Coffee & Books discussion
Bookish!
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What are you reading?
I'm listening to The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter on Audible and I'm reading The Wise Man's Fear. The Alchemist's Daughter is a lot of fun & The Wise Man's Fear is just a masterpiece.
The Children Act – Ian McEwan – 3***
Fiona Maye is a High Court judge who presides over cases in family court, but while she is dealing with this heart-breaking legal case, her personal life also demands attention. The decisions she makes will have consequences for all. I like the way that McEwan explores hidden emotions and the effects of those feelings on the characters’ decisions and actions. I was interested in the subject, but McEwan lost me as the novel progressed. When it ended I felt like I was missing something.
LINK to my review
Murder in the Paperback Parlor – Ellery Adams – 2**
Number two in the “Book Retreat Mysteries” series set in Storyton Hall, “the perfect getaway for literature lovers.” This has all the elements of a typical cozy mystery: an amateur sleuth, a “cute” occupation / back story, a little romantic tension, and more suspects than you can shake a stick at. The premise of Storyton Hall, however, lost me a little – most likely because I had not read the first book in the series. I did love all the references to books, however. I think I’ll go back and read book # 1 before I give final judgment on the series.
LINK to my review
Norwegian By Night – Derek B Miller – 4****
An eighty-two-year-old former Marine suffering from PTSD, leaves his New York home to live with his granddaughter and her husband in Oslo, Norway. Isolated by language, Sheldon still recognizes a bad situation when the neighbor woman is attacked by a violent stranger. He grabs the woman’s small son, and flees. How he eludes both the bad guys and the police, while keeping the boy safe is the central plot. But Miller’s character study of this unlikely hero is what makes the novel shine. A wonderful debut!
LINK to my review
I finished The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter & I love it! I can't wait for the sequel to come out sometime next year. It's a really fun take on Victorian monster stories. The main characters are the daughters of Jekyll & Hyde, Frankenstein, Moreau, & Rappaccini.
Mod
Added it to my list because that sounds so interesting!
Rachel Skye wrote: "Jenny wrote: "I finished The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter & I love it! I can't wait for the sequel to come out sometime next year. It's a really fun take on Victorian mo..."Yay! I just nominated it for December :D
A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman.
Heart and Soul – Maeve Binchy – 3***
This is a story of family, friends, patients and staff whose lives intersect at a heart clinic in Dublin. This was the right book for me at the right time – a gentle, engaging story that focuses on relationships. It is a sort of snapshot of a year in these people’s lives. This is a sequel to Nights of Rain and Stars, with many of those characters appearing here as well.
LINK to my review
Murder in the Mystery Suite – Ellery Adams – 3***
Book number one in the Book Retreat Mystery series. This was a delightful cozy mystery. The premise is a bit outlandish, but it makes for a colorful cast of characters. And I love all the literary references.
LINK to my review
Karma – Cathy Ostlere – 3***
This young adult novel is told entirely in verse, making for a very fast read. While there is a “love story” in the plot, the book includes some pretty serious matter: religious strife between Sikhs and Hindus, civil and political unrest in India, and the treatment of women. Maya is a strong female lead, despite the trauma she’s faced and her withdrawal into herself.
LINK to my review
joyce g wrote: "Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty."Hi. I'm new to the group and this is my first post! Saw you are reading Big Little Lies and just want to say how great that book is and how it got be out of a 2 month reading slump.
Bren
I just finished "That Night" by Chevy Stevens. It's a mystery involving a girl whose sister is murdered and she is convicted of the crime but didn't do it. Chevy Stephens also wrote "Still missing" which I read a number of years ago but I liked this one better. I rated it a 4 and am seriously considering upgrading to a 5 because of how powerful it was.
Just finished this one:
Dark Matter, by Blake Crouch
★★★★
This book wasn't what I originally expected it to be.
At first, I was under the impression that this was a mystery/thriller novel (I only briefly skimmed the synopsis). In a way that's true, but it definitely has more of a sci-fi quality to it, something that I found pleasantly surprising and enjoyable.
It also made me a think a lot more than I originally anticipated. I thought I would be simply shutting myself off and enjoying the ride, but I found myself relating to the main character quite a bit, and the storyline turned out to be really thought-provoking and even a little disturbing. So, surprise, surprise, this turned out to be a really good read!
In a sentence, it's enthralling, enjoyable, and quick. If you like intriguing sci-fi thrillers, try this book out!
...also finished The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd. I'm just too lazy to write another book review...
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson.
Lisa wrote: "Just finished this one:Dark Matter, by Blake Crouch
★★★★
This book wasn't what I originally expected it to be.
At first, I was under the impression that this was..."
I loved Dark Matter! I read it a year or two ago and it was the best book I read that year.
I'm listening to The Collapsing Empire on Audible. It took a little while to get going, but I'm so into it now. I'm actually looking forward to cleaning today because I'll be listening while I clean.I've also started Sense and Sensibility for the club read! I'm looking forward to discussing it. I've seen the movie and read Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, but it's been a long while.
Mod
Dark Matter, by Blake Crouch
★★★★
This book wasn't what I originally expected it to be.
At first, I was under the impression ..."
Agreed with both of you!
Ukulele Murder – Leslie Langtry – ZERO stars
This is just bad. The writing is hackneyed, the dialogue is tortured, the plot is ridiculous, and none of the characters is believable. Even worse, in my opinion, is the lame attempt at humor in re Nani’s mother’s alcoholism. Alcoholism is *never* funny.
LINK to my review
Drums of Autumn – Diana Gabaldon – 3.5*** (rounded up)
Book number four in the bestselling Outlander series, has Jamie and Claire making their home in the mountains of North Carolina. I just love this series. Gabaldon writes compelling stories with characters I care about. Even the ones I hate (Brianna) keep me interested and engaged, and the action is non-stop.
LINK to my review
Kite Runner by Khaled hosseini
Educating Rita – Willy Russell – 3.5***
A marvelous play about one young woman’s desire for an education, and the professor who teaches her, and learns from her. I much prefer to watch plays performed, but this was an enjoyable read. Rita is a marvelous character, and I loved watching her grow.
LINK to my review
The Hidden Child – Camilla Läckberg – 4*****
This is the fifth book in the series featuring crime writer Erica Falck and Detective Patrik Hedström, in the village of Fjällbacka, Sweden. However, it’s the first one I’ve read. Läckberg uses a dual time line to tell this story. There are the events of 1945, when one young couple’s plans are shattered by prejudice and violence. And there is the current-day mystery of an artifact that threatens to reveal long-held secrets. I look forward to reading more of this series.
LINK to my review
Bookplate Special – Lorna Barrett – 3***
Book number three in the Booktown Mystery series. This is a typical cozy mystery, with a cast of colorful characters, and a nosy amateur sleuth who simply cannot help herself when it comes to investigating a crime on her doorstep. It’s not great literature, but it’s entertaining and a quick read.
LINK to my review
Miss Julia Hits the Road – Ann B Ross – 3***
Book number four in the popular series starring Miss Julia, a widow of a certain age. I just love Miss Julia, who frequently gets embroiled in one scandal / scheme or another when she jumps to conclusions and/or fails to fully understand the implications of what she’s been told. But her heart is always in the right place. Miss Julia is just a hoot, and I was laughing aloud at several scenes.
LINK to my review
My review for: Memories of Love by Margaret Lynette Sharp
4★https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Garment Marker's Daughter by Hillary Adrienne Stern.
The Killer Next Door by Alex Marwood.
All Creatures Great and Small – James Herriot – 4****
I am definitely *not* an animal person but Herriot’s reminiscences of his early efforts to build a veterinary practice in Yorkshire in the mid to late 1930s were delightful, if a bit repetitious. This is a re-read for me, and my rating reflects my first impressions when I first read it in the early to mid-1970s.
LINK to my review
The Making of the President 1960 – Theodore H White – 3***
Subtitle: A Narrative History of American Politics in Action. About a year before the November 1960 election, Theodore H White began studying the likely candidates for President. He followed them through primaries, state caucuses, the national convention and the campaign for the Presidency. It’s somewhat dated – the process is different more than half a century later. And yet, there is something timeless about this story.
LINK to my review
The Curse of Crow Hollow by Billy Coffey.
The Magician’s Assistant – Ann Patchett – 3.5***
What I have come to love about Patchett is the masterful way she draws her characters. The story unfolds in bits and pieces, much as it would in real life. You don’t tell everything at once to someone you’ve just met, and likewise Sabine and Dot each keeps some things to herself. The environment also plays a role; Sabine is a different person in Los Angeles than she is in Nebraska.
LINK to my review
Our Stealing Horses by Per Oetrerson.
Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson.
I am Sooo far behind in posting the books I've read ....
Victim Six – Gregg Olsen – 3.5***
A serial killer is terrorizing towns around Puget Sound. Kitsap County Sherriff’s Detective Kendall Stark is a really strong female lead character – smart, resilient, resourceful, intelligent and compassionate. This is a tightly-written, fast-paced psychological thriller. It’s not for the faint of heart; it’s about a sexual sadist serial killer, and there are some very graphic scenes.
LINK to my review
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The Xibalba Murders – Lyn Hamilton – 3***
Number one in the Lara McClintoch Archeological Mystery series, takes our heroine from her home in Toronto to the Yucatan peninsula. I am a fan of magical realism, but Hamilton’s efforts seemed heavy-handed. All in all, it was a somewhat entertaining mystery and I enjoyed learning a bit more about Mayan lore.
LINK to my review
The Lost City of the Monkey God – Douglas Preston – 4****
I was mesmerized by this adventure story, as Preston recounts the expedition’s efforts to find these ruins in the dense jungle, plagued by weather, poisonous snakes, and biting insects. Preston also give equal time to political discourse and environmental impact. And the medical mystery of aftereffects of their time in the jungle was equally fascinating, and horrifying.
LINK to my review
Coffee & Books
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The Illusion of Separateness – Simon Van Booy – 3.5***
Van Booy tells this interwoven story from different perspectives and in different time periods. Throughout we see how a small act of kindness – or cruelty – can reverberate through time and across continents. The writing is poetic and fluid. I felt immersed in the story, and was never disoriented by the changing perspectives or time lines. I want to read it again, and I would definitely read another book by this author.
LINK to my review