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Personal Challenges - 2018
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Debbie's Reading of 2018
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Report #2Book: The Girls in the Picture
Author: Melanie Benjamin
Date Read: 20 J04 Feb 2018
Comment: I started reading this fictional account of Mary Pickford and Frances Marion with pleasure and enjoyment. Unfortunately, after a few chapters the writing turned trite and elementary. The whole novel reeked of mostly conversations between Mary and Frances. The settings disappeared and a commentary of the life of each of these amazing women disappeared. Melanie Benjamin does cover the beginning of the movies starting with the silent movies. The struggles of the actors and actresses wane in this telling. The book reads like a comic book with only words and little action.
Report #3Book: Home by Nightfall
Author: Charles Finch
Date Read: 20 Feb 2018
Comment: I was excited to be reading an English mystery, but that excitement quickly disappeared, and loathing entered the story. Charles Finch attempts to impress with eloquent language, but he missteps in his grammar during this endeavor. I spent too much time rereading sentences to figure the writer's intention and lost all enjoyment of the story. The story seems to have left my memory immediately after the final chapter. Nothing in the story remains to ponder. The journey into the English countryside provoked nothing but ennui.
Report #4Book: The Whistler
Author: John Grisham
Date Read: 22 Feb 2018
Comment: John Grisham writes technical novels, but with an ease that allows the "common folk" to enjoy the story. The novel deals with the Indian reservations and casinos on the reservation. I do not know what percentage of the story relates fact, but the story fills me with wonder and awe. The ending of the novel seems too tame, and I do not feel that the ending could be so calm. The greed of people haunts the story. When is wealth, too much? The characters present interesting backgrounds, but the reader never learns the true mysteries of the characters. The novel presents an easy read but fails to delve into the character's psyche.
Report #5Book: Go Set a Watchman
Author: Harper Lee
Date Read: 25 Feb 2018
Comment: I am greatly disappointed in this last novel by Harper Lee. This novel lacks the emotion of To Kill a Mockingbird. The main character of Go Set A Watchman reigns as Jean Louise Finch, or Scout. Scout returns home for her yearly two week visit to Alabama amid the civil rights movement and the emergence of a new attitude in the South. Scout questions her father and her uncle in their seemingly passive stance. Scout cannot fathom that at face value, all seems unchanged, but undercurrents expose the lethal attitudes. Scout's attitude and character seem too stubborn and unprepared for the new South. Her whole existence dwells on self and gives little attention to the world around her that is struggling to survive.
Report #6Book: The Storyteller
Author: Jodi Picoult
Date Read: 28 Feb 2018
Comment: Writers never cease writing about the atrocities of WWII, and Jodi Picoult continues this practice. This novel centers on Sage Singer and her friendship with Josef Weber. Sage and Josef meet during grief management sessions. The reader does not learn the full reason for Sage attending this class until very late in the story. Josef professes to be a former SS soldier responsible for thousands of deaths and asks that Sage assist in ending his life. Picoult does an excellent job in relating the story with chapters by Sage, Josef, Minka-Sage's grandmother, and Leo-the Holocaust investigator. The true story of the horror emerges. Is atonement necessary? The ending is not shocking, as I had expected this outcome, but the stony path creates vivid memories of human suffering.
Report #7Book: The Killing of the Rising Sun
Author: Bill O'Reilly
Date Read: 04 Mar 2018
Comment: History fascinates me; therefore, I usually enjoy books dedicating to exploring historic events. Bill O'Reilly loves to delve into the reasons behind tragic events, and he does an excellent job of presenting the facts. My problem is the presentation of these facts. O'Reilly jumps back and forth between events too often, that I become lost in what is happening and the sequence of the events. I understand the writers relish in holding the reader’s attention with this technique. But in relating history, this event detracts from the narrative. I lose interest as I lose my way in the smoky haze.
Report #8Book: Woman of God
Author: James Patterson
Date Read: 06 Mar 2018
Comment: I enjoy James Patterson's style of writing with the short chapters and the rapid action. This book begins with the death of the Pope, and the possibility of a woman becoming the next Pope. The story follows Brigid Fitzgerald in her travels to South Sudan, Egypt, Italy, France, and various states of The United States. Much of the book focuses on the terrible conditions and horrible events of South Sudan. Brigid, as a medical doctor, attempts to save these desperate people. Brigid endures loss of many cherished friends and family but keeps hammering away at helping others. Sometimes, Brigid seems more beloved than Mother Teresa, Patterson's gives Brigid too many "superhuman" characteristics, and the story suffers.
Report #9Book: The Silent Sister
Author: Diane Chamberlain
Date Read: 17 Mar 2018
Comment: This book has many twists and turns, but I figured the ending halfway into the book. The book starts with the suicide of a gifted violinist when she faces a trial for the murder of her teacher. Then the story jumps to Riley MacPherson, the sister of Lisa-the violinist, as she returns home after the death of her father. Riley has many issues that confront her: the death of Lisa, her brother Danny's behavior, and the secrets of her father. Another story emerges as the reader learns that Lisa is not dead but living in California. Will the three siblings be reunited, and will all the secrets unravel? Diane Chamberlain writes a compelling story of love, hate, and families.
Report #10Book: Everybody Behaves Badly
Author: M. M. Blume
Date Read: 14 Mar 2018
Comment: Hemingway's life provides fodder for many writers, but M M Blume misses the boat with very little new information on Hemingway. I prodded along in this dull, senseless book hoping to reach the end before I died of boredom. I thoroughly enjoyed the pictures, but the book did little to maintain my attention.
Report #11Book: Murder Among the Pines
Author: John Lawrence Reynolds
Date Read: 27 Mar 2018
Comment:This is a Canadian mystery set around Toronto in Port Ainslie with Maxine "Max" Benson as the police chief in this tourist center. In this installment, Max must assist her ex-husband in proving his innocence in a murder charge. The novel is very short, more like a novella, but the story unfolds nicely. Lawrence Reynolds needs to develop his characters more thoroughly, he starts with great characters, but does not give them personality and emotions. The setting falls under the truck but has the ability to fully recover with more description.
Report #12Book: The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane
Author: Lisa See
Date Read: 06 Apr 2018
Comment: Lisa See's story of rural China evoked many chilling scenes, and I felt that this could not be a recent China, but many practices and beliefs still exist in rural areas. The story plunges into despair and misery, only to rise from the ashes like a phoenix. The language and setting color the life of Li-yan and the Aka people of China. Li-yan possesses intelligence and perseverance in the face of many obstacles. I felt the Lisa See told a moving story, but the ending rushed over important events.
Report #13Book: White Trash-The 400 Year Untold History of Class
Author: Nancy Isenberg
Date Read: 22 Apr 2018
Comment: What an interesting book about the history of class in America, and to learn the founding fathers who absolute snobs. In the land of equality, the poor still suffer a meagre existence and have little hope of advancement. Isenberg covered each and every president and the discussion that not many presidents rose from rags to riches. Andrew Jackson and his wife Rachel remain the ultimate "trash" in regard to prior presidents throughout the roster of American leaders. I had not known that America had such an extreme class structure in the early history, as I thought that all citizens struggled to survive and find freedom in this New World.
Report #14Book: The Death of a Movie Star
Author: Timothy Patrick
Date Read: 01 May 2018
Comment: This satirical novella about Hollywood and the people who frequent this icon provides biting comments on the falseness and meanness of those "Hollywood" people. The book ends in a quasi-redemption, but a little too late. The format of this story bumps around in dialogue and setting and character development pass quickly away. I read authors that create intriguing stories rich in setting and character personality. After reading Death of a Movie Star, no character remains in my conscious awareness. The old starlet, Lenora Danmore reminds me Norma Desmond, in Sunset Boulevard; and as any can see, the names are very similar. Both Lenora and Norma need to acknowledge that their prime time has ended and now must fade to the side line. Received a free advance reviewers copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
Report #15Book: In Prior's Wood
Author: G M Malliet
Date Read: 11 June 2018
Comment: I have enjoyed this series since the beginning, but this book lacked the panache of the earlier books. The author spent too much time describing each thought and action, that when an event happened, the reader had lost track of the event. I love the characters, but even the characters showed flatness and dullness. The book fell into such blandness, that not a scene remains in my memory. This could possibly be the demise of Max Tudor as future reading for me.
Report #16Book: A Fountain Filled With Blood
Author: Julia Spencer-Fleming
Date Read: 15 June 2018
Comment:Spencer-Fleming writes an action-packed mystery that inserts a little religion into the story. My feelings for Clare change during the story. I sometimes feel that Clare goes too far in proving herself to be worthy of respect. The story displays the downfall of greed and in keeping up appearances. Many of the characters pop in and out of the series, and some of the characters would be better omitted from the pages. The book provides an interesting and speedy read.
Report #17Book: Probable Claws
Author: Rita Mae Brown
Date Read: 23 June 2018
Comment: As a cat lover, I adore this series, but I do have a beef. Brown has too many animals and people, and too much conversation among the animals. The animals seem to act as a Greek chorus in explaining what is happening. Brown does use italics when the animals are speaking, but this disrupts the flow of the story. As usual, Rita Mae Brown utilizes her expertise is filling the book with lengthy and tedious information concerning some aspect of the story. The discussion of building and architecture went on and on, and lead to very little pertinent data. I enjoyed the jump back into 1787 and learning about the financial woes of the new country.
Report #18Book: The Western Star
Author: Craig Johnson
Date Read: 01 July 2018
Comment: What a disappointing ending, in order to learn the outcome, the next book must be read. I firmly dislike cliff hangers, like "Who shot JR". The book jumps back and forth from when Walt first takes up law enforcement to Walt preparing for his final years as sheriff. The interesting story rests in the description of the steam engine train and its last run, loaded with all the sheriffs. Walt assists in discovering a mass killer and the story jumps to current times with the convicted killer attempting to leave prison due to old age and sickness. Craig Johnson tells a descriptive and exciting story, and his characters jump off the pages and engage the reader to witness the events and interpret the outcome.
Report #19Book: An Obvious Fact
Author: Craig Johnson
Date Read: 08 July 2018
Comment: I read the Longmire books out of sequence, but this did not deter from the story. This escapade features "the Cheyenne Nation" proving his skill with a motorcycle, and maybe finding a young man who might be Henry's son. The story features a long-ago woman from Henry's romantic adventures. Walt and Henry attempt to determine why a young motorcycle rider has landed in the hospital, and what covert actions threaten this peaceful town. Of course, the big issue rests in land and the pains that men take to obtain land illegally. Again, Craig Johnson develops many interesting characters and paints a panorama of the life in Wyoming and the Dakotas.
Report #20Book: The Prisoner in the Castle
Author: Susan Elia MacNeal
Date Read: 18 July 2018
Comment: I found this book extremely fun. The story follows Agatha Christie's model of Ten Little Indians (Then There Were None), with 10 English spies stranded on a Scottish island during WWII, and then one by one the deaths begin. The reader and the living cast attempt to discover the killer among themselves before all are dead. While reading the story, I tried remembering Christie's story. I do remember the various movie versions. Susan Elia MacNeal presents great characters with all their foibles and problems. Each character has been stranded on the island due to some mistake. A winter storm pelts the island making transportation off the island temporarily halted, but a German submarine and the British authorities head to the island.
Report #21Book: Plum Tea Crazy
Author: Laura Childs
Date Read: 2 August 2018
Comment: For some unknown reason, I am behind in reading the Tea Shop Mysteries, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading Plum Tea Crazy. A new shop owner appears in town and the killings begin. Who can be silently killing these individuals, but Theodosia rushes in where fools fear to tread. I adore the mix of adventure, tea blends, and mouth-watering recipes in each of the mysteries. Laura Childs does not sink into the psychological mind of the killer but stirs the senses in her cozy mystery. The characters in each of the stories are wonderful from the police detective to Theodosia’s co-workers, and of course the other shop owners in Charleston. Laura Childs does a wonderful job in bringing life to old Charleston.
Report #22Book: Die Trying
Author: Lee Child
Date Read: 12 August 2018
Comment: I am not a fan of the Jack Reacher series, but I had to read for a book club. The violence and constant talk of guns ruins the story, for me. In this rambling tale of Jack Reacher, he happens upon a kidnapping and ends up as one of the captives. The story revolves around a crazy, Hitler-like man that hopes to withdraw from the government and form his own community. The community shows dictatorship in the extreme, and the fear of the “inmates”. As in all the Reacher novels, Jack must “fall” for the female involved, but as always Jack heads out alone to his next adventure as the story concludes. The language falls short of being eloquent, and I feel that I am reading an elementary primer with all the he said, or she said on the pages. This is not a cozy mystery nor a thriller, but somewhere in the middle.
Report #23Book: Murder in Merino
Author: Sally Goldenbaum
Date Read: 15 August 2018
Comment: I enjoy reading Sally Goldenbaum and her cozy mystery series named Seaside Knitters. Sally presents real characters with flaws, but with kindness and understanding. I love meeting a new character, and Sally provides a list of characters at the beginning of each story with a short description of that person. I wish that all authors inserted a cast of characters. In this story, a beloved bartender and restaurant owner is murdered, but no one can figure the reason. Izzy and her aunt Nell race to discover the killer before another murder happens. Again, I enjoy the mention of food, the knitting, and the friendship in Sally Goldenbaum’s mysteries.
Report #24Book: A Forgotten Place
Author: Charles Todd
Date Read: 23 August 2018
Comment: I enjoy reading Sally Goldenbaum and her cozy mystery series named Seaside Knitters. The Bess Crawford series by Charles Todd transports me to wild, vibrant Wales and to a time after WWI when the world attempts to recover from the horrors of war. The Welsh men that have survived the trenches, but have lost a limb, must attempt to return to a job and family. A Forgotten Place depicts the suffering and despair of these returning veterans. The description of the men elicits a grim picture of the war’s aftermath, with most of the men committing suicide rather than becoming a burden for the family. Charles Todd, the mother-son writing team paints a vivid scene of the Welsh community and the harshness of life by the sea, which is intensified by the music and language of the Welsh. The story showed me the frustration and loneliness caused by a war, and that life does not return to normal as soon as the war ends.
Report #25Book: Devonshire Scream
Author: Laura Childs
Date Read: 29 August 2018
Comment: I adore the Charleston setting and the recipes and tea event suggestions. Theodosia runs around trying to solve murders, while her faithful workers plan and manage the shop. This episode features a gang of jewel thieves and Theodosia has many characters in mind who have committed the heist. The books follow the same formula each time, but still, I enjoy these stories with the talk of fashion, history, and society. I wonder how long Drayton can follow after Theodosia, after all, he is 60. And doesn't Haley get upset when she is always "stuck" in the kitchen? I would love to see a cookbook with all the recipes.
Report #26Book: The Alice Network
Author: Kate Quinn
Date Read: 02 September 2018
Comment: Another story based on war and the aftermath of war. The story jumps between WWI and 1947, as the reader meets Eve, Charlie, and Finn. Kate Quinn bases her story on the real female spy network of the two wars. Charlie, a pregnant American goes to France in search of an older cousin, Rose. Along the way, Charlie meets Eve, a female spy in WWI and WWII. Eve and her chauffeur, Finn, embark on the journey to France. Heart ache and emotional stress follows the unlikely trio from England to France, and each must find a reason to continue the journey. Kate Quinn brings the hardship of war vividly to the reader. I enjoyed the book but felt that the book lacked deep emotion.
Report #27Book: The Strange Curse of Breda
Author: Steven Arnett
Date Read: 05 September 2018
Comment: This new book by Steven Arnett, The Strange Curse of Breda, contains a wonderful premise for a novel, but the actual book fails in characters and setting. The story begins in 1889 with the conviction and hanging of Obadiah Kurtz for the murder of his wife. Obadiah roars out a curse for the town of Breda as his accusers prepare to hang him. The story jumps to 1971 in Breda, Michigan, where a vicious murder happens. Before long, other murders happen and force the townspeople into fear. Arnett catches a little of the town's atmosphere, but the characters and setting remain lackluster. The story contains too much dialogue and hides any psychological analysis of the events.
Report #28Book: Pekoe Most Poison
Author: Laura Childs
Date Read: 09 September 2018
Comment: What a lovely way to spend a rainy Sunday, curled up with a delicious book. I crave tea and a scone, but where to find? This event features a "Rat Tea" at a lovely McMansion in Charleston, SC, but tragically, the host is murdered. Laura Childs presented the history of the "Rat Tea” but omitted much of the wonderful setting of Charleston in this novel. The food and tea still send longings to my mouth, and I am still craving one of Haley's scones. The story ends, but the reader is never enlightened if all Theodosia's work benefited the Heritage Society.
Report #29Book: Death of a Butterfly
Author: Margaret Maron
Date Read: 13 September 2018
Comment:This is the second Sigrid Harald novel, and I must say that I enjoyed this novel so much better than the first book, One Coffee With. I felt that Maron expanded on Ingrid's character in this novel. The characters are better developed, in relation to their relationship with Ingrid. Margaret Maron builds up the intensity in the search for the killer of Julie Redmond. A few loose clues point to various people involved in Julie's ending, but when Ingrid discovers the real killer the reader feels disbelief and sadness. Is this the real killer? Many of the characters wiggle into the reader's heart. Will these characters survive until the next novel, or will they disappear?
Report #30Book: Hillbilly Elegy
Author: J D Vance
Date Read: 16 September 2018
Comment: I am not a big fan of memoirs or biographies, but Hillbilly Elegy by J D Vance brought a little enjoyment. JD Vance outlines his story of living in Kentucky and Ohio, and his escape to Yale University to study law. What a fabulous ending to a story crammed full of bad experiences from a life a strife and dread, but a story of redemption in the form of a powerful grandmother that pushed him to succeed. J D Vance struggled with his drug dependent mother and the various men in the mother’s life. A gentle push after high school steered J D to the Marine, and the rest of the story rests in that shove. I listened to the book on audio, and J D Vance does a great job in reading his book.
Report #31Book: The Flight Attendant
Author: Chris Bohjalian
Date Read: 23 September 2018
Comment: The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian slowly draws the reader into the story. The story begins with the flight attendant swept up in drunken, exotic sex with one of her passengers. The novel quickly turns a vivid corner, as Cassie awakens to find Alex, the passenger, dead in their bed. After a few chapters, the reader learns who slit Alec’s throat, but not the reason. Bohjalian displays Cassie as a continual party girl, who must always drink to excess. This time the drinking has dire consequences for Cassie and her family. As in other novels by Chris Bohjalian, Russians dominate the pages. The story plays upon money, spies, and drinking. The book piqued my interest and showed me a different lifestyle.
Report #32Book: Exposed Fury
Author: Marie Flanigan
Date Read: 27 September 2018
Comment: Exposed Fury by Marie Flanigan surprised me in the powerful presence of Annie Fitch. After finishing the novel, I hope that this will emerge as a series. Annie Fitch, an injured, ex-cop, now works as an investigator. I liked the way that Marie Flanigan inserted various tropics, such as cruelty to animals, Internet sex sites, the horrible working hours and stress of a police detective, the good old boy mentality, and the plight of autism, without preaching to the choir. Marie Flanigan lacks the philosophical and psychological detail of Elizabeth George and the grandiose story telling skill of Louise Penny, but Exposed Fury begins Flanigan’s journey into good writing.
Report #33Book: Dark Tide Rising
Author: Anne Perry
Date Read: 28 September 2018
Comment: Anne Perry delivers an amazing novel set in England. Perry develops many interesting characters, but in my mind, I feel that one of the characters has been forgotten. Hester has a man with a dubious past that maintains the bookkeeping for Hester’s clinic, but this man is never utilized when a bookkeeper is needed. Perry dwells on the setting and the reader can feel the dampness and despair of Jacob’s Island, a place descending into oblivion. The murder of Kate Exeter forces William Monk to question the men under his leadership. Who has betrayed the police force? Anne Perry delves into the past and current life of each of the policemen that went to Jacob’s Island, as Monk attempts to find murderer and which of his men might be working with the murderer. The story follows Anne Perry’s usual formula with the last chapters focused on the arrest and trial of the accused. And as usual, the truth blares in the conclusion.
Report #34Book: The Woman in the Window
Author: A J Finn
Date Read: 06 October 2018
Comment: This book presents all the makings of a roller coaster ride with the constant parallel with classic thrillers of the cinema and with the downfalls of the Internet. The setting provides Gothic scenes as the large, rambling house traps Anna Fox into believing herself delusional and crazy. Anna never ventures from her home, and the book does not disclose the reason until much later in the story. Anna spends her day drinking, playing on the Internet, watching “old” movies, and spying on her neighbors. The horror happens when Anna witnesses the murder of a neighbor, but the police do not believe the story. This is the first novel for A J Finn, and he creates a superb thriller that keeps the reader guessing Anna’s condition. The characters in the story jump from the pages, as the reader jumps at the slightest noise. The weather and the house play important roles in the tempo of the story. Much to my chagrin, I enjoyed all the classic movie references throughout the story.
Report #35Book: Hidden Scars
Author: Mark de Castrique
Date Read: 07 October 2018
Comment: I am not a fan of the Sam Blackman series, but I had only read the first two novels. Hidden Scars happily changed my mind about Sam. The story surrounds the past events in a quiet North Carolina college during the years of civil unrest. A mountain man falls to his death while hiking in his “beloved” mountains, and seven decades later, his sister wants the truth about what happened. Sam and Nakayla investigate Paul Weaver’s death from the past and then become involved in several current deaths of a movie production. I appreciate novels that provide entertainment and education, and Hidden Scars pounded much knowledge into my head, plus the plot forced me to continue reading for fear of missing some interesting tidbit. After finishing this novel, I will need to continue my forage into the deeds and trials of Sam Blackman.
Report #36Book: Darling Dahlias & the Poinsettia Puzzle
Author: Susan Wittig Albert
Date Read: 31 October 2018
Comment: I have read Susan Wittig Albert's other series and a few of the Darling Dahlias' series. The story line creates excitement for the new bakery, the jigsaw puzzle contest, the dilemma of Cupcake, the love life of Liz, the suicide turned murder, and moonshining, but too many cooks spoil the bread. Too many events and too many characters confuse the reader, and then Albert references other books in the series in order to explain situations. While this evoked an interest, this reader felt that Albert crammed the other books down the throat, at times. I felt that Albert did a good job mentioning the hardships following the Depression, but all these hardships seemed candy-coated. The new technology in ballistics aided the Sheriff, but again, I felt that danger and trouble remained hidden. Albert needed to limit her topics and develop her settings and characters, but still the book exposed me to a world that I did not understand.
Report #37Book: Dreams of Falling
Author: Karen White
Date Read: 18 November 2018
Comment: Karen White provides an interesting Southern story, but the incorrect usage of raise/rear set this reader on edge. Animals are raised, and people are reared, according to proper English. The incorrect usage sounds like a scratch on a blackboard and ruined the story as this verb was used in every chapter. Also, I either missed or Karen White omitted the importance of Ellis in relation to Ivy in the story. The segments divided among the 1950’s and current times provides insight into the various women of the story. The secrets that each person carries in order to protect a loved one do not always follow expectations. Karen White evolves vivid pictures of South Carolina and the seasons and the grandeur of old Southern plantations and the boundaries of friendship.
Report #38Book: Christmas on the Island
Author: Jenny Colgan
Date Read: 21 November 2018
Comment: Jenny Colgan’s seasonal novel reminded me vividly of the PBS series “Shetland”, but the village is friendlier, but just as secluded and difficult. I thoroughly enjoyed my first Christmas novel with all the tension, excitement, and friendship in Colgan’s story. I did experience a little uncomfort with the Scottish names and keeping all the characters in order. Jenny Colgan does a wonderful job with characters and scenery and emotions. I plan to read more of this author and learn more of Scottish islands and culture. The story covers many topics: the wedding of two men, immigrants from Syria, small town culture, and relationships among families.
Report #39Book: The Wind in the Willows
Author: Kenneth Grahame
Date Read: 24 November 2018
Comment: I have never read The Wind in the Willows but enjoyed this moralistic story. I cannot believe that the story was intended for children, as underneath the characters reside many moral stories. The Toad represents a greedy, egotistic individual that must undergo a transformation. His friends, the Rat, the Badger, and the Mole, remain loyal in efforts to assist the Toad. The Toad encounters a lengthy journey of self-discovery and remains set on his misbegotten path. The story spends numerous pages on description that would bore a child. A child needs more action and less speech.
Report #40Book: Depth of Winter
Author: Craig Johnson
Date Read: 30 November 2018
Comment: Craig Johnson ensured the purchase of Depth of Winter with the horrific ending in The Western Star. Unfortunately, Depth of Winter, does not convey the power and energy of the previous Craig Johnson books, and this reader prayed for the book to end. The book describes all the terrors and hardships of Mexico and shows the reader why so many Mexicans attempt to enter the United States. The Western Star ends with Walt’s daughter kidnapped, so the reader must plunge into the next to discover what happens. Craig Johnson provides numerous supporting characters to aid in the search for Cady, but Henry and Vic have faded into the sunset while waiting for Walt and Cady to return home. The time has come to forego reading Craig Johnson and delve into other authors, for a while.
Report #41Book: A Redbird Christmas
Author: Fannie Flagg
Date Read: 09 December 2018
Comment: Fanny Flagg books lift the spirits and show that humans still exist. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the audio version of A Redbird Christmas. Yes, I did feel that the Southern charm heavily clouded everyday problems, but each person dealt with issues and the result displayed the human condition of forgiveness and love. The story centers on Oswald T Campbell, a Chicago native told he has terminal emphysema, and this will be his last Christmas. Oswald, on the advice of the doctor travels to Lost River, Alabama, to enjoy the Southern warmth both physical and emotional. The story covers over a year, as Oswald meets the community of Lost River and begins to enjoy life. The characters encompass many faucets of life: the owner of the store, Roy Grimmit, who gives all his love to a redbird, the lady responsible for Oswald moving to Lost River, Frances Cleverdon, who hopes Oswald will marry her sister, Patsy, the crippled girl with no family, and of course, Jack, the redbird. Tragedy does happen, but miracles step in to show the wonder of God and human nature.
Report #42Book: Medicus
Author: Ruth Downie
Date Read: 10 December 2018
Comment: Sometimes the books assigned for reading in book clubs tend to dull the senses. Medicus by Ruth Downie set in early Rome displays interesting details of life during this time, but the writing style tended to make the story dull. Medicus is the term used for doctors, and the main character is a military doctor. The story explains the life of slaves and masters, and the terrible living conditions with mice and insects. This is the first of a series, but this reader will not continue reading this series.
Report #43Book: Kingdom of the Blind
Author: Louise Penny
Date Read: 15 December 2018
Comment: What a joy to read a Louise Penny novel. The blindness motif threads through the entire novel with snow blindness, rage blindness, love blindness, and many other forms of blindness. Ruth continues to amaze with her many skills and her awareness of human nature. Armand races to find the cache of drugs that were stolen in the last novel. His entire existence balances on finding the drugs before this plague hits the streets of Canada. Another story centers on Armand, Myrna, and a new character, chosen to execute a will. Why have these three people been selected as executors of a will? Louise Penny draws the reader into the nuances of the tale and gives multi-faceted characters to develop the tale. The setting of a bleak and bitter winter enhances the journey.
Report #44Book: The Great Alone
Author: Kristin Hannah
Date Read: 23 December 2018
Comment: The Great Alone explores the beauty and brutality of Alaska in the 1970’s, during an era when many flocked to Alaska to work on the pipeline and make a tidy fortune and then to return to the real world. Kristin Hannah’s book briefly touches on the pipeline, which brings back vivid memories of my own quest to trudge to Alaska during this time. Hannah portrays the tribulations of the Allbright family as they leave Washington and head for Alaska. The father, Ernt, a Vietnam POW, battles each day to support his family. Cora, the mother, blindly loves her husband even though he has started to beat her. Leni, the daughter, struggles as a teenager who has discovered friendship just recently. The cast of characters show the range of individuals who have given all to live in Alaska, a land of beauty at a price.
Book: Mississippi Blood
Author: Greg Iles
Date Read: 20 Jan 2018
Comment: Finally, the end of this lengthy saga by Greg Iles. Greg Iles does a wonderful job with setting, characters, and dialogue; but each of the three novels remain too long. Iles compels the reader to remain reading as if on a marathon and everyday life fades away. I felt that many issues had not been fully resolved as the novel ended. The trial of Tom Cage labored forever to this reader, and so much emphasis given to tiny detail. The corrupt police department seemed to constantly win the battle, a statement that evilness wins, and goodness loses. Many of the truths seem hidden, especially Viola's death.