“How To Read a Book” is one of my 2024 favorites because it’s full of love, empathy, kindness, and wholesome goodness.
The story is told in three POV’“How To Read a Book” is one of my 2024 favorites because it’s full of love, empathy, kindness, and wholesome goodness.
The story is told in three POV’s. First off is Violet, a 22-year-old woman who is incarcerated in a women’s prison in Maine. We learn that at the age of 19, she killed a woman while driving under the influence. She’s a good person who made a tragic mistake. She was raised in an unforgiving, religious family. Her voice is one of an innocent; yet she’s self-aware. She says goodnight every night to the woman she inadvertently killed.
Next is Frank, a retired machinist who got himself a job as a handyman at a bookstore. While working at the bookstore, he notices Harriet. Harriet comes to the store often, as she is the book club leader at the prison, and she is constantly in search for the next book she thinks the ladies will enjoy. Frank is socially awkward, earnest in all that he does.
Harriet, aka “Bookie” is one of the kindest, gentlest characters written. (I want to be like Harriet). She takes her book club volunteer job very seriously. She’s a widowed and retired English teacher. She states “Retired people were often thought to be lonely, but it wasn’t that. It was the feeling of uselessness, of being done with it all.” It is through Harriet’s eyes that we meet the women in the prison book club, and they are a riot! Most of these ladies grew up on the mean-streets of life. When they analyze a book, it’s no-holds-barred. They say it like it is. Harriet (and I) finds it refreshing. For example, after reading “Franny and Zooey”, one inmate brought out that only the rich have the luxury of a breakdown. Harriet observes that she never considered that existential crisis was a luxury!
Harriet meets with her prison group once a week on Fridays. She believes that books give your problems perspective. Harriet feels that reading is an exercise of empathy. The women love their time in the club, as it’s the only time they have an iota of control over their lives. Harriet recognizes Violet’s humanity. She treats the women with respect and dignity.
The three character’s lives connect when Violet is let out early for good behavior. She goes to the bookstore, attracted to a kitty in the window who is looking for a home. Harriet happens to be in the bookstore when Violet asks if she can adopt the cat. Frank happens to be working that day, and that is when we learn that it was Frank’s wife who Violet killed. Frank is stunned when he sees her, but not for the expected reasons.
The story shifts to Violet’s life as she leaves the penal system, at the fragile age of 22, all alone with no support. Her mother died while Violet was incarcerated. Her sister blames her for her mother’s death. Violet’s aunt will have nothing to do with her either. Violet doesn’t even know how to use a bus. Violet’s sister picks her up from prison, drops her off in Portland at a prepaid one-year leased apartment. She informs Violet that no one in her town or family will forgive her. The sister is kind enough to provide Violet with some pocket money and a few clothes. Other than that, Violet is on her own in a city she has never set foot in. We learn of the difficulties ex-felons face in trying to find a job, get a library card, navigate the world. Violet holds deep guilt and regret for her DUI.
Author Monica Wood orchestrates the three characters to become a new community for Violet. Yes, Frank, kind sweet Frank, forgives Violet. He saw her remorseful emotions at the trial. He realized she was a good kid who made one really bad decision. Both Harriet and Frank are written with great kindness.
“How To Read a Book” is really a book on how reading books can help you to empathetically read a person. Wood pushes the reader to consider who deserves second chances? How much should we consider incidental circumstances? Wood teaches us to not be so quick to judge.
This book soothed my soul. These are characters who will own real estate in my head for a very long time.
I listened to the audio narrated by Eileen Stevens. She did a great job.
“Minor Detail” by Adania Shibli, translated by Elisabeth Jaquette, was longlisted for the 2021 International Booker Prize. It’s been described as a ha“Minor Detail” by Adania Shibli, translated by Elisabeth Jaquette, was longlisted for the 2021 International Booker Prize. It’s been described as a haunting meditation on war. This crushed my soul. Yet, I am happy I read it. Shibli brilliantly writes of the on-edge, constant anxiousness of living in Gaza. Going from Zone A to Zone B or C is something this American cannot fathom.
Shibili begins her story during the Arab Israeli war of 1948, which the Arabs refer to as “the Nakba”, from the Arabic alnakbah “the catastrophe”. The story is told from an Israeli encampment in the Negev Desert in 1949. The soldiers find a Palestinian teenage girl and brutally treat her. This atrocity is well documented.
The second part of the story features an unnamed narrator, a female office worker in Ramallah. While at work, she read a newspaper article about a Palestinian girl who was raped, tortured, and buried 25 years prior the narrator’s birth date. It’s because of that date, her birthday, that one minor detail, that the narrator’s interest is piqued. Plus, the narrator sees this death as a minor detail in the history of violence towards the Palestinian people.
The woman leaves the West Bank in search of the girl’s burial site. Through her going into the various security checkpoints to get to the interior of Israel, Shibili builds tension and paranoia. Translator Elisabeth Jawuette effectively translates Shibili’s prose because I felt the horror, fear, and concern the narrator experienced while driving out of her “zone”. Machine guns, helicopters and bombs are her white noise of existence.
I read to explore unpopular viewpoints. I recommend this for anyone who wonders what it must be like to be Palestinian stuck in Gaza. War is complicated and always harmful. My heart breaks for all involved.
I listened to the audio, narrated by Siiri Scott. Her voice is haunting in a perfect way. My soul was crushed. ...more
“More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop” was an audible freebee for me, so I needed to give it a shot. I thoroughly enjoyed this gentle, sweet, contemplat“More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop” was an audible freebee for me, so I needed to give it a shot. I thoroughly enjoyed this gentle, sweet, contemplative story.
From the story, I learned that there is a Tokyo neighborhood, Jinbocho, where there is the highest number of bookstores in the world. It’s a bibliophile’s delight. The fictious Morisaki Bookshop is a second-hand bookstore that is owned and operated by Satoru (who takes book collecting very seriously) and specializes in modern Japanese literature, along with some contemporary novels. It is through his niece’s (Takako) eyes that we learn about the functioning of the store. Takako loves the eccentric customers it attracts.
Many Japanese books are mentioned: “In Praise of Shadows; Train of Fools; A Moment of Twilight” are a few examples. The story is about the pleasure of finding a book. Author Satoshi Yagisawa pens a love letter to all book lovers with this story. Topics such as “where do you store all your books in your apartment?” and “How do you edit your collection of books if you love them all?” Anyone who has moved or downsized runs into that dilemma. We book lovers love our smelly, moldy books.
Yagisawa shows how books can open us up to the world. Some of us read as a consolation or a retreat from the world. Whatever the reason for being a bibliophile, or book enthusiast, your heart will be warmed by this sweet story.
Catherine Ho narrates this beauty with aplomb. Special shout-out to translator Eric Ozawa. You know a translator is great when the story sounds like it was written in English. His Translator’s Note at the end was heartfelt. I recommend this for when you want you need a book hug! ...more
3.5 stars: To get a sullen teen to open about their feelings, parents know that one of the best ways to accomplish this goal is to get them in a motor 3.5 stars: To get a sullen teen to open about their feelings, parents know that one of the best ways to accomplish this goal is to get them in a motor vehicle where you look forward, not at each other. Or you take a walk which uses the same idea. Author David Nicholls utilizes that walking strategy to facilitate his characters to talk in “You Are Here”.
While reading “You Are Here”, I pictured Hugh Grant as the character Michael Bradshaw and Renee Zellwger as Marnie Walsh. It’s the narration that Nicholls provides the characters which allowed me to picture the story in my mind as I read. Michael and Marnie are both traumatized by their ill-fated marriages, feeling isolated, lonely, and defeated. The story opens with Marnie realizing she hasn’t taken a photo of another person for six years! It is apparent when her autogenerated year-in-review photo compilation, which is accompanied by Carol King’s “You Got a Friend”, consists of her oven lightbulb, a recipe for hearty lentil soup, and a ghastly photo of an ingrown hair. Marnie is realizing that she is lonely.
Michael is a geography teacher who is introduced to the reader while he’s teaching his class on a field trip about glacial erosion, involving abrasion and plucking, and well, the boys are in the back “hoods pulled into snorkels, shoulders vibrating with suppressed laughter”. Michael is depressed from his failed marriage. His answer to depression: hike. Michael tends to ruminate, and his musings are fun to read.
Michael and Marnie have little to do with each other, other than having a mutual friend, Cleo Fraser. School holiday is approaching, and Michael intends to take a coast-to-coast walk/hike from the Irish Sea to the North Sea. Cleo persuades Michael to lead a group, which of course includes Marnie. Cleo referred to Marnie as an Eleanor Rigby, sitting alone. It’s time for her to be with people, get fresh air, and live. Marnie is a reluctant joiner, but she agrees for part of the journey.
Nicholls has fun with Marnie’s profession as well. She’s a copy editor, and she’s currently editing an erotic thriller called “Twisted Night”, which Nicholls uses for comedic purposes. Not only is the grammar bad, but Marnie had issues keeping up with body parts and where they were.
“So disorienting was the action that she had to make notes on her napkin to establish everyone’s whereabouts, a complex web of arrows and initials, like a diagram of the Battle of Austerlitz. Was S on top of B now or behind, and if so, where did that put L and what was in her hand?...In the meantime there was plenty to be getting on with, not least the wild punctuation, the commas scattered like rose petals, the yelp of exclamation marks paragraph-length sentences that gave the text a kind of hallucinatory, high-modernist intensity.”
The fun though is the hike. When Marnie and Michael finally walk together, it is their conversations that keep the reader chuckling and reading. The dialogue is fun. Plus, Nicholls includes a map of the whole walk, along with what the walk will be for that day. He describes the countryside well; I felt like I was there, getting rained on and slogging up crags and down muddy dales.
This is the type of romance genre I enjoy. Both protagonists are snarky, smart, and quick with a comeback. They are midlife, set in their ways, and some might refer to as “difficult”. Their banter is fun.
I recommend this as a fun read, for when you want something chuckle-worthy and witty. I enjoyed my hike with Michael and Marnie.
I’m a huge thriller fan, although I don’t follow the Military or Conspiracy Thriller genre. Given the incredibly high rating for the novel, I had to sI’m a huge thriller fan, although I don’t follow the Military or Conspiracy Thriller genre. Given the incredibly high rating for the novel, I had to see what the fuss was all about.
This started a bit slow for me, but once it picked up speed, I couldn’t read fast enough. It begins with Matt Redd (the protagonist of the thriller series), who has a special assignment prior to a huge mission. He’s a Marine Raider, the elite force of the Marines. Being a Marine is his identity. The special assignment goes awry, and he misses his huge mission. Matt ends up being dishonorably discharged. The only place for him to go is back to Montana to his father’s ranch. He is devastated.
The majority of the story is told in two locations: Washington DC which involves the FBI, and Montana. Keeping chapters short makes this a suspenseful page-turner. Clues are dropped in these short chapters, and as a reader, one is trying to tie it all together.
What I enjoyed was the military lingo that author Ryan Steck used, lending the story authenticity. His command of battle scenes is amazing. Also, Steck peppered clues which I initially missed, and appreciated upon my skimming re-read (which most of us thriller-lovers do). Ukrainians are introduced early in the novel (page 26) and the reader learns of a secret project that they are involved in. Want to add intrigue to a suspense? Add a Russian or Ukrainian who is working on a secret project in the boonies of Montana!
When Matt Redd returns to his desolate town in Montana, he finds things have changed. He’s beginning to suspect that something untoward is happening in his hometown. Even the police seem to be shady. He discovers that his father died under suspicious circumstances. From the moment he steps foot at his home, Matt encounters trouble.
Steck picked a great location for his story. Montana has an open-carry firearm law added to the thriller aspect. Think someone packing a chromed M1911 semiauto in a thigh holster walking around Home Depot. The speed limit is 80 mph. Montana is one of the last wild western frontiers. Plus, it’s desolate. Backup takes hours, not minutes to occur.
The FBI is trying to locate a notorious bioweapons expert who has ties to at least six different terrorist organizations on five continents. How does this tie together?
Of course, there are OTT moments which I expect from my thrillers. When done well, I don’t care, and I go along for the ride. The reason for the title is made obvious at the end of the story. I highly recommend this. I was astounded at how involved I became in the story!
Two things drew me to Willy Vlautin’s “The Horse”. First is that the amazing Ann Patchett endorsed this novel. I respect Ms. Patchett as she tirelesslTwo things drew me to Willy Vlautin’s “The Horse”. First is that the amazing Ann Patchett endorsed this novel. I respect Ms. Patchett as she tirelessly advocates for those great authors who don’t get their fair share of press. Second, Vlautin dedicates the novel to John Doe, lead member of the Band X. I loved X, and the bandmates Exene Cervenka and John Doe in my youth!
While I enjoyed the story, I don’t know if it’s for everyone. Vlautin writes of a fictitious musician, Al Ward, a country songwriter/singer. He details the struggles of musicians, trying to scrap out a living playing in beer-soaked bars, casinos, hotels, anywhere they can get a gig. If you are familiar with country western music, most are sad. Think of the titles “You’re the Reason Our Kids are Ugly (Loretta Lynn/Conway Twitty); “The Joke” (Brandi Carlile); “Beer Never Broke My Heart (Luke Combs); “I’m Sorry” (Brenda Lee); “All You Ever Do is Bring Me Down” (The Mavericks) just to name a few. Al writes a few doozies himself which Vlautin must have had fun dreaming up. For example, there’s: “I Hit it Big but It Hit Back Bigger”; High Time We Quit This Low Living”; “I got Loaded”; “The Big Escape” to name a few. These are songs that tell stories. If you love sad songs, you’re in for a treat with this book.
This is a sad story showcasing the booze, drugs, and hard living of a musician. Remember “Walk the Line”, the Johnny Cash movie? Johnny’s rise to fame was rocky, ugly, and booze infested. This novel reminded me of the movie “Leaving Las Vegas” with Nicholas Cage and Elisabeth Shue. One must be in the mood to enjoy(?) a drama whose protagonist who seems to be hell-bent on destroying himself. Al, like Johnny, wasn’t necessarily hellbent on self-destruction; however, both men had substance issues and found themselves in precarious situations due to their life choices. And, like Johnny Cash, Al is likeable. The reader wants good things for him because he’s a great guy who just makes really bad decisions.
Even at his lowest points in the narrative, Al NEEDED to write songs. Vlautin demonstrates the commitment and dedication which borders on obsession of a person’s love for their craft. Al is a gifted song writer. That gift kept him alive. But what a life!
I listened to the audio, narrated by the author. He did a fine job. I wished that I would have read this though. Al tells his story in a nonlinear, rambling way, which made following the story difficult on audio. I immediately went back to the beginning of the audio after I completed it. I missed so many things while I listened the first time. The transitions from memory to what is happening to Al as he goes along his day is confusing. I love Vlautin’s prose. For that reason, I’ll check out his other works, but I’m going to read them.
Vlautin made an impact on how I view those bands who are trying to make a name for themselves. Following one’s passion is not always an easy road. ...more
4.5 Stars: Winner of the Crime Writers’ Association’s John Creasy New Blood Dagger Award and the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year
I found4.5 Stars: Winner of the Crime Writers’ Association’s John Creasy New Blood Dagger Award and the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year
I found author Jo Callaghan’s debut “In a Blink of an Eye” riveting. I am enjoying authors who are including Artificial Intelligence in their genre, in this case, the thriller/police procedural genre.
Lock, an AIDE (Artificially Intelligent Detective Entity) is a hologram created by a university professor as an aid to the police force. The idea is that AI can compute statistic, scan evidence, compute complex calculations in seconds while it could take a human 50 hours of work. Furthermore, the professor who created it wanted to take out human bias judgements. The professor wanted all logic in police work, not the hidden biases to be involved. Lock is part of a pilot program which Kat Frank, a successful policewoman, is designated to lead. She’s not thrilled, as she believes her success has been because of her “gut”, her intuition. Additionally, Kat just lost her husband to cancer, an AI misdiagnosis. (I didn’t know that the medical community is using AI!) She is leery that Lock will be a thorn in her side. Reluctantly, she agrees to be part of the program.
Her mandate is to find two missing young men, both in their later teens. When the team meets, including Lock, (who is made in the image of the actor Chadwick Boseman) Kat is annoyed and impressed in equal measure. Lock knocked out the stats involving missing boys in seconds. He can do more than that as well. He can upload pictures and produce them on a wall. He’s an efficient tool. He also challenges her embedded biases which she finds frustrating. She refers to Lock as “it”, as she refuses to acknowledge his “male” hologram.
Callaghan adds humor to her story. For example, Lock ponders why humans want to make AI more “humanlike” when really humans should be wanting to be more AI-like. He can watch a movie in 5 seconds, which includes a review and analysis. Why waste time being human? These are smile worthy moments, not chuckle, but necessary nonetheless because the plot is stressful: find the two missing boys before they find them dead.
Suspense is added when Callaghan includes short chapters involving someone in a hospital bed. Those are chilling chapters. The chapters are narrated by a male voice.
I listened to the audio narrated by Paul Mendez and Rose Akroyd. I couldn’t wait to get back to my audio. Highly recommend. ...more
I enjoy the homespun wisdom that Viola Shipman (aka Wade Rouse) knits into her narratives. In “The Edge of Summer”, prota3.5 stars: TW: Covid aftermath
I enjoy the homespun wisdom that Viola Shipman (aka Wade Rouse) knits into her narratives. In “The Edge of Summer”, protagonist Sutton Douglas ventures into the unknown after her secretive mother dies. Sutton was raised in the Ozarks by her seamstress mother who did her best to give Sutton everything she needed. Sutton, however, wanted to learn more about her family history. Her mother told her that the family house burned down, and her family perished. They are alone in the world with no living relatives. The only clue Sutton had regarding her family history was the sewing notions that were her toys as she grew up.
Button cards play prominently in this story. I recall button cards from my youth. Shipman brought back sewing to me, as a child of the 70’s. Every mother sewed at that time. Our mothers sewed at least 90% of our clothing back in the day. Patterns were used, I recall the McCall’s Patterns fondly. Shipman uses sewing terms as chapter headings, which I enjoyed. Examples: Bumblebunching; notions; drape; invisible zipper; and patchwork to name a few. It elicited fond memories. Singer Sewing machines were prized possessions of the “everyday housewife” at the time.
As with all Shipman’s stories, the majority of the narrative takes place in Michigan, the “mitten” of Michigan to be precise. I have not had the opportunity to be a visitor to the mitten area of Michigan, and every time I read one of Shipman’s novels, I want to book a trip.
Sutton finds a button card with Douglas Michigan as the place the buttons were manufactured. I didn’t know that pearl buttons were manufactured in Michigan, using child labor to extract the meat from the oysters to get to the peals to create the pearl buttons. Because her last name is Douglas, Sutton believes she may find answers to her lineage questions.
Sutton lost her mother to Covid. As a result, she has emotional issues re-entering society. She is fearful to be around people, to hug people, to be in their breathable air space. I found being inside Sutton’s head interesting. It helped me understand some people’s fears.
I enjoyed the sewing parts, the fond memories of sewing. The story line didn’t grab me like a couple of her(his?) others. Reading Shipman always elicits nostalgia for me. The story of Sutton understanding her mother’s plight wasn’t as satisfying as I had hoped. It’s a solid read, just not a great one.
I listened to the short story “Consignment” by Joan Bauer. I was draw to this because it is narrated by “Virtual Voice”, a computer-generated narratioI listened to the short story “Consignment” by Joan Bauer. I was draw to this because it is narrated by “Virtual Voice”, a computer-generated narration. The narration sounded realistic.
It’s a short about a couple who take in a young male relative when his father dies, and his mother is mentally ill. They have a two-year-old daughter. The boy is the husband, Charles’s, family member. Mary Ellen agrees, and she is left with him during the day. Mary Ellen is a stay-at-home mother, and Charles works. The time of this story is never mentioned, but it must be in the 1950’s when women were subservient to their men.
Mary Ellen misses her former life, the possibilities it held. Marriage to Charles rendered Mary Ellen to a less sophisticated lifestyle. Her hampered life comes to a head once she is forced to care for the boy.
This is an almost 2 hours listen. It’s interesting. It’s an average listen.
3.75 stars “The Paris Novel” by Ruth Reichl is a feel-good novel, that I believe I’ll remember. Yes, it’s very contrived. There are too many “asks” of 3.75 stars “The Paris Novel” by Ruth Reichl is a feel-good novel, that I believe I’ll remember. Yes, it’s very contrived. There are too many “asks” of the reader to believe this could happen. It’s like a Disney movie, only this is an adult novel that brings the joy to our adult souls like what Disney movies provide to children’s souls. I wanted to be happy, so I went along for the ride.
Ruth Reichi is known as a food writer. Her love for food, especially French cuisine comes through loud and clear here. Her protagonist, Stella, is a mousy New York book editor whose mother dies at the beginning of the story. Her mother dominated her life as a child; one could say that Stella had a traumatic childhood. Reichl writes delicately of sexual abuse that Stella suffered at the hands of one of her mother’s paramours, which caused Stella to shut down and fear life. She lived her life in NYC with routine to maintain safety.
When her mother dies, her mother is almost penniless. She died with $8,000 (this is in the ‘80’s) in assets and instructed her lawyer to buy a roundtrip ticket to Paris that Stella was to use. The remaining money she was to use while in Paris. Fearful Stella is only motivated to take the trip when a work event forced her to take some time off.
When Stella goes to Paris, she is drawn to a dress in the window of a shop. The sales lady insists that she tries it on. It fits beautifully. Stella pauses at the price, $6.000. If she bought it, she’d have little money left for her visit. Long story short, the lady persuades Stella into keeping the dress for a day and do exactly what the shop lady says (go eat Belon oysters at Les Deux Magots and drink Chablis). If she follows these instructions, she’ll see the value of the dress. The dress had an insignia, it read “Severine”. The shop lady explained that it was one of the first dresses made by Monsieur Saint Laurent for the house of Dior. Dior declared the whomever wore the dress, it would be named by the wearer. It was first named “Victoire”, and then a woman named Severine bought it. Hence, the shop lady renamed it “Stella”.
The trip is too much for fearful Stella. She meets an elderly man who enjoys the Belon oysters and wine along with Stella. Stella has an interest in finding an obscure female artist/model named Victorine. She tells her companion, and he knows the proprietor of the famous Shakespeare & Co, George Whitman. If anyone can help her, it would be George.
What I enjoyed is Reich’s ability to use real people in her story. George Whitman was the founder of the famous Shakespeare & Co. As in the book, he allowed struggling artists (whom he calls his “Tumbleweeds”) to live in his bookstore. Another real life character was Stella’s employer, Evelyn Shrifte who ran Vanguard Press from 1952 until 1988 when it was sold to Random House. Reich includes James Baldwin, Richard Olney, and Allen Ginsberg who spent time at Shakespeare & Co. The model/artist Stella was interested in, Victorine-Louise Meurent, was the model for Manet’s “Olympia”. Victorine’s history is written by bitter men, and after finding portraits of her which were done after she was reduced to penury in the men’s biographical accounts, it’s clear that she was a force and marginalized by men. Her self-portrait is at the Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts.
This is a delightful, and yes contrived, story of a young woman who learns about France through food. This would be a foodie’s delight, reading this novel. The taste descriptions were above my pedestrian palate; those who love French food will delight in the story.
Sometimes we want a well-written, feel-good novel. This was it for me. I enjoyed being with Stella as she became a confident, young woman.
I was exceedingly happy to find the ARC of Shari Lapena’s “What Have You Done” in my public library. The expected publication date is July 30th. My coI was exceedingly happy to find the ARC of Shari Lapena’s “What Have You Done” in my public library. The expected publication date is July 30th. My copy was an Advance Uncorrected Proofs, and I saw no error that could possibly be corrected!
Lapena is one of my go-to thriller authors who never disappoints. This one has “Lovely Bones” vibes, in that this is a story of a teenaged girl who was murdered, and her spirit watches the aftermath and provides commentary.
Diana Brewer, the murdered girl, is a senior in high school, and by accounts a respected student, friend, and athlete. Her murder appears to have a sexual element because she was found naked in a farmer’s field, with none of her clothing or personal belongings around.
The story is told in third person, with first person narratives from Diana and one of her friends whose observations are made via journal entries. Her boyfriend, who has a possessive issue, is of high interest. We also learn that Diana had issues with a teacher, and he becomes a person of interest. Diana worked at Home Depot, and she reported to her boss that there was a customer who bothered her. Now there is another suspect. Red herrings abound.
What Lapena does, is show how girls and women are dismissed when they express fear or file complaints. Teenaged girls are often dismissed as hysterical or dramatic. Another sub-theme is working moms, and their guilt. Disappointing husbands and how women deal with them is an additional sub-theme. We worry about our beautiful teen girls, but they seem hesitant to come forward with complaints because no one takes them seriously. Lapena shows the danger in that.
Why I’m a Lapena fan is that she consistently dupes me, and I love to be duped in my thrillers.
It’s July and that means getting my rom/com fill. Author Emily Henry never fails to delight. Her recent publication, “Funny Story” met all my needs, aIt’s July and that means getting my rom/com fill. Author Emily Henry never fails to delight. Her recent publication, “Funny Story” met all my needs, and even my expectations (although I am trying to make 2024 my year of “no expectations”).
The “funny story” is the story of Daphne Vincent and how she met the man of her dreams. How? Well, Daphne was dumped by her fiancé Peter after moving and changing her life to fit in with Peter’s. After the shock of the dump, Daphne sees how her whole life was built around Peter. Her friends were Peter’s friends. She spent most her time with his family, doing what he wanted to do (including the daily consumption of wheat grass).
The woman Peter dumped her for, Petra, is Peter’s childhood best friend. Peter always told Daphne she had nothing to worry about, it was purely a platonic relationship. Thus, Daphne was shocked when Peter called her, after his Batcheler party and told her he was in love with Petra and just realized it. Peter adds to the shock by stating that he and Petra are going on a week-long European trip to celebrate their new relationship. Peter “kindly” allows Daphne that one week to move out of his house. Daphne is unceremoniously dumped via phone and given 7 days to evacuate the premises.
Miles, Petra’s ex contacts Daphne and she decides to move in with him. He’s got a two-bedroom apartment, and he seems like a nice guy. The story begins with Daphne kvetching about Miles’ affinity for playing the sad soundtrack of “Bridget Jones’s Diary” very loudly. “All By Myself” by Eric Carmen is his current favorite. Many sad songs are referenced in this book, which adds to the enjoyment because how can one hear the title “All By Myself” and not start singing it in their head? Personally, I loved the “Witchy Woman” replays. Who amongst us hasn’t cried our hearts out to overwrought love songs focusing on being jilted? That’s what makes Henry great, everything is very relatable.
Henry includes an eccentric group of Northern Michigan characters (the location of the story). This is a fun, clever, light, and fast read. It’s predictable in the best way possible: delivering a chuckle-inducing read that leaves you smiling with faith in humanity. I highly recommend it for that perfect beach read. ...more
3.5 stars I was not a fan of narrator Kate Reading’s performance in “Barriers to Entry”, written by Ariel Lawhon. I enjoyed her latest novel, “The Froz3.5 stars I was not a fan of narrator Kate Reading’s performance in “Barriers to Entry”, written by Ariel Lawhon. I enjoyed her latest novel, “The Frozen River” and eagerly purchased this short story, one in the Blaze Collection. The Blaze Collection is about incendiary women who dare to defy convention.
This short story showcases Frances Glessner Lee. Ms. Lee is recognized as the “godmother of forensic science”. A bit of background: She was the country’s first female police captain and the creator of the “Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death”. What she did is create dollhouse-sized crime scene dioramas as inventive tools in solving crimes. She created the “Nutshells” during the 1940’s to help train forensic investigators. She constructed domestic interiors, including the blood-stained figures, blood spatters, in the diorama which included details, such as the exact books in the bookcase, blankets on the floor, lights that were on and were off. She found her passion for forensics through one of her brother’s friends, George Burgess Magrath. Magrath was a professor of pathology at Harvard Medical School. He persuaded Ms. Lee to fund the nation’s first university department of legal medicine at Harvard. This is where the story begins.
It's 1945, and Frances (aged 67) has six men to whom she will be instructing. A couple of the men are aghast that a woman is the instructior. Lawhon writes Lee with clever humor. Lee sees the way some of the men regard her. She muses the one of the wary men was one of those men who “were born to wear boat shoes.” Another wary man has “the third” in his moniker. She thinks, “the 3rd always wants to be in charge”. She’s a funny woman. Lee decides to pair them, one medical student and one detective. She wants the medical students to think like a detective, and the detective to look at medical evidence, to think like a doctor.
At the beginning narrator Kate Reading informs the listener that there are photos of the real dioramas and suggests that the listener find them online (search: three room dwelling by Frances Lee) while listening to the story. I did, and it added to the story. While the 3 teams attempted to solve the murders, we can follow along as they build their cases.
I started this listen 3 times and finished it because I wanted to know the story. The narrator grated on me, but I persevered because I wanted to know more about this woman! The story deserves 5 stars. The narrator, 2 stars. The author’s notes are the best parts of the story. It’s an hour and 15 minute listen. ...more
3.5 stars: I had a chance to get an ARC of “Bright Objects” by Ruby Todd. This is a quiet tale about a woman who wants justice for her husband’s vehicu3.5 stars: I had a chance to get an ARC of “Bright Objects” by Ruby Todd. This is a quiet tale about a woman who wants justice for her husband’s vehicular death. Oh, and a comet is coming towards her small town in Australia. Author Ruby Todd includes tidbits of the history of comets and prophets, and the connections of comets coinciding with the death of great men (e.g. Nero and Caesar).
Sylvia Knight, the 32-year-old protagonist, is working as a funeral home attendant 2 years after a life-altering vehicular accident which left her husband dead and her critically injured. Sylvia is going through the motions of life. Her best friend is her mother-in-law Sandy who is equally suffering in grief. Sylvia believes she knows who hit her car and left the scene. She is seeking revenge and justice.
A comet is expected to make a spectacular show in her small town around the same time that Sylvia has made a pact with herself. While Sylvia grieves her husband, Todd adds information on the comet and the type of people it attracts. Of course, there’s a doomsday vibe through the whole story.
Sylvia is a relatable character making this an easy read. I recommend this for those who are fascinated by what sort of people comets attract. Todd’s prose is beautiful....more
Outlier review. I did NOT enjoy Taffy Brodesser-Anker’s “Long Island Compromise”. Perhaps it’s my age. I found tooTW: S&M; self-abasement, kidnapping
Outlier review. I did NOT enjoy Taffy Brodesser-Anker’s “Long Island Compromise”. Perhaps it’s my age. I found too much graphic S&M and gratuitous self-abasement for which I really didn’t see the necessity. She could have told her story without that.
Next, the characters are whiny self-entitled wealthy people. They were grating. It was difficult to continue reading, because when I encounter people like that, I remove myself from any situation around them. Additionally, it’s difficult to read about characters complaining about their abundant trust funds. I didn’t see humor in the characters’ neurosis nor predicaments.
This is a story about intergenerational trauma regarding wealth. Yes, wealthy people are traumatized by wealth. Add to that, the family is Jewish American, which carries all the intergenerational trauma involving the history of Jews, most recently the Holocaust. Now we have a toxic stew of “Your Grandfather survived the Holocaust for this?” to “wah-wah my life was too easy for me and now I have no direction and its money’s fault”.
All the Jewish female characters were despicable. I cringed reading how the mother and grandmother talked to their offspring. I didn’t find humor in the way they talked to their children/grandchildren/daughter-in-law’s.
Plot summary: a patriarch is kidnapped for a week. This trauma is never addressed. The matriarch (his mother) wants everyone to ignore that it happened. “It happened to his body, not his mind”. This PTSD claims each family member’s soul in a different way. The story is told by character, with the first character’s, Beamer (the middle child), story. Unfortunately, Brodesser-Akner gives Beamer far too much storyline involving TMI.
The reader learns of all the characters personal struggles, their POV’s. She is a clever writer which is why I continued reading this 446-page novel. These people made their fortune off Styrofoam. That alone is hysterical.
Her prose deserves 5 stars. Her plot deserves 5 stars because it’s so layered in its telling. The characters get 1 star for complexity. I believe she could have accomplished what she was trying to tell without the shock-value of Beamer and the cringe-worthy value of Ruth and the whininess of Jenny. Again, I’m an outlier, and I don’t think I am the target audience.
My review is based upon an ARC that I received from my public library....more
Irish author Claire Keegan captures the seedy underbelly of Irish male misogamy in “So Late in the Day”. I listened to her incredibly short (50 mins) Irish author Claire Keegan captures the seedy underbelly of Irish male misogamy in “So Late in the Day”. I listened to her incredibly short (50 mins) short story about a man, Cathal (FYI the name sounds like the name Carl), who contemplates how he got to where he is. If he had a different father, would that have made a difference? Bleak. Ms. Keagan narrates. It’s an amazing listen, but don’t give it a shot if you don’t want to be left crushed....more
“Sandwich” by author Catherine Newman is a double entendre title. This takes place in Sandwich, MA, on Cape Cod. Yet, it’s also about the “Sandwich ge“Sandwich” by author Catherine Newman is a double entendre title. This takes place in Sandwich, MA, on Cape Cod. Yet, it’s also about the “Sandwich generation”: those who are the parents of just launching adults and at the same time the child of declining senior parents. Those who are 50 years or older, who feel the need to parent both their parents, and their emerging adult children will identify with this story, especially if you have children that are now curious about your life when you dated or curious about your marriage. Oh, and Rocky does make a lot of sandwiches on this trip. A triple entendre perhaps?
This is compared to Ann Patchett’s “Tom Lake” in that it takes place in one location, with adult children who decide this is a great time to get to know their parent’s history, or particularly their mother’s. Do you ever finish a book and think there aren’t enough stars to express your pleasure? Or a book that makes you reconsider all your previous ratings and want to knock them down a star? I rated “Tom Lake” 5 stars. This exceeds “Tom Lake”.
Rachel, AKA Rocky, is in her mid 50’s. She and her husband have taken their family to The Cape for a couple of decades to vacation. This year, her son brings his girlfriend for whom he’s been dating for over 5 years. She’s part of the family. Her daughter, a few years younger, is adorable. She finds a girlfriend there (she’s gay) and gleefully enjoys her week of vacation.
I listened to the audio, narrated by Nan McNamara who was outstanding. I adored the voice she used for Willa, the daughter. Every time Willa said in an exaggerated voice, “MOM!”, I heard my own daughter. In fact, Rocky muses that the statement “OH MY GOD MOM!” should be etched onto her tombstone. I so relate to that. I believe that’s both my children’s battle cry.
Rocky waxes poetically about menopause. If you’ve had the opportunity to see the musical, “Menopause, the Musical” and thought it was hilarious, and accurate to boot, you will enjoy Rocky’s musings. She discusses her dry vaginal issues (men be forewarned), the need for everything to be biopsied. Oh, and the “vintage brown skin” that we all seem to acquire, and let’s not go into “liver spots”. I understood her agony. Luckily for me, I didn’t have her history for getting pregnant. Although I didn’t identify with some of her reproductive issues, I had compassion. Newman wrote Willa so amazingly well. Although Rocky didn’t want to divulge much, Willa was a compassionate listener.
When Rocky’s parents arrive, Newman writes them accurately. Rocky’s father asks Willa, “Why do I have so much Spam in my Spam folder?” Willa replies, “I don’t know Grandpa, is it because it’s for Spam?” He retorts, “Well I don’t like it.” Willa offers to show him how to delete his spam, but Grampa states “I don’t care enough about it to learn how to delete.” I swear this happened with my father-in-law.
Many revelations are made during this family vacation. Rocky narrates this beauty, and McNamara’s performance voicing Rocky made this a magnificent audio. Newman’s characters are well educated, well-adjusted, and happy. Rocky has her anger moments, but her rage is tinged with humor.
Author Catherine Newman is a self-described “55-year-old white half Jewish cis queer menopausal woman. I am neither half Jewish (although my husband is Jewish), nor queer. Yet, I identified with so much in this short novel. It’s short of a 6 hour listen, and I was sad when it ended. I’d love to be Rocky’s friend.
“Jackpot Summer” by Elyssa Friedland is a fun, light, and silly summer read. I chose the audio format with Therese Plummer narrating. Her pe3.5 stars:
“Jackpot Summer” by Elyssa Friedland is a fun, light, and silly summer read. I chose the audio format with Therese Plummer narrating. Her performance elevated the story for me. If you haven’t had a chance to try her, you are missing out!
Friedland starts the story with 4 blurbs of lottery winners, and their ultimate demise. They are cautionary tale vignettes. And then we are introduced to the Fantastic Foursome, the four Jacobson siblings: Sophie, Laura, Noah, and Matthew.
Their widower father is selling their childhood home on the Jersey Shore. The siblings unite to help their father get ready to move to Florida and sell their house. Each sibling has their own personal issue, mostly financial. Matthew and his wife are financially sound, but Matthew hates his corporate lawyer job. Both he and his wife are on partner track. Laura is married to a dentist, but it appears he could be cheating. Sophie is a struggling artis. Noah, the baby, just can’t get his adult life together and is scraping by doing cheap tech support.
Noah decides to try his luck at the Power Ball Lottery. He asks his siblings if they want him to purchase a ticket for them. All but Matthew contributes funds for Noah to purchase tickets. Long story short, one of their tickets is one of the two winning tickets. Hence, three of the four siblings are millionaires…awkward!
After receiving their portions, each sibling goes on with their lives, but not with the same sibling dynamics. In their joy of winning, purchasing stuff, and living large, they find that their lives are even more empty than before the win!
Plummer did an excellent job voicing the characters. There is much discussion fodder: what would you do if you won the lottery? The sibling relationships are interesting. Their changing relationship with their father had some snort-worthy moments. Laura’s concern for the state of her marriage is relatable. Noah, as the family baby is typical in his failure to launch. Sophie’s struggle to gain notice in the art world has embarrassing moments.
This is a warm and funny story. I laughed out loud. I call this pure book candy! Rating based on the genre....more
3.25 stars: What a crazy story! “Bye, Baby” by Carola Lovering revolves around two 30-something women with a certifiable toxic relationship. To appreci3.25 stars: What a crazy story! “Bye, Baby” by Carola Lovering revolves around two 30-something women with a certifiable toxic relationship. To appreciate the novel, one must abandon critical thought and just go for the ride. But isn’t that what all thrillers require?
Lovering creates tension in the prologue. It’s October 13, 2023, and Cassie is screaming because her baby is missing. Billie, Cassie’s childhood friend, is holding said baby in an apartment below the screaming Cassie. Someone shouts that they have notified the authorities, and Cassie shouts that she wants Billie. Billie sees on her caller ID that Cassie is calling her….
This is a character driven story, with chapters narrated by Billie and Cassie. Billie opens Chapter 1, 50 days before the child abduction, August 24, 2023. Billie is on the third date with Alex, a policeman, and they are getting to know each other. The reader learns that Billie is not a baby person; she works as a luxury travel consultant. She flies to exotic places and stays in expensive hotels. Her life seems great, so it is a mystery as to why she is so attached to Cassie, who is dismissive and cruel to her.
Cassie’s first chapter is 49 days before the abduction, August 25, 2023. We learn about her marriage to Grant and her life as a new mother. Cassie is building a career as a lifestyle influencer. Grant, who is a trust fund baby, is financing her career as an influencer and entrepreneur. Cassie is a “wannabe”, trying to secure herself into the monied crowd. There’s not much to like about her.
Lovering includes the girls’ history. Both girls come from middle-class families. They hale from a small Hudson Valley town, which Cassie is embarrassed to acknowledge. Billie’s childhood was more troubled than Cassie’s, and Cassie was a huge support friend during Billie’s troublesome years. Meanwhile, Cassie wants nothing to do with her family or her history. She wants to leave it all behind and be how she sees herself: wealthy, relevant, important, and enviable. Billie doesn’t fit into her new narrative. Cassie wants to forget her past. The problem is that Billie knows the worst thing she’s done, and that is what Cassie is trying to outrun.
How did it come to Billie taking Cassie’s baby? Slowly, Lovering reveals her plot. Because it’s told in alternating POV’s with the countdown clock to the abduction, the story becomes a compulsive page-turner.
As with many thrillers, I kept reading and thinking “this is insane”! Yet, I couldn’t stop reading. ...more
Thank you, GR friend Linda who reviewed Mick Herron’s, “Slow Horses: Slough House Book 1”. This has been made into an Apple TV series, staring Gary OlThank you, GR friend Linda who reviewed Mick Herron’s, “Slow Horses: Slough House Book 1”. This has been made into an Apple TV series, staring Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb, the main protagonist. Kristin Scott Thomas is Diana Taverner (aka Lady Di). Those two actors are perfectly cast, in my humble opinion.
Slough House is an administrative purgatory for M15 intelligence officers who basically messed up. The motley bunch are referred to as “slow horses”. The hope is that the tediousness will motivate them to quit. Jackson Lamb runs the group of misfits. Jackson is disheveled, rude (passes flatulence loudly and constantly). He’s the definition of sloven. Gary Oldman is perfect.
The story opens with River Cartwright being the fall guy for a training exercise blunder. Lamb assigns him to carry out surveillance on a journalist who allegedly is associated with far-right politicians. River’s grandfather, a M15 legend, issues him a warning that this assignment could blow up in his face, and because it’s a Slough House assignment, most likely the M15 are using him. Herron sets up this thriller with a hint of betrayal.
Meanwhile, a British-Pakistani student is kidnapped by the far-right group, Sons of Albion who announce that they will behead him on livestream at sunrise. No ransom has been issued. Just a promise. Now where is this student being held? Who’s behind this and why?
The rag-tag team at Slough House determine there could be connections between what they are doing, observing the maybe-crooked journalist. If they crack this case, maybe they’ll get out of the pits of the Slough House and redeem themselves.
This is a highly entertaining thriller. Herron’s prose is witty and at time snarky. My husband and I listened to the audio while driving cross country. We were constantly snickering. Many snarky comments are said as an aside, almost under breath. We rewound a lot just to make sure we enjoyed it completely. The banter alone is reason to read/listen to the book.
Gerald Doyle narrates this 11-hour audio. This is book 1 in a 8 book series. Apple TV is about to release Season 4. When we finish this trip, we shall watch Season 1.
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