*** 3 stars
I was very much looking forward to this new book by Ward as I've been just captivated by her previous titles. Intricate plots that eventually merge are pretty much my favorite literary device ever, and she had pretty much mastered that with Sleep Toward Heaven as far as I was concerned! This book, however, was much more obvious to me and not as surprise-filled or profound as I'd hoped. It was a quick read and I very much appreciated ("enjoyed" seems to be the wrong word) Carla's story in particular.
Alice was not quite as well defined and her story seemed padded with subplots (Evian, for one). I think the depiction of a couple devastated by infertility could have been handled better and more convincingly.
Still, there was a lot to like about the book. It did give me a lot to think about in terms of the current issues around illegal immigration.
Saturday, January 31, 2015
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
***** 5 stars
Oh, why did it take me so long to get around to this book? What a delightful and charming book. It's not all sweetness and light by any means; it's definitely bittersweet but I loved the characters and the setting. Of course, it may be a bit of a cheat to pander to book-lovers, who are the ones most likely to read your book, by sprinkling the book with delightful discussions of books and their impact. I was happy to go along for the ride! This was a lovely fable of a book and I just adored it.
Oh, why did it take me so long to get around to this book? What a delightful and charming book. It's not all sweetness and light by any means; it's definitely bittersweet but I loved the characters and the setting. Of course, it may be a bit of a cheat to pander to book-lovers, who are the ones most likely to read your book, by sprinkling the book with delightful discussions of books and their impact. I was happy to go along for the ride! This was a lovely fable of a book and I just adored it.
The Burning Room by Michael Connelly
**** 4 stars
A very fine mystery and an entertaining read. I know I had a few missteps with a Connelly book a while back but I'm starting to think it was me, not the author! Very possible as I'm quite the fickle reader. Anyway, this was all that I would expect from Connelly; just good and solid. Still love the Bosch character and I particularly liked the handling of his new partner who's trying to learn the ropes.
A very fine mystery and an entertaining read. I know I had a few missteps with a Connelly book a while back but I'm starting to think it was me, not the author! Very possible as I'm quite the fickle reader. Anyway, this was all that I would expect from Connelly; just good and solid. Still love the Bosch character and I particularly liked the handling of his new partner who's trying to learn the ropes.
Saturday, January 24, 2015
The Woman Who Stole My Life by Marian Keyes
**** 4 stars
Four stars is definitely generous by I do love Marian so much, I'm happy to be generous. I found I really enjoyed this book and in that regard it definitely deserves four stars. But it's an odd book and it feels really like 2 or 3 books glued together and glued together somewhat awkwardly. The pacing is odd and we hear an awful lot about Stella's initial situation. Her recovery from that is very rushed and then suddenly we are in another book entirely.
But both books are fun anyway! Marian's trademark of humor and bittersweet charm is fully available. It was really fun to get a copy for the UK well in advance of the US publication in July of this year.
Four stars is definitely generous by I do love Marian so much, I'm happy to be generous. I found I really enjoyed this book and in that regard it definitely deserves four stars. But it's an odd book and it feels really like 2 or 3 books glued together and glued together somewhat awkwardly. The pacing is odd and we hear an awful lot about Stella's initial situation. Her recovery from that is very rushed and then suddenly we are in another book entirely.
But both books are fun anyway! Marian's trademark of humor and bittersweet charm is fully available. It was really fun to get a copy for the UK well in advance of the US publication in July of this year.
Deadline by John Sandford
**** 4 stars
I've approached the last couple Sandford novels, either the Virgil Flowers or the Lucas Davenport series, with a bit of trepidation. He's just become a little bit uneven and unreliable for me. He's not an auto-buy anymore but he's still an auto-hold at the library.
I was pleased that this novel was enjoyable and engaging. I do really like the character of Virgil Flowers and his adventures in a small Minnesota city. The intrigue in this one was pretty good even if somewhat extreme. Conspiracies involving many parties seem to strain credibility but I was game for the ride. I was much less interested in the plot involving the dogs and by the time I got to the end, I saw why it was there at all. And I was pretty much unmoved; it seemed sort of phony, but really a minor nit. Mostly a fun and fast read.
I've approached the last couple Sandford novels, either the Virgil Flowers or the Lucas Davenport series, with a bit of trepidation. He's just become a little bit uneven and unreliable for me. He's not an auto-buy anymore but he's still an auto-hold at the library.
I was pleased that this novel was enjoyable and engaging. I do really like the character of Virgil Flowers and his adventures in a small Minnesota city. The intrigue in this one was pretty good even if somewhat extreme. Conspiracies involving many parties seem to strain credibility but I was game for the ride. I was much less interested in the plot involving the dogs and by the time I got to the end, I saw why it was there at all. And I was pretty much unmoved; it seemed sort of phony, but really a minor nit. Mostly a fun and fast read.
Saturday, January 10, 2015
Fourth of July Creek by Smith Henderson
* 1 star
I didn't finish this bleak and, to me, pointless book. I am wildly out of step with the majority of readers on this one but I plodded through this until something new and shiny arrived on my TBR pile. I think I was nearly 2/3 the way through this and it just wasn't catching fire for me. I was somewhat interested in the individual vignettes along the way but ultimately I was not really seeing the point of the anecdotes and where the book was really going. Just pretty bleak and filled with unpleasant people and events. Not sure I need that....
I didn't finish this bleak and, to me, pointless book. I am wildly out of step with the majority of readers on this one but I plodded through this until something new and shiny arrived on my TBR pile. I think I was nearly 2/3 the way through this and it just wasn't catching fire for me. I was somewhat interested in the individual vignettes along the way but ultimately I was not really seeing the point of the anecdotes and where the book was really going. Just pretty bleak and filled with unpleasant people and events. Not sure I need that....
The Chocolate Kiss by Laura Florand
**** 4 stars
This is the second book in Florand's Amour et Chocolat series and it is more of the delightfulness of the first book! The sparring couple from the first book make an appearance here, so I'm sure all the books in this "world" will tie together. And this world is just purely fun. Pretty sexy romance with all the typical elements and plot points but the trappings are just so charming; Paris, fashion, chocolates, macarons, pastries. What's not to love? Total escapism and I'm looking forward to reading The Chocolate Rose very soon!
This is the second book in Florand's Amour et Chocolat series and it is more of the delightfulness of the first book! The sparring couple from the first book make an appearance here, so I'm sure all the books in this "world" will tie together. And this world is just purely fun. Pretty sexy romance with all the typical elements and plot points but the trappings are just so charming; Paris, fashion, chocolates, macarons, pastries. What's not to love? Total escapism and I'm looking forward to reading The Chocolate Rose very soon!
Saturday, January 3, 2015
The One I Left Behind by Jennifer McMahon
*** 3 stars
This was another good thriller from McMahon; I'm looking forward to reading more of her books. This one was a little more "run of the mill" than The Winter People but I did enjoy it and found it to be quite readable.
This was another good thriller from McMahon; I'm looking forward to reading more of her books. This one was a little more "run of the mill" than The Winter People but I did enjoy it and found it to be quite readable.
Invisible Ellen by Shari Shattuck
*** 3 stars
I found this to be a charming and quirky story; it never fully got off the ground for me, but I was okay to coast along with it. Not sure it was as "deep" as it purported to be but it was cute and fun.
I found this to be a charming and quirky story; it never fully got off the ground for me, but I was okay to coast along with it. Not sure it was as "deep" as it purported to be but it was cute and fun.
Food: A Love Story by Jim Gaffigan
**** 4 stars
Very, very funny. Obviously it reads like one of his stand-up routines but that's okay with me. I chuckled my way through this and laughed out loud so often during a car trip, my teenage son asked to borrow it. Good humor; pretty clean and very clever. I'll count myself as a big fan!
Very, very funny. Obviously it reads like one of his stand-up routines but that's okay with me. I chuckled my way through this and laughed out loud so often during a car trip, my teenage son asked to borrow it. Good humor; pretty clean and very clever. I'll count myself as a big fan!
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