Coffee & Books discussion

The Cat Who Saved Books – Sōsuke Natsukawa – 3***
This is a modern fairy tale and coming-of-age story that explores the long-lasting effects books can have on us. I really enjoyed this fantasy read. Rintaro is a great character, somewhat lost and needing to find his path on life’s journey, he is a person any reader can relate to. Set in a bookshop, the fable is full of literary references, which I greatly enjoyed.
LINK to my full review

I finished my book called Judgment by Joseph Finder

Fallen Women – Sandra Dallas – 3***
When wealthy New York socialite Beret Osmundsen learns that her estranged sister was murdered in a brothel, there is nothing for her to do but go to Denver and seek answers. Dallas is well-known for her historical fiction, focusing on women in the 19th and early 20th century. Here she gives a very realistic view of 1880s Denver and the brothels that flourished there, as well as taking the reader inside the nouveau riche mansions of the city’s elite. The actual mystery plot isn’t all that well executed, but the historical detail and some of the characters really kept my interest up.
LINK to my full review

Uncommon Type – Tom Hanks – 4****
The stories in this collection are connected in that each story features a typewriter in some way. The stories are varied, from tender romance to science fiction, to family drama. Some are contemporary, some historical, some set in the future. They vary, too, in the emotions they evoke: tenderness, humor, awe, compassion. Clearly, Hanks is a gifted writer, and I look forward to reading more of his works. I’d love to see what he does with a novel.
LINK to my full review

I finished my book called Everyone Here Is Lying by Shari Lapena

The Daughters of Juárez – Teresa Rodríguez – 4****
Subtitle: A True Story of Serial Murder South of the Border. Beginning in 1993, the residents of Juárez, Mexico, just across the Rio Grande from El Paso, Texas, became aware of a disturbing frequency of murders of young women. Some estimate that at least 350 women were murdered between 1993 and 2005. It seems that the machismo culture put little value on these women. But Rodríguez makes it clear that there was considerable corruption and/or ineptitude among authorities. The most disturbing thing to me is that the book leaves the reader with more questions than answers.
LINK to my full review

Big Panda and Tiny Dragon – James Norbury – 4****
”Which is more important,” asked Big Panda, “the journey or the destination?”
“The company,” said Tiny Dragon
And so, two unlikely friends set off on a journey of discovery. They have no specific plan and go where life leads them over the course of four seasons. The story is told through Norbury’s wonderful drawings and the pair’s quiet conversations. There were times when I just sat and looked at one of those drawings and let my mind take me where it wanted. How refreshing!
LINK to my full review

They Called Us Enemy – George Takei – 4****
George Takei, best known as Lt Hikaru Sulu, science officer aboard the Spaceship Enterprise, recalls his childhood growing up in an internment camp after the US government required that even US-born persons of Japanese ancestry be treated as “enemy” during World War II. I found the graphic novel format really engaging and accessible. Becker’s illustrations were excellent; not too dark so it was still easy to read the text. The facial expressions she gave the characters really helped to convey the emotions they were feeling.
LINK to my full review

Her Last Flight – Beatriz Williams – 3.5***
This work of historical fiction was clearly influenced by the real saga of Amelia Earhart, though it is NOT her story. Although I’ve come to dislike the dual timeline so popular in historical fiction, Williams handles it very well in this case. And it did serve to heighten interest and intrigue. I couldn’t help but try to fit the puzzle together, but I was as surprised as Janey to learn the full truth of the story.
LINK to my full review

I finished my book called If I Can't Have You: Susan Powell, Her Mysterious Disappearance, and the Murder of Her Children by Gregg Olsen

Less – Andrew Sean Greer – 3***
Novelist Arthur Less is almost fifty, can’t seem to get his writing mojo back, and now his recent ex-boyfriend is getting married! So, Arthur does the logical thing. He runs away from his troubles on an around-the-world lecture tour. This won the Pulitzer for fiction and I’m not sure why. I never warmed to Arthur. There were episodes in his journey that I really liked and that kept me reading, but it’s not a prize-winner in my opinion.
LINK to my full review

The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina – Zoraida Córdova – 3.5***
This is unlike anything I’ve read before. Part family saga, part paranormal horror, part fantasy, part historical fiction, part quest, part love story. I’m so grateful that there is a family tree in the beginning, as I referred to it several times to clarify relationships of Orquídea’s many descendants. I was fascinated by the story but I think I need to re-read it to fully absorb the magic of Córdova’s storytelling.
LINK to my full review

The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina – Zoraida Córdova – 3.5***
This is unlike anything I’ve read before. Part family saga, part paranormal horror, part fantasy, part historical fiction, part quest, part love story. I’m so grateful that there is a family tree in the beginning, as I referred to it several times to clarify relationships of Orquídea’s many descendants. I was fascinated by the story but I think I need to re-read it to fully absorb the magic of Córdova’s storytelling.
LINK to my full review

Hiroshima – John Hersey – 4****
First published in 1946, Hersey recounts the story of the first atomic bomb dropped on the city of Hiroshima, through the recollections of six survivors. The tale begins with the residents starting their day on an August morning, completely unaware of the devastation to come. Hersey follows them from the initial experiences to long-term aftermath. It's a gripping story, made more so by the personal accounts.
LINK to my full review

I finished my book called Till Murder Do Us Part by James Patterson

The Postscript Murders – Elly Griffiths – 3.5***
This is book two in the series featuring Detective Sergeant Harbinder Kaur, but it can easily be read as a stand alone. DS Kaur is “assisted” by three amateur sleuths: Natalka (Ukrainian immigrant and caretaker for the dead woman), Benjamin (former monk and now owner of a coffee shop), and Edwin (80-year-old neighbor of the deceased). This is the first book by Griffiths that I’ve read; it won’t be the last.
LINK to my full review

I finished my book called Sweeter Than Chocolate by Lizzie Shane

Razor Girl – Carl Hiaasen – 3***
I love reading Hiaasen’s ridiculously crazy plots, featuring the NOT-tourist-friendly Florida. The action is fast, furious, and totally insane. The bad guys are frequently three cards short of a full deck. The women almost always get the best of the men. Hiaasen has a gift for drawing this reader into his wildly improbable plots. And I enjoy the ride every time!
LINK to my full review

I finished my book called One Night by Debbie Macomber

I finished my book called Merciless by Christy Reece

Fourth Wing

The Code Breaker – Walter Isaacson – 5*****
This is an engaging, interesting, informative and thought-provoking biography cum history. While the focus is on Jennifer Doudna, Isaacson gives almost equal time to the many other researchers who contributed to the scientific discoveries and applications. He takes time to address ethical questions on the applications of new technology, and ends with the international cooperation required to address COVID19.
LINK to my full review

Hamnet – Maggie O’Farrell – 5*****
Wow. You think you know where a story is headed because you know something of the historical figures depicted, and then an author completely surprises you. O’Farrell focuses the story on Agnes, the wife, mother, sister, daughter, stepdaughter, and daughter-in-law. The writing is beautiful and engaging. I kept reading passages aloud. The last 20 pages or so were simply marvelous. And the last line … perfect.
LINK to my full review

I finished my book called Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker

The Diving Pool – Yoko Ogawa – 4****
The subtitle calls them “three novellas”, but none is longer than 56 pages, so they are more accurately categorized as short stories. Regardless, I really enjoyed this collection; each was very different from the other two, but all dealt with relationships. It is the kind of literary fiction I love.
LINK to my full review

I finished my book called Killer Choice by Tom Hunt

Horse – Geraldine Brooks – 5*****
The novel is based on the real story of the horse known as Lexington, his extraordinary racing career, and even more extraordinary career as a stud. But it is more than a story of racing; it is a novel about race and racism, not just in the 19th century, but in contemporary America, as well. Moving back and forth between the contemporary discoveries of the horse’s skeleton and painted portrait, to the events in antebellum Kentucky, she weaves a story that I found compelling, fascinating and moving.
LINK to my full review

The Burglar In the Closet – Lawrence Block – 3***
In this second episode of the series, Bernie Rhodenbarr gets roped into stealing from his dentist’s ex-wife. It seems like an easy score, until he gets locked into the lady’s closet. When he comes out, the lady is dead and the jewels are gone. There are plenty of suspects, including the World’s Greatest Dentist, but Bernie really needs to solve the case before the police turn on him as the most likely suspect. Gosh but I love Bernie! He’s a burglar with standards and ethics. And he’s a gentleman when it comes to the ladies.
LINK to my full review

I finished my book called One Fatal Mistake by Tom Hunt

I finished my book called The Look-Alike by Erica Spindler

Cloud Cuckoo Land – Anthony Doerr – 5*****
It’s hard to describe this book. It is equal parts historical, contemporary and futuristic. It took me a while to get into the rhythm of Doerr’s storytelling. I was so confused at the beginning by the changing scenarios and could not imagine how he would weave this into a cohesive story. But I’m glad I persevered, and I finally saw how intricately he managed to weave these stories together. The teenagers, who are lonely and/or alone, find solace in an ancient fantasy and ultimately in reaching out to others.
LINK to my full review

Red Knife – William Kent Krueger – 3.5***
This is book # 8 in the Cork O’Connor series. Cork is a marvelous central character, and I also like Sheriff Dross, a woman Cork originally hired back when HE was the sheriff. The plot deals with vigilantism, gun control, disaffected teens, drug cartels and family dynamics. Krueger writes a fast-paced, intricate mystery with plenty of suspects, and enough twists and turns to keep even the most diligent reader guessing.
LINK to my full review

An Irish Country Girl – Patrick Taylor – 3***
On Christmas Eve, Mrs Kinky Kincaid, Dr O’Reilly’s unflappable housekeeper, welcomes a group of young carolers into the doctor’s house to warm up. While they enjoy a hot drink, Mrs Kincaid tells them a tale of her girlhood, and how she found her gift of “sight.” Taylor has written a very atmospheric book. I could practically feel the cold of a snowy day, smell the smoke of a welcoming fire, and hear the banshee’s wails or the eerie sounds of bagpipes.
LINK to my full review

I finished my book called The Snow Killer by Ross Greenwood

Rules Of Prey – John Sandford – 4****
There’s a serial killer on the loose in the Twin Cities. This is the first book in the Lucas Davenport series. He’s a lieutenant with the Minneapolis Police, and also a creator of computer games which have made him very wealthy. The “maddog” may be a very smart killer, but Davenport is smarter. Sandford is really skilled at writing a taut, suspenseful, psychological thriller. We always know the identity of the killer, so it’s not a typical mystery. But, boy oh boy, is this an exciting ride!
LINK to my full review

I finished my book called The Last Close Call by Laura Griffin

The Opposite House – Helen Oyeyemi – 2.5*
I appreciated many of the passages of Oyeyemi’s writing, but the book as a whole didn’t really work for me. The story meandered too much for me to keep track of what was happening; I found myself re-reading sections to get a grasp on it. I am usually a fan of magical realism, but in this case the other-worldly aspect of much of the magical realism simply confused me.
LINK to my full review

Echo Mountain – Lauren Wolk – 3.5***
Set during the Great Depression, Wolk’s novel shows the effects on one family when they lose their home in town and are forced to start over in a cabin on Echo Mountain. This is a lovely adventure story, focused on family, prejudice and discovery. Ellie is a great character – brave, tender, intelligent, resilient, eager to learn, open to new possibilities, and determined.
LINK to my full review

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Better Nate Than Ever – Tim Federle – 3.5***
This was a wonderful coming-of-age story with a great big heart. Nate is a great kid – funny, intelligent, resourceful, brave. He has a chance at his dream, and he is going to go after it with all he’s got. The scenes are sometimes tender and sometimes a bit frightening, but there is also plenty of humor, and a sense of hope. Nate is so easy to cheer for. The book ends on a cliffhanger, setting up a sequel. Normally, I hate this device, but it was really the perfect ending for the book.
LINK to my full review

All Aboard the Schooltrain – Glenda Armand – 4****
This picture book tells an important story of America’s 20th century history, when many Black families left the Southern states in response to restrictions imposed by Jim Crow laws and sought greater opportunity in the North, Midwest or West. Armand took inspiration from her mother’s own experiences growing up in, and later, leaving, Louisiana. Keisha Morris’s illustrations use vibrant colors. I loved the facial expressions; there was such joy and obvious love in this family!
LINK to my full review

Finding Nouf – Zoë Ferraris – 4****
This was a wonderful debut psychological thriller. I particularly appreciated the setting in Saudi Arabia, and the use of a female lab technician who has some decidedly “modern” sensibilities. While the central murder bears investigation, the push-pull partnership between Katya and devoutly Muslim desert guide, Nayir, is what really keeps the book interesting.
LINK to my full review

The Checklist Manifesto – Atul Gawande – 4****
Subtitle: How to Get Things Right. Gawande became well-known for his original book of essays Complications: A Surgeon’s Notes on an Imperfect Science , in which he outlined some of the difficulties faced by modern-day surgeons. In this book he explains how a tool used in many industries to ensure that complex procedures are carried out in a “best practices” way consistently might be (and has been) applied to the complexities of modern medicine. It’s interesting but lacks the personal impact of Being Mortal .
LINK to my full review

black House

I finished my book called What the Dead Know by Laura Lippman

Before the Ever After – Jacqueline Woodson – 4****
I love poetry and this novel is verse is suitable for middle-school-aged children but deals with a serious issue – brain injury resulting from multiple concussions while participating in contact sports. I am in awe at how much information Woodson can convey in so few words. The poetry format allows the author to get straight to the emotion of the situation. But make no mistake, she paints some vivid pictures and fully realized characters.
LINK to my full review

I finished my book called Don't Let Her Stay by Nicola Sanders