Coffee & Books discussion
Bookish!
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What are you reading?
Sharon wrote: "My review for: Hannah's Dreamy Diane Hammond 
5★ I LOVED IT!!!https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
I've got this book ... somewhere in my house. Thanks for the reminder!
The Dog Stars – Peter Heller – 3***
I am not a great fan of post-apocalyptic novels. And yet, here I am reading another one. Heller’s writing is both poetic and spare, with short sentences that come at the reader like staccato gun fire. This gives the novel a feeling of impending danger, of uncertainty and fear. I wanted to rush through it, and yet, I wanted to take my time to understand what was happening and how these characters were dealing with this different world.
LINK to my review
Voyager – Diana Gabaldon – 3***
Book three in the popular Outlander series. This isn’t great literature, but the series is fun to read. This installment delves more deeply into the supernatural, which I thought detracted from the central story.
LINK to my review
Chestnut Street – Maeve Binchy – 3.5***
Binchy does a great job of giving us a picture of a neighborhood in this collection of short stories. Characters come in contact with one another, interact, leave, and return. Binchy’s characters seem like real people; I recognize many of them though I live in Wisconsin and this is set in Dublin.
LINK to my review
Book Concierge wrote: "Sharon wrote: "My review for: Hannah's Dreamy Diane Hammond 5★ I LOVED IT!!!https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
I'..."
You're welcome. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did :)
Maria, Daughter of Immigrants – Maria Antonietta Berrizobal – 3.5***
I really enjoyed and was captivated by Maria’s personal journey as she outlines it in the book. But a little more than half-way through the book, it seemed to become more of a history of the politics of the city than Maria’s autobiography. I still found this interesting, because I’m from San Antonio, but I think it detracted from the central story of her own life.
LINK to my review
My review for: An Encounter at Longbourn by Margaret Lynette Sharp
4★https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Bat – Jo Nesbø – 4****
Book #1 in the Inspector Harry Hole series. Nesbø writes a tight, fast-paced thriller with plenty of clues, several red herrings, a flawed but likeable lead detective, and an interesting setting. I’ll definitely read more of this series.
LINK to my review
My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She’s Sorry – Fredrik Backman – 4****
I was charmed by Elsa and her crazy grandmother, as well as by the cast of “not-quite-normal” characters who inhabit the apartment building Elsa calls home. There is plenty of action, some significant danger and distress, and enough humor to ease the tension. If the scenario is not believable, well who cares. I wanted a happily-ever-after ending, and for the most part that what’s I got.
LINK to my review
Irish Girls About Town – Maeve Binchy, Marian Keyes, et al – 3.5***
This is a collection of short stories written by Irish female authors. While the stories vary considerably, they are all about love in its many disguises. A few of the stories feature more mature women, but most deal with younger women and the men they love, or hope to love, or love to hate. On the whole, it’s an enjoyable anthology.
LINK to my review
A Little Life -am impressed so far- 100 pages in-characters well developed and interesting-dialogue is sharp and witty
Bookmarked For Death – Lorna Barrett – 3***
This is a typical cozy mystery scenario, with an amateur sleuth who cannot keep out of the investigation. The plot stretches credulity, but I like the many references to mystery authors sprinkled throughout.
LINK to my review
Sharon wrote: "My review for: The Killing Hour by Lisa Gardner 
5★https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
I really like her books.
Sharon wrote: "My review for: Hannah's Dreamy Diane Hammond 5★ I LOVED IT!!!https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
Thanks. It looks great. I love elephant stories. If you want to read some more try these which I thought were very good.
The Elephant Whisperer
and
Elephant Company: The Inspiring Story of an Unlikely Hero and the Animals Who Helped Him Save Lives in World War II
I have read some very good books in the past month.The Nix
"The Nix a Norwegian shapeshifting water spirt. A woman growing up in 1960's Iowa who goes off to college in Chicago during the Democratic Convention and protests. It tells how she is expected to behave and the choices she makes. She settles, has a family and is an unhappy soul. Flash forward to 2011. Her and her son Sam and been estranged for 20 years until she makes front page news for attacking a presidential candidate. Now the story opens up and goes back and forth between Sam and his story growing up, becoming a professor, dealing with a crazy student and escaping into "elves" a video game that takes him away from his life.
This is an engaging story that tells of different people, the choices(good and bad) they make and and even with the pain they can start again."
A Gentleman in Moscow
And my favorite so far this year:
Christodora
And now I am reading two books. I am not far enough into them to tell how they will be.
Crossing to Safety
which was recommended to me for the beautiful writing.and
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales
which has been on my TR list for quite some time.
Four to Score – Janet Evanovich – 3.5***
The earlier books in the series are very entertaining, but I lost interest after about book twelve. I re-read this one because it’s fast, enjoyable and fits a challenge.
LINK to my review
A Night to Remember – Walter Lord – 5*****
This is a first-hand account of what the people aboard the Titanic recall of the night she sank. It’s a gripping story, and Lord does a great job of bringing all these people to life. I get a real sense of the confusion and disbelief when the ship first strikes the iceberg. And later, of the chaos and panic when it is clear she will go down.
LINK to my review
Mod
Finished the audio of
and am halfway thru
April 7 - Currently ReadingTEXT -
Gutenberg's Apprentice by Alix ChristieAUDIO in the car -
The Penelopiad by Margaret AtwoodMP3 Player AUDIO -
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
44 Scotland Street – Alexander McCall Smith – 3.5***
I love this kind of ensemble piece. Not much happens, and everything happens: love found, lost and found again, awkward encounters, a hidden masterpiece, a new job and therapy sessions. I want to know more about them, especially Pat and Matthew
LINK to my review
Finished
didn't care for it. Also finished
this is a rare instance where the book is better than the movie!Started
on audio and I need to find my next actual book.
Mod
Gutenberg’s Apprentice – Alix Christie – 3.5***
In her debut novel, Christie explores one of the most momentous events in history: the invention of the printing press. I did find the information about the conflicts between the guilds, the ruling class, and the Church interesting, but it went on for so long that I grew tired of the political and personal intrigue. Still, in this age of digital print, it is all the more wonderful to imagine the creativity, skill and hard work that went into this marvelous invention.
LINK to my review
Rachel Skye wrote: "Just finished the audible version of vinegar girl by Tyler!"I'll be doing that soon for book club, now reading The Taming of the Shrew beforehand.
Just started The Storyteller.
Mod
I'll be doing that soon for book club, now reading The Taming of the Shrew beforehand.
Just started [book:The Sto..."
Enjoy! Are you reading the book, or listening to the audio version?
The Penelopiad – Margaret Atwood – 3***
Atwood takes the story of the faithful Penelope, waiting 20 years for Odysseus to return from the Trojan War, and reimagines it. I liked this intelligent, savvy woman.
LINK to my review
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell – Susanna Clarke – 3.5***
Fantasy is really not my thing, but I did enjoy this book. I liked the play / counter play between the two magicians, and particularly enjoyed the scenes where they are influencing the Napoleonic Wars. That being said, however, this was just way too long. I found my mind wandering as much as the plot did. I certainly understand the popularity of the novel, but I wouldn't go out of my way to read another novel by Clarke.
LINK to my review
Wolf by Wolf – Ryan Graudin – 2.5**
This is interesting speculative fiction dealing with “what might have been” had Germany & Japan won WW2. The plot moves as quickly as the racers bound from Germania to Tokyo. Yael is a strong heroine – resourceful, intelligent, physically and mentally fit for the challenge. I thought there were several holes in this plot, and I think I would have enjoyed this kind of speculative plot without the “skin shifting” aspect. While I recognize the appeal for the target audience, it really wasn’t the book for me.
LINK to my review
My review for: A Party at Longbourn by Margaret Lynette Sharp
4★https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Coincidence of Coconut Cake – Amy E Reichert – 4****
What a deliciously delightful foodie romance! I liked the characters, and was invested in their story from beginning to end. The food descriptions made me hungry, and I loved the way Reichert described the joys of Milwaukee (my home town).
LINK to my review
West With the Night – Beryl Markham – 5*****
Markham was an independent woman who lived life to the fullest, and on her own terms. While there has been significant controversy over whether she actually wrote this memoir (vs her third husband ghost-writing it for her), I still highly recommend it! Full of vivid imagery and really gives a sense of what life was like for the colonialists in Kenya in the early part of the 20th century.
LINK to my review
The Gunslinger by Sai King. Reread for SK book club. SO excited!
Baking Cakes in Kigali – Gaile Parkin – 4****
This is a delightful debut novel. I love Angel – she’s wise, discreet, confident, compassionate, decisive and a great friend and mentor. There are several humorous episodes and several touchingly sad ones, but Angel deals with any situation with aplomb and compassion. Parkin peoples the novel with a wide array of characters who form a community and celebrate together with one of Angel’s excellent cakes.
LINK to my review
The World’s Strongest Librarian – Josh Hanagarne – 4****
I really enjoyed this memoir of one man’s struggles to come to grips with his Tourette’s, and to find balance in his life, his work, his family and his faith. I loved all the literary references!
LINK to my review
Coffee & Books
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A Fierce Radiance – Lauren Belfer – 2.5**
Well this sounded much more interesting than it wound up being. I definitely enjoyed some aspects of the novel. I like reading medical histories, and the race to develop a procedure to mass produce penicillin was an important effort in World War II. But, Belfer included a romantic subplot, as well as broken family ties, a murder, and other elements. There is just too much going on between the covers of this book, and I never got caught up in the story.
LINK to my review