** 2 stars
This should have been a much stronger and much shorter novel. I liked it a great deal in the beginning, but boy did it slow down in the middle and drag on to the end. There's no reason on Earth why it needed to be almost 500 pages long. Far too much filler and description of mundane tasks like making sandwiches, washing dishes, tidying up the apartment. Ugh.
The mystery wasn't actually that compelling either. I did like the three homeless folks who provide help to Kinsey in varying degrees. Of course, I'll continue on with the series but I must say I don't look forward to these books like I used to.
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Julia's Chocolates by Cathy Lamb
*** 3 stars
I liked this book, though not nearly as much as some fellow book clubbers. I do have a soft spot for these cozy romances with picturesque and quaint settings. I was a little troubled by the characterizations of some of the people. It seemed they were assigned certain traits based upon a plot need more than by consistency. I felt the depiction of the cruel ex-fiancé was particularly ham-handed. His cruelty was so overt that I found it hard it believe Julia, even as troubled and vulnerable as she was, would have stayed as long as she did. It was also hard to believe someone so successful could have such an obviously sadistic streak. I think what I'm saying is he was one-dimensional. I had a hard time picturing this character as a rich business man and a favored son. I think that could have been handled better; we could have seen his other side and the cruelty could have been more covert.
I did like the female characters and most everyone in Golden, although, again, I'm not sure they were as fleshed out as they could have been. As much as I loved Aunt Lydia, she really was a bit over the top. The whole hippy-dippy thing (Psychic Nights) didn't work particularly well. But there was lots to really enjoy about this book. It was fun and sweet; I did like the new romance with Dale (although his character was a bit much, too. Gentleman farmer (?) and high powered attorney? okay then). I'll probably give another book by this author a try; easy read.
I liked this book, though not nearly as much as some fellow book clubbers. I do have a soft spot for these cozy romances with picturesque and quaint settings. I was a little troubled by the characterizations of some of the people. It seemed they were assigned certain traits based upon a plot need more than by consistency. I felt the depiction of the cruel ex-fiancé was particularly ham-handed. His cruelty was so overt that I found it hard it believe Julia, even as troubled and vulnerable as she was, would have stayed as long as she did. It was also hard to believe someone so successful could have such an obviously sadistic streak. I think what I'm saying is he was one-dimensional. I had a hard time picturing this character as a rich business man and a favored son. I think that could have been handled better; we could have seen his other side and the cruelty could have been more covert.
I did like the female characters and most everyone in Golden, although, again, I'm not sure they were as fleshed out as they could have been. As much as I loved Aunt Lydia, she really was a bit over the top. The whole hippy-dippy thing (Psychic Nights) didn't work particularly well. But there was lots to really enjoy about this book. It was fun and sweet; I did like the new romance with Dale (although his character was a bit much, too. Gentleman farmer (?) and high powered attorney? okay then). I'll probably give another book by this author a try; easy read.
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Takedown Twenty by Janet Evanovich
* 1 star
I don't know what I hated more, this awful book, myself for reading it or myself for knowing that I will read #21, #22 and ad infinitum until either Janet or I die. I guess it's a battle of wills now at this point. I remember the early books with such fondness and I know it must be hard to keep a series fresh (Sue Grafton and Michael Connelly are the only two who come immediately to mind who manage to do this). But ye gods this book crossed a line for me.
Okay, you do have to approach these books with a certain attitude of acceptance that you are in a comic universe with unrealistic situations and characters. A couple things took me out of the book (cue the record needle scratching sound here) - SPOILERS (in case you would actually even care to read this book). So, a couple of thugs actually tie up Stephanie and not just threaten to throw her over a bridge into a river; they actually do it. This was a jarring move from "hilarious" (except not so much) to harrowing. And Lulu's plan to return to the streets to earn money to buy a handbag was just disgusting. There's nothing humorous (or heartwarming - says the only woman in the world who hates the movie "Pretty Woman") about prostitution.
The ridiculous subplot about Kevin the giraffe was resolved quickly at the end with an intriguing explanation. I found myself saying, "Wait, what? " I'd have rather heard more about an exotic animal restaurant plot than the same old same old bad guy in hiding plot we had here. I do understand the central mystery in these books is just a framework to hang the jokes on, but I also think a basically decent mystery at the heart of their books is why other authors (Grafton, Connelly, sorry to have to discuss you in the same breath as this train wreck) manage to keep their series books compelling.
I don't know what I hated more, this awful book, myself for reading it or myself for knowing that I will read #21, #22 and ad infinitum until either Janet or I die. I guess it's a battle of wills now at this point. I remember the early books with such fondness and I know it must be hard to keep a series fresh (Sue Grafton and Michael Connelly are the only two who come immediately to mind who manage to do this). But ye gods this book crossed a line for me.
Okay, you do have to approach these books with a certain attitude of acceptance that you are in a comic universe with unrealistic situations and characters. A couple things took me out of the book (cue the record needle scratching sound here) - SPOILERS (in case you would actually even care to read this book). So, a couple of thugs actually tie up Stephanie and not just threaten to throw her over a bridge into a river; they actually do it. This was a jarring move from "hilarious" (except not so much) to harrowing. And Lulu's plan to return to the streets to earn money to buy a handbag was just disgusting. There's nothing humorous (or heartwarming - says the only woman in the world who hates the movie "Pretty Woman") about prostitution.
The ridiculous subplot about Kevin the giraffe was resolved quickly at the end with an intriguing explanation. I found myself saying, "Wait, what? " I'd have rather heard more about an exotic animal restaurant plot than the same old same old bad guy in hiding plot we had here. I do understand the central mystery in these books is just a framework to hang the jokes on, but I also think a basically decent mystery at the heart of their books is why other authors (Grafton, Connelly, sorry to have to discuss you in the same breath as this train wreck) manage to keep their series books compelling.
Dad is Fat by Jim Gaffigan
**** 4 stars
I loved this funny but sweet book about fatherhood and young children. It's very readable, quick "chapters"; it reads like a stand-up routine (he is a stand-up comic) or a blog post. Light, silly, loving and very amusing.
I loved this funny but sweet book about fatherhood and young children. It's very readable, quick "chapters"; it reads like a stand-up routine (he is a stand-up comic) or a blog post. Light, silly, loving and very amusing.
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Helen Keller in Love by Rosie Sultan
*** 3 stars
A book a read a few months ago and neglected to add here. I listened to an audio version of this novel. I liked it for the most part; it was interesting to me that it was based upon reality. I did not know this part of Helen's life story. It mainly made me sad; it made me recall the children's novel, Miss Spitfire, that I read last year. I did not like that book at all as it exposed so much cruelty toward Helen. This book was similar but was not quite so harrowing (maybe because Helen is an adult in this book). But it's hard to read about how Helen's family was so controlling of her.
A book a read a few months ago and neglected to add here. I listened to an audio version of this novel. I liked it for the most part; it was interesting to me that it was based upon reality. I did not know this part of Helen's life story. It mainly made me sad; it made me recall the children's novel, Miss Spitfire, that I read last year. I did not like that book at all as it exposed so much cruelty toward Helen. This book was similar but was not quite so harrowing (maybe because Helen is an adult in this book). But it's hard to read about how Helen's family was so controlling of her.
The Girls by Lori Lansens
** 2 stars
This was just okay; I wanted to like it a whole lot more than I really did. It didn't feel authentic to me; not that I would know, but there was just something a little "put on" about the whole book. It meandered a lot, too, what with the two voices as well as a back and forth in time narrative.
This was just okay; I wanted to like it a whole lot more than I really did. It didn't feel authentic to me; not that I would know, but there was just something a little "put on" about the whole book. It meandered a lot, too, what with the two voices as well as a back and forth in time narrative.
The Heavens Rise by Christopher Rice
* 1 star
Didn't finish this book after all. It started out pretty strong but I had to set it aside for reasons which had more to do with me and less with the book. But it was hard to regain the narrative thread and based upon the comments from others, it sounded like it might not be worth the effort.
Didn't finish this book after all. It started out pretty strong but I had to set it aside for reasons which had more to do with me and less with the book. But it was hard to regain the narrative thread and based upon the comments from others, it sounded like it might not be worth the effort.
Making Piece: a Memoir of Love, Loss and Pie by Beth M. Howard
* 1 star
Didn't finish this; just couldn't do it. How is it possible to write a bad book about pie? I guess if you are whiny and self-involved and not very interesting, those are the key ingredients. The pie metaphor was poorly fleshed out and I just didn't like the author's persona very much. Too much bragging and fake humility. Ick.
Didn't finish this; just couldn't do it. How is it possible to write a bad book about pie? I guess if you are whiny and self-involved and not very interesting, those are the key ingredients. The pie metaphor was poorly fleshed out and I just didn't like the author's persona very much. Too much bragging and fake humility. Ick.
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