Thank you GR friends who previously reviewed Gina Chung’s “Green Frog”, which is a short story collection. You piqued my interest, and I am pleased thThank you GR friends who previously reviewed Gina Chung’s “Green Frog”, which is a short story collection. You piqued my interest, and I am pleased that I got the audio, narrated by Jeena Yi, Sue Jean Kim, and Hannah Choi. In these stories, the narrators elevated the experience.
This is billed as a short story collection that explores Korean American life. Her stories fall into the categories of literary fiction, some fables, folklore and a quasi-science fiction. There are 15 stories; the shortest is 6 minutes long and the longest is just short of an hour. She starts with a bang, with “How to Eat your Own Heart” which is a bit disturbing as reflected in the title. For me, the saddest one is “The Sound of Water” which explores anti-Asian sentiment (who tells a Korean kid that the tooth fairy doesn’t visit Korean kids?). One that involved folklore gives the reason frogs croak/cry in the rain. She touches upon the beauty of granddaughter/grandmother relationships, especially when a girl has a harsh mother.
Some of the themes she incorporates: grief; abandoned dreams; multiculturalism issues; insecurity; marriage; mother/daughter relationships; and even AI! In one, a husband and wife buy a little girl who was manufactured using AI to replace the daughter they lost. My immediate thought was, “oh no, I hope this isn’t going to be like a Stephen King rendition of ‘Pet Cemetery’”. Thank goodness, it is not; yet it is disturbing.
The audiobook is 7 hours of thought-provoking entertainment. I enjoyed every second, even the disturbing stories! ...more
One of my favorite poems is Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken”. It’s a poem about choice, and regret. And as mentioned in “The Yellow Wood”, most peoOne of my favorite poems is Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken”. It’s a poem about choice, and regret. And as mentioned in “The Yellow Wood”, most people remember it as a path not taken. Frost intentionally used the word “road” because a road is man-made. It implies intent. Additionally, Frost’s individual is “sorry” that he had to choose, he must take a road, and this implies he’s already in the throes of regret.
“The Yellow Road” is a nod to Frost’s poem. Amber Farrow and Griffin Lee meet at university in Australia. Griffin is Australian and Amber is finishing her nursing degree on exchange. Amber always intended to part of humanitarian nursing, working with groups such as Doctors without Borders. She wants to see the world, travel, and experience life unencumbered. Griffin is an artist. He has roots in Australia; he loves his country.
Although the two love each other, neither will settle. Amber needs to travel. Griffin needs to be at his art studio, creating beautiful paintings with a unique twist. He wants to be near his family; Amber has no family.
This is an Audible Original short story. It’s a 5 hour listen. Author Minnie Darke structures her story by time, beginning in 2022 and we learn of their relationship. It bounces back to 2014 when they first met, and then other defining years in each of their lives. It’s an interesting look at choice and regret. It’s sweet. ...more
“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
“The Chamber” by Will Dean started as an adventure read. It reminded me of Andy Weir’s “The Martian”. Ellen Brooke is the 4.5 stars:
TW: Claustrophobia
“The Chamber” by Will Dean started as an adventure read. It reminded me of Andy Weir’s “The Martian”. Ellen Brooke is the narrator of “The Chamber” and she starts the novel by explaining everything involved in a saturation dive. Perhaps it’s because Ellen explains that divers who dive this deep wear contraptions like astronauts with the big helmet and awkward gloves, etc. Furthermore, she describes how each part of the dive can go wrong, and what happens when it does go wrong. It’s a dangerous job, which as a career, attracts very brave people, some could say thrill seekers and adrenalin junkies. The crew is in a hyperbaric chamber (diving bell) that is around 100 meters below the ocean’s surface to the seabed. I was familiar with the bends and regulating pressure and that rapid decompression could be fatal. But there is far more involved. The air that they breath is a helium-heavy gas (heliox) which makes their voices sound like Minnie and Micky Mouse. It takes a while to adjust to understanding their new voices. There is a massive support team on the mother ship, more than 90 individuals, that the divers depend upon. One error and the divers could implode, have their blood boil, or they could freeze to death in seconds. They gruesome ways to die are abundant, and Ellen details them all.
As I said, the beginning is science rich, similar to Weir’s space novels. The divers are there to repair parts of an oil rig. The divers work in shifts; Ellen and another diver are the first to go down the diving bell, working in 5-hour shifts.
When one of the divers is found dead in his bunk, it is assumed there was an underlying health condition because there is no overt reason for the death. There are 6 divers involved, 5 alive. Now the other five need to be involved in an immediate autopsy before they can move the body. They need four days of decompression before the locked hatch to the chamber can be safely opened…or they will “get bent”.
When a second diver dies, the situation becomes a pressure-cooker and a locked-room mystery. Ellen informs us how food is passed through decompressed airlocks and water is pumped into the chamber. The chamber is impenetrable. Is the killer one of the divers? Or is there a culpable nefarious support team member?
The remaining divers attempt to find out how the divers are dying. How can this be happening in such a controlled environment? As the body count rises, which eliminates suspects, paranoia is rampant. Extensive dives can cause brain injuries. Is someone unhinged? Or is this retribution? We learn some of the background of each diver, including Ellen.
I am not a fan of tight spaces, a bit claustrophobic. Dean’s prose left me with a heavy chest. I was gulping air! The chamber that they are in is about the size of a small bathroom with 3 sets of bunks. That is the comfortable part! As the story progresses, it gets hotter, and more frightening.
Dean sneaks in some other themes such as grief, work pressure, anxiety, coping mechanisms (unhealthy and otherwise). It’s an interesting read!
I chose to listen to the audio, narrated by Helen Keeley. She was excellent with different accents. Highly recommend. ...more
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 listened to close to 4 hours of author Kristen Arnett’s “Mostly Dead Things”. I tried; I really did. This is an interesting story, perhaps a YA storI listened to close to 4 hours of author Kristen Arnett’s “Mostly Dead Things”. I tried; I really did. This is an interesting story, perhaps a YA story, of a girl who is an instrumental part in her family’s Taxidermy business. She’s not stuck there, as she loves her work. It’s an interesting look into taxidermy. I was fascinated.
But then, it turned a bit trashy. The protagonist, Jessa-Lynn finds her father, who committed death by suicide (it’s a bloody scene). That didn’t bother me. Her mother, who was on shaky emotional ground prior to her husband’s death, sinks into a disturbing level of emotional unwellness. She starts exhibiting the taxidermy animals in provocative and vulgar poses.
Jessa-Lynn is queer and can’t keep her hands off her brother’s wife and her mother’s acquaintances. It became a bit raunchy, too raunchy for me. Hence, I DNF.
This is highly rated, so take my DNF with a grain of salt. ...more
I’m new to the Marlow Murder Club Series, joining the series at book 3, “The Queen of Poisons”. What I enjoy most about cozy mysteries is that the autI’m new to the Marlow Murder Club Series, joining the series at book 3, “The Queen of Poisons”. What I enjoy most about cozy mysteries is that the author must rely upon clever characters, banter, and plot. When an author has gore eliminated from his/her mystery repertoire, the author must rely on character development, misdirection, and excellent sleuthing skills.
When Marlow’s Mayor, Geoffrey Lushington dies at a Town Council meeting, a meeting that Suzie Harris was one of the attendees, DI Tanika Malik realizes that the Marlow Murder Club ladies will be working the case whether she wants them or not, so Malik allows them access as “civilian advisors”. Right away, a poison, aconite, was found in his system. Suzie is very familiar with the plant as she grows it in her garden. Given its bitter taste, it is assumed someone put it in his coffee or in his sugar cube. But, who and why?
Why I believe elderly sleuths are such a hit with readers is that we all hope to enter our 70’s and 80’s with our wits about us. We want to believe we will have relevance and energy as we enjoy our senior years; we want to be elderly sleuths. We want to believe it is possible.
So when Judith, Suzie, and Becks align their focus into solving the mystery of who killed the Mayor, it’s delightful. There’s a few squabbles and a very annoying mother-in-law (what a delightfully evil character) that add to the plot. Author Robert Thorogood adds humor to the antics of our senior ladies. Judith is the alpha, Becks, as a Vicar’s wife, seems to have difficulty standing her ground, and Suzie is the dog walking, nature loving senior easily recognized in our daily life; all three characters are entertaining in their own way.
I am happy to be acquainted with these delightful septenaries!
I listened to the audio, narrated very well by Nicolette McKenzie.
What fun this novel was! I adored Korean author Miye Lee’s “The DallerGut Dream Department Store”. Shoutout to translator Sandy Joosun Lee because it What fun this novel was! I adored Korean author Miye Lee’s “The DallerGut Dream Department Store”. Shoutout to translator Sandy Joosun Lee because it seemed as though this was written in English.
Lee begins her story with an Author’s Note. She queries: why do we dream? One third of our lives are spent sleeping. Are our dreams subconscious illusions or are they more profound? She created a story about a shopping village where you can only enter when you are asleep. She includes furry Noctilucas who clothes those who arrive naked. Let’s be real, we’ve all had those naked dreams…. But this isn’t about nightmares of realizing you’re giving a company presentation while nude. No, this is a whimsical look at a place where you can purchase a dream of your choice.
Penny, our protagonist, has arrived at the Department Store for an interview. She gets a job at the front desk; each floor has different dream options. As Penny learns the different dream offerings, it becomes a novel of interconnected stories.
One of my favorites was Precognitive Dreams. Those result in Deja Vue moments in waking life. These are dreams that show events that will happen in the future. Conception dreams are precognitive dreams. FYI, one cannot get a precognitive dream that would provide future lottery numbers. You cannot ask for a specific precognitive dream. You just get a dream of something that will happen in the future.
There was a snippet of a dream of eating. It gave many dreamers pleasure. I’ve done that, but it was a nightmare. I was dieting and had a dream that I binged eating too much food, to my horror. It was my nightmare. I never thought of reframing it to a happy dream of eating when I wasn’t allowing myself my high-fat yummy goodies.
Yes, there are uses for bad dreams…your nightmares. What they can do, is makes you less scared. For example, if you are afraid of rats, you’ll have nightmares of rats, until you conquer your fear! Or a recurring dream of taking a test you didn’t study for (guilty).
Each floor of the department store sells specialized dreams such as flying dreams, childhood memories, visiting dead beloved friends or family. Each floor is whimsical and fun.
If you’ve ever pondered dreams, their part in your emotional life, this is an interesting novel. It’s a fun look at dreams, both nightmares and otherwise. Night is the official moment of resolving the past to enter the present and be prepared for the future.
I appreciated translator Joosun Lee’s translator’s note. She admitted it’s a love letter to this book. She read it in Korean, after her sister gave her the book. She loved the unpretentiousness of the story. She loved all the whimsical and beloved characters. She tells of her choices that she made in wording the story including choice in verb tense.
I highly recommend this wonderful story to anyone who loves quirky and sweet stories. Also, if you are a person who would go to a dream store if available, this is the book for you!
2.5 stars Ok, don’t hate me, but I am not as enthused about Canadian author Robyn Harding’s “The Haters” as most. It most likely is because I used the 2.5 stars Ok, don’t hate me, but I am not as enthused about Canadian author Robyn Harding’s “The Haters” as most. It most likely is because I used the audio, with narrators Megan Tusing and Jess Nahikian. Megan Tusing portrayed protagonist Camryn (Cam) Lane as whiny, annoyingly whiny. While I appreciated the jest of the story, and the frightening problem that is real, internet trolls, and the lack of capacity to do anything to stop internet trolls, the message was loss in the delivery.
Cam is a high school guidance counselor by day, aspiring author by free time. She just published a novel and has attained a publisher and publishing team. She’s a divorced mother, sharing custody of her high school daughter with her ex. She’s got a boyfriend, 9 years her junior. Her ex and his wife live close by to make it easy for her daughter. Her new book has a teen protagonist who is living on the streets, getting by with her gumption.
Cam’s book has been available for sale for a few days, and she initially got great reviews. But one reviewer accused her of using her job as a Guidance Counsellor as fodder for her book, exploiting the students in her care. Long story short, there is a snowball effect, and her ratings drop significantly. There seems to be one internet troll who is making it her life’s mission to destroy Cam.
Kuddos to Harding for exposing how much power book influencers have. Goodreads had a problem with that a while back. Harding shows what little influence authors have over bogus reviews, or reviews that are out of line. Furthermore, even if the internet troll is identified, little can be done.
One huge niggle I had, while listening, is the repeated use of the phrase “why does she hate me?” To me, Cam sounded like my daughter when she was in middle school and high school…the excessive use of the word “hate”; Cam sounded like a high schooler, rather than a high school guidance counsellor(the whiny tone added to the immaturity).
Another slight niggle was that Harding also included excerpts from Cam’s “Burnt Orchid”, the book in question. I’m not sure what the point of including the excerpts was, other than to prove to the reader that Cam was not pilfering from her student’s lives, as she was accused of. What also seemed off about Cam was her strange behaviors. She did some juvenile things while attempting to discover who the troll was. She became a hysterical trainwreck. I wouldn’t want my kid to be counselled by such a person; she was unhinged.
The ending was impressive. I suspected a few different people as the troll. I was wrong. I do enjoy being duped. The mastermind behind the intent to hurt Cam was a surprise, although some of the extenuating factors (some who were part of the scheme) was not a surprise.
My rating is for the audio. I believe that if Cam was portrayed more emotionally strong, which one would expect from a school guidance counsellor, this could have been a stellar audio....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
Brittany Pressley can elevate any story as a narrator and Audible along with author J.T Ellison knows this. Ellison is a skilled literary author of thBrittany Pressley can elevate any story as a narrator and Audible along with author J.T Ellison knows this. Ellison is a skilled literary author of the thriller, mystery, and suspense genre. She is adept at building tension in her narrative. With a great narrator who adds to the tension, Audible has a winner.
“These Cold Strangers” is a short story in the Audible’s “We Could Be Heroes” which is a collection of short stories that examines heroic intentions versus their real-life consequences. Ms. Pressley narrates the voice of Addison Blake.
Addison is a reporter in the Washington DC area. She left her hometown after her family was butchered by her old boyfriend. Addison wasn’t home; she snuck out to score some drugs. Her guilt from that night scared her straights and caused her to avoid her hometown at all costs.
This changes when she sees a grainy footage of a man resuscitating another man who was left for dead. A multitude of people just walked by this dying man, without pause. Only 1 man stopped and tried to resuscitate him. That man vaporized after the event. No one knows the man’s identity, and the press wants to honor him. When Addison sees the footage, she recognizes the man; he’s from her high school. She wants to build her career and believes if she can get this guy to talk to her on the record, her career will take off.
Ellis writes a tight suspense story, only 90 minutes long. Addison ruefully returns to her hometown and must confront her past. The trip though, causes her to confront more than her history.
Excellent story. Excellent narrator. I am a huge fan of the audible collections of short stories.
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
Thank you, GR friend Ann, for reviewing “Dressed for a Dance in the Snow: Women’s voices from the Gulag” by Monika Zgustova and translated by Julie JoThank you, GR friend Ann, for reviewing “Dressed for a Dance in the Snow: Women’s voices from the Gulag” by Monika Zgustova and translated by Julie Jones.
Zgustova felt that there is an omission of the accounts of female prisoners who were sent to the Gulag during Stalin’s reign. Many historical documents have been written about male prisoners, but few have taken efforts in finding women who suffered as political prisoners in the Gulag. Spanish author and translator Monika Zgustova took oral histories of nine women. These women were sent for knowing someone whom Stalin deemed an enemy of Russia, or, for being adjacent to an alleged enemy. One woman was late for work because of train issues. Each woman tells her story. What each woman had used for survival were literature and friendship. Books (always pilfered) and poetry fortified them.
Zgustova introduces each woman by describing the women’s apartments, kitchens, or living rooms and their initial interactions. And then she allows the women free flow in thought while recalling their time in Siberia.
The best known of the group is Olga Emelyanova who was sent with her daughter Irina. Olga, the inspiration of “Lara” in “Doctor Zhivago, was the girlfriend of Boris Pasternak, the author of “Doctor Zhivago”. Irina was sent for receiving foreign currency from the royalties from “Doctor Zhivago”. Zayara Vesiolaya, the daughter of author Artem Vesyolya was sent for being his daughter.
Actress Valentina Iyeveleva was sent after her father was executed as an enemy of the people. She informs the reader that women, even pregnant, worked as loggers in frigid temperatures. Galya Safonova was born in the gulag. She still has the hand-sewn books that were gifted to her by other women prisoners; it’s her greatest treasure.
This is a collection of oral histories recorded in 2008. Zgustova notes that the women hold their memories because of the unimaginable circumstances. The survivors are all strong women who found ways to feed their soul, either through poetry, literature, or friendship. Although the stories are soul-crushing, their survival stories are uplifting as testaments to the human spirit. Each woman is an avid book collector, some with books piled from the floor to the ceiling.
I chose the audio version, narrated by Jennifer Jill Araya. I was not a fan of Araya’s performance. I wanted a different voice with different inflections. My husband and I listened to this while traveling cross country. We both thought it was very interesting and informative, but nether of us enjoyed the narrator. This was a more difficult listen for my husband. He got depressed.
As an aside, my son is married to a Russian woman. When I talked to her about the book, she said her Great grandma was sent because she was 2 minutes late for work. But she was there less than 2 years; my daughter-in-law shrugged it off. In her mind it wasn’t that bad. Her Great Grandma still loved Stalin! Apparently, most of the people loved him because they thought he improved Russia. My American mind can’t wrap my head around that.
Rating: 1.5 stars for narration. 4 stars for content. ...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.
It’s road trip time, and that mean’s road trip book club. One of the genres my husband and I agree upon is the thriller genre. We have not read any of
It’s road trip time, and that mean’s road trip book club. One of the genres my husband and I agree upon is the thriller genre. We have not read any of Edgar Award-Winning Author Meg Gardiner’s work, and her “Unsub” series is highly rated. It clocks in at 12 hours, so sounds good!
Gardiner grabs you from the start with a dark foreshadowing prologue. Twenty years later, Caitlin Hendrix is a narcotics detective in the San Francisco Bay area. A serial killer re-emerges. The reader will learn much about Mercury, from the planet, the element, the astrological meanings attributed to Mercury. The ancient sign for Mercury, the killer’s signature, is etched into the victim’s flesh. Caitlin is familiar with the unsub because her father was the one who identified the kills as the same suspect. All murders seemed random except for the Mercury sign.
Listening to this book reminded me of the TV show, “Criminal Minds”. The same sort of OTT scenes occurs in this book, but you don’t care! You are there for the ride. There are cryptic clues which leads the investigators to classic literature references. As the clues accumulate, Caitlin must find where the clues are leading.
I asked my husband for feedback, and he said: “A great read for long trips in the car. Captivated my attention from the start. I enjoyed it.”
Hillary Huber narrates the story. At first, I didn’t think she was the right fit. After listening for a time, I got into her voice, and I enjoyed her performance.
Both my husband and I give it a solid 4.5 stars for sheer entertainment. ...more
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