on him with their contractor. He jokes (or is it a joke?) that he is plotting his wife’s demise. Far from flustered by Ted’s statement, Lily offers to help because some people are the kind worth killing.
It is hard to say much more about the plot of this novel without heading far into spoiler territories. The story is told from alternating POVs so we can see behind the mask of the characters, often revealing that what other characters believe about them and what the reader thinks they know is wrong.
I picked up this book really wanting a twisting and turning thriller and I got just that, with surprises that I definitely did not see coming. Just when I began to think I knew what the end game would be, the author threw expectations out the window and took the story in a whole different direction.
I will definitely be seeking out more by Peter Swanson. ...more
THOSE PEOPLE by Louise Candlish (out 6/11/2019) gives an example of what can happen when a couple of bad seeds move into an otherwise apparently perfeTHOSE PEOPLE by Louise Candlish (out 6/11/2019) gives an example of what can happen when a couple of bad seeds move into an otherwise apparently perfect little community. The book opens with a series of police statements given by residents of Lowland Way in London, but the exact tragedy which has occurred isn’t clear. Chapters go back several weeks prior in alternating POVs between several neighbors.
This neighborhood has received recognition by banding together to create a safe place for the neighborhood kids to play. They seem a close knit community of both friends and family and pride themselves on their nice neighborhood.
When one of the houses changes hands, Darren and Jodie move in and start wreaking havoc on the neighborhood with loud music, questionable house repairs, an illegal car dealership and a general disinterest in going along with the neighborhood’s culture. He ruins his neighbors’ sleep, one neighbor’s B&B business and much more.
This was marketed as a thriller and for me this book was not that. This book is a very slow burn and more of a character study in my mind. While the neighbors attempt to find ways to get legal intervention against Darren, they find their hands tied by lengthy wait times and red tape. The stress of the situation and the resulting lack of sleep creates strain on marriages, family relations and friendships, pushing people to do things which might have seemed out of character just a month earlier.
Overall I enjoyed this book, but didn’t love it. On the positive side there were twists that I didn’t coming and it kept me engaged enough to want to know what exactly happened. That said, I felt the pace was a bit slow for me at times having gone into it expecting something more of a thriller. I also didn’t find myself really attached to any of the characters in particular which isn’t necessary to enjoy a book, but I find it is important if I’m really going to love it. ...more
THE LAST TIME I LIED is the most recent release from Riley Sager. Emma is a successful painter in New York, but she is haunted by what happened at sumTHE LAST TIME I LIED is the most recent release from Riley Sager. Emma is a successful painter in New York, but she is haunted by what happened at summer camp fifteen years ago when her three cabin mates disappeared, never to be seen again. When she is approached by the camp's owner who wants to reopen for the first time since that fateful summer Emma eventually agrees to participate as the art teacher.
The story is told primarily in the present with interspersed flashbacks to the summer fifteen years ago as Emma attempts to investigate what actually happened. Emma is struggling with a lot of guilt for how she acted that long ago summer.
I have a hard time summing up my feelings about this one. The author does a good job of interweaving the game of two truths and a lie into the narrative, showing how both truths and lies reveal a lot about a character. The theme of lies can be a little heavy handed at times, but overall I thought it came through well.
Without giving spoilers, there were a few times toward the end where I was frustrated with Emma for not realizing something that seemed incredibly obvious. As things began to draw to a close, I wasn’t feeling entirely satisfied by the ending. The final twist did help with that, but not completely.
All told, this wasn’t my favorite thriller of recent reads, but it did keep me hooked enough to finish it in a single day. I have had a few people comment that they much preferred his prior book which I also have at home, so I’m eager to give that a read as well....more
I picked GIVE ME YOUR HAND by Megan Abbott to fulfill the NPR Best Books of the Year list prompt from the Around The Year in 52 Books challenge list. I picked GIVE ME YOUR HAND by Megan Abbott to fulfill the NPR Best Books of the Year list prompt from the Around The Year in 52 Books challenge list. I had heard this recommended as a good book featuring strong female characters working in a STEM related field.
The novel opens with Kit, a scientist working in a lab which is studying premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). It is a competitive environment as everyone seeks to obtain a position on the final study team. Enter Diane, a fellow scientist who will take one of the slots Kit and her coworkers are competing for.
Early on we know that Kit and Diane were once best friends and that Kit found out something dark about Diane that drove a wedge between them. Now that they are back working together and competing against each other, their past creates present drama. Abbott takes the narrative back and forth between the present and past as Kit's seemingly well ordered life is shaken.
The strength of this story is the way the author develops the very complicated friendship between Kit and Diane. They are portrayed in many ways as total opposites (light vs. dark, good vs. bad), but the way in which their lives have been intertwined is much more complicated than that. Kit likely would not have the success she has reached in her career if Diane hadn’t pushed her and there are areas of Diane’s life that would have likely gone very differently without Kit’s influence.
Having seen this book listed as a ‘thriller’, I was a little let down that it didn’t really come across as a thriller to me, but I definitely appreciated a lot of what Megan Abbott did with her characters and their relationships. In the end this was a book I liked, but didn’t love. I would definitely seek out more from Megan Abbott.
DAISY JONES & THE SIX by Taylor Jenkins Reid was a surprise favorite read for me in March. I picked this one up when it came out in March both becauseDAISY JONES & THE SIX by Taylor Jenkins Reid was a surprise favorite read for me in March. I picked this one up when it came out in March both because I saw it recommended in several reviews because I read and enjoyed The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and have been meaning to pick up another book by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
The novel tells the story of a 1970s rock band, how the individual characters came together and how the group rose to fame while balancing (or not) their lives in and out of the spotlight. The narrative is delivered in an interview format with characters telling their own story, complete with the lyrics they wrote and the stories behind them.
I thought that the choice of an interview format was a great fit for this story. For me it added to the sense that this could have been an actual band with tunes still playing on the oldies station. I liked being able to pick out places where two characters had just slightly different recollections of a particular event, often just minor inconsistencies that you would expect from a real interview occurring many years after the original event. While an interview style does leave the door open to questions of how reliable the storytellers are, the key characters seemed to be pretty brutally honest when it came to their shortcomings for the most part.
While the world of ‘sex, drugs and rock-and-roll’ is not something that generally calls to me, I am very glad that I picked up this book. ...more
MIRACLE CREEK by Angie Kim is a book I picked up because a number of reviewers whose opinions I trust gave it glowing reviews and it did not disappoinMIRACLE CREEK by Angie Kim is a book I picked up because a number of reviewers whose opinions I trust gave it glowing reviews and it did not disappoint.
MIRACLE CREEK begins with tragedy. There is an explosion at the Miracle Submarine, an experimental medical treatment in the form of a pressurized oxygen chamber. Two are killed in the fire with others severely injured. The story then jumps forward a year to the start of a trial against Elizabeth who is accused of starting the fire that killed her young son and another patient’s mother.
The story progresses through multiple characters’ POVs through the trial with frequent flashbacks to the days leading up to the explosion and the days that followed. The case against Elizabeth is laid out and questioned while we are getting behind the scenes thoughts and feelings from the characters which show that the case isn’t as simple as the prosecutor lays out.
The author did an amazing job of writing complex characters. Parents are dealing with the stress of parenting chronically ill kids. They’re trying out any treatment that might give them hope of a more ‘normal’ future for their children while being yelled at by protestors who accuse them of not loving their kids as they are. The owners of the Miracle Submarine are a Korean immigrant family struggling to make a good future for their daughter.
There are so many layers to this story and I can’t wait to read more from Angie Kim. This is definitely a book that I would recommend you read! ...more
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