The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
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GETTING TO KNOW YOU
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<closed thread>What are you currently reading?
A Well-Behaved Woman – Therese Anne Fowler – 3.5***
The subtitle is all the synopsis you need: A Novel of the Vanderbilts. I thought Fowler did a great job of bringing this fascinating woman to life. Alva Smith Vanderbilt was no shrinking violet; she was a Steel Magnolia - intelligent, cagey, and fiercely independent. Faced with a betrayal, she moved forward with a scandalous strategy. It was a courageous move, but she was determined. Among the causes she championed was suffrage for all women.
My full review HERE
Finished:
- 3*,
- 3*,
- 4*Started:
Gone Girl
The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion
Still reading:
For Love and Duty - Owned
A Good Nazi? The lies we keep - a moving story of friendship and hatred - Kindle
On Back Burner for now:
A People's History of the American Revolution: How Common People Shaped the Fight for Independence - Kindle
Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? This book is more than its title. It gives great background on the Civil Rights movement, too.
Moonflower Murders – Anthony Horowitz – 4****
Two books, and three mysteries, in one novel! Susan Ryeland is a retired editor and the secret to solving the “current” crime lies in a book she edited, which features detective Atticus Pünd. I enjoyed the difference in style between the two storylines and was equally immersed in each mystery. I like both Susan and Pünd; both are meticulous, thorough and deliberate in analyzing the evidence they uncover. And I love the way that Horowitz plays with words. I haven’t read book one – Magpie Murders – yet, but I will! And I look forward to future installments.
My full review HERE
An Irish Country Christmas – Patrick Taylor – 3.5*** (rounded up)
Book three in in the charming and popular story of 1960s country GP, Barry Laverty, M.B., his partner / mentor Doctor Fingal Flahertie O’Reilly, and the people of Ballybucklebo. It’s Christmas and love is in the air. I came late to this party, but I’m glad I finally arrived, and now it seems that I may never leave. The books are charming and entertaining and just plain fun to read.
My full review HERE
I am reading an ARC of The Survivors I am finding it really strange and difficult to navigate the narrative. Has anyone read this?
I think I can see the way it is going and IF I am right I am going to be dreadfully disappointed
In the Country We Love – Diane Guerrero – 4****
When Diane Guerrero was fourteen years old she came home from school to find an empty house. Her family had been picked up by ICE and were detained pending deportation. Fortunately for Diane, a family friend agreed to take her in, so that she could remain in school. This is her memoir. The author has an important message to convey about the effects on children of America’s immigration and deportation policies.
My full review HERE
Finished:
- 2.5*I wanted to find this book funny and light. Perhaps it is, but not enough for me to enjoy it. The comedy felt more slap-sticky...not humor I appreciate.
Reading:
A Good Nazi? The lies we keep - a moving story of friendship and hatred - Kindle
A People's History of the American Revolution: How Common People Shaped the Fight for Independence - Kindle
The Bear and the Nightingale - Library
The Last Wish
Finished:
- 4*,
- 4*Reading:
A Good Nazi? The lies we keep - a moving story of friendship and hatred - Kindle
A People's History of the American Revolution: How Common People Shaped the Fight for Independence - Kindle
Chocolate Dipped Death - Library
The Rose Code - Library
The Nest - Library
A Dog Walks Into a Nursing Home: Lessons in the Good Life from an Unlikely Teacher - Audiobook
Death of an Old Sinner - Ebook
The Girls – Emma Cline – 2**
I vividly remember the Manson murders of Sharon Tate et al. I followed the news coverage and could not imagine how these people became so enthralled and obedient to the obviously crazy Charles Manson. Cline’s Evie gives me some insight into how that might have happened. But I cannot bring myself to rate the book even with three stars. The subject was so distasteful to me. I cringed at how Evie is drawn in, at how she was abused, at how she “begged” for the abuse because she was so hungry for attention and for what she thought was evidence of love.
My full review HERE
All Over But the Shoutin’ – Rick Bragg – 4****
In this memoir, Pulitzer-Prize-winning journalist Rick Bragg outlines the difficulties of growing up “dirt poor” in Appalachia, with an alcoholic father who could never shake that demon and a mother who willingly sacrificed her own health and well-being for her children’s sake. Bragg left his home, but his home never left him. His story in an honest, gripping, heart-wrenching and inspiring love letter to his mother.
My full review HERE
Lost Children Archive – Valeria Luiselli – 5*****
A cross-country journey from New York to Arizona gives one family – mother, father, 10-year-old boy, five-year-old girl – an opportunity to explore the history of this nation’s native peoples, and to learn about the current fabric of America and the people so desperate to come here. I loved the way this unfolded. Luiselli changes narrators throughout the book, sometimes giving us the mother’s perspective, or the son’s. Both parents work to document things, and this forces the reader to think about how we remember things. I am so looking forward to my F2F book club discussion of this book!
My full review HERE
Practical Magic – Alice Hoffman – 3***
The Owens women have always been known for their beauty and have always had magical powers. Sally and Gillian, however, want nothing to do with magical powers and definitely do not want magic to dictate their love lives. I had seen the movie years ago and thought little of it, so was hesitant to read this. But it satisfied a challenge and I’m glad I read it. Hoffman is a great storyteller, and like all fairy tales, this one has some important lessons to impart.
My full review HERE
Finished: Chocolate Dipped Death - 3*Reading:
A Good Nazi? The lies we keep - a moving story of friendship and hatred - Kindle
A People's History of the American Revolution: How Common People Shaped the Fight for Independence - Kindle
The Babbling Brook Naked Poker Club - Kindle
The Rose Code - Library
The Nest - Library
A Dog Walks Into a Nursing Home: Lessons in the Good Life from an Unlikely Teacher - Audiobook
Death of an Old Sinner - Ebook
The Killer Angels: The Classic Novel of the Civil War - Library
Finding that my attention is wandering...I think this is the largest number of books I have attempted at one time in a long time!
Fly wrote: "currently reading
[bookcover:Thinking in Pictures: My Life wi..."HaHa! A fellow multi-reader. Welcome to my world. Fantasy, paranormal, and mystery are my favorite genres. Looks like they are yours also. BTW, I read a book about animals by Temple Grandin. I have a lot of respect for her. Do you like the memoir?
Bea wrote: "Fly wrote: "currently reading[bookcover:Thinking in Pictures..."I'm actually a little disappointed in it so far - I think my expectations may have been too high! I have a lot of respect for her and her accomplishments, but she tends to generalize her experience to autistic people as a whole, and I don't think one size fits all.
I might change my mind as I get further into it though... I've been stuck sick in bed listening to audiobooks for the past week, so I've put my paperbacks aside for a bit
also... my pb edition is this one:
and the cover is driving me nuts LOL
Fly wrote: "Bea wrote: "Fly wrote: "currently reading[bookcover:Thinking..."Sorry to hear that you are down. I hope some of your audiobooks are helping you fill the time.
I am more susceptible to covers that I would like to admit. Some of the books I own and avoid turn out to be covers that do not inspire me even when the book is eventually read and found enjoyable!
Rainbow Valley – L M Montgomery – 3***
Book seven in the classic series about Anne Shirley and her family. Anne’s six children have discovered their own “magical” place where they can play and indulge their imaginations. When a new family moves into an old mansion nearby, they welcome the Meredith kids into their hideaway. These books are just delightful reads. A nice gentle escape from today’s harsher realities. Like the other books in the series, this one is full of charming characters, believably innocent fun, and a few humorous miscalculations.
My full review HERE
Finished:
- 4*,
- 3*Reading:
A Good Nazi? The lies we keep - a moving story of friendship and hatred - Kindle
A People's History of the American Revolution: How Common People Shaped the Fight for Independence - Kindle
The Babbling Brook Naked Poker Club - Kindle
A Dog Walks Into a Nursing Home: Lessons in the Good Life from an Unlikely Teacher - Audiobook
Death of an Old Sinner - Ebook
The Killer Angels: The Classic Novel of the Civil War - Library
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian – Sherman Alexie – 5*****
This young adult novel tells the story of Junior Spirit, a Spokane Indian living on the reservation with his parents and older sister. I loved this book. I could not help but think of all the kids out there like Junior – kids with limited abilities in one aspect, but extraordinary abilities in other aspects. Kids who just need someone to believe in them, and for an adult to step in to stop the bullying and give them a chance to grow and excel.
My full review HERE
America For Beginners – Leah Franqui – 4****
Pival Sengupta, a recently widowed Kolcatta native, books a trip to America for her first solo venture outside her home city. This went in directions I wasn’t expecting. I had read little about the book in advance, and thought it would a lighthearted, somewhat humorous look at America through the eyes of a total newcomer. But there were many deeper issues here. Characters have to deal with grief, life choices, and relationships; they must deal with their pasts, and move forward with courage. There WERE some humorous scenes, but also tender scenes that brought me to tears. This is Franqui’s debut novel and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
My full review HERE
Finished
- 4*Right day (rainy) and right mood to read this book in one day!
The Brutal Telling – Louise Penny – 3.5***
Book # 5 in Louise Penny’s popular mystery detective series featuring Chief Inspector Armand Gamache begins when a stranger is found murdered in the village bistro and antiques store. I love this series. I like the way Gamache ferrets out clues and pieces together the puzzle. I love the various inhabitants of the fictitious Three Pines, including Ruth and her duck. I particularly enjoyed the references to literature and art in this episode, especially the paintings of Emily Carr.
My full review HERE
A Cuban Girl’s Guide To Tea and Tomorrow – Laura Taylor Namey – 3***
Okay, I totally picked this up because I needed a pink cover for a challenge. I noticed, too, that this was a pick for “Reese’s YA Book Club” and thought it might have some meat on the bones. Some of this stretched credulity a bit far for me, but on the whole I enjoyed it. I liked that things were not all wrapped up nice and tidy in a pretty bow, albeit there is still a happy (or at least hopeful) ending. A pretty good example of the YA romance genre.
My full review HERE
Finished:
- 3*,
- 3*Reading:
A Good Nazi? The lies we keep - a moving story of friendship and hatred - Kindle
A People's History of the American Revolution: How Common People Shaped the Fight for Independence - Kindle
The Babbling Brook Naked Poker Club - Kindle
Death of an Old Sinner - Ebook
Tolstoy and the Purple Chair: My Year of Magical Reading - Library
Black Widow - Library
The Sins of the Father - Library
Pride – Ibi Zoboi – 4****
This YA romance is set in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn, and features a Dominican/Haitian family. The Benitez sisters are F I N E and everyone in the neighborhood knows it. Then the wealthy Darcy family moves into the hood, and sparks fly between the handsome brothers and the two oldest Benitez girls. All told, a totally satisfying retelling of the beloved Jane Austen classic, Pride and Prejudice.
My full review HERE
Finished:
- 5*I was going to give this 4* as the story had several twists and turns that were unexpected as well as being told from a new point of view for me, but the issues that arose as I read the story would not let go of me after I finished it. I found myself searching my own life for further understanding. When a book impacts my life beyond a really good story, it earns 5* from me.
Finished:
- 4*A delightful cozy mystery set in a senior housing facility with 4 eccentric senior women. Loved it!
Out Of Africa – Isak Dinesen / Karen Blixen – 5*****
What glorious writing. I first read this in 1998, and re-read it for my book club in 2013. I revisited it again in 2017 and now, here I am again. If you're expecting the movie you'll be greatly disappointed - Denys Finch-Hatton is barely mentioned. No, the great love of her life was Africa itself. While I still love Dineson’s writing, and love the way she puts me right into early 20th century Africa, I am more attuned to social justice these days, and have to cringe a bit at some of the references to the indigenous tribes. The colonialists had such a superior attitude. But this a product of the era and of the social status of the writer, and we must give her her due.
My full review HERE
Finished:
- 4*,
- 3*Still Reading:
A People's History of the American Revolution: How Common People Shaped the Fight for Independence - Kindle
Black Widow - Library
The Sins of the Father - Library
The Body At the Tower – Y S Lee – 3***
Book Two in the YA historical mystery series about “The Agency” – an organization of female detectives in Victorian London – and featuring orphan and former thief, Mary Quinn. I enjoyed this quite a bit. It was somewhat repetitious in places, but Mary is a wonderful heroine – bright, resourceful, compassionate, observant and mentally strong. I like that Lee has made Mary half-Chinese, and that her ethnicity poses additional problems (and opportunities) for her in mid-19th-century England.
My full review HERE
Finished
- 4*Still reading:
A People's History of the American Revolution: How Common People Shaped the Fight for Independence - Kindle
The Sins of the Father - Library
The Murder on the Links: A Hercule Poirot Mystery - Ebook
Norwegian by Night - Kindle
Murder on the Oxford Canal - Audiobook
My Invented Country – Isabel Allende – 3.5***
In this memoir, Allende looks at her own family history as well as the history of her native country, Chile. She explores the social conventions, politics, natural terrain, geographical difficulties and advantages of this unique land. It’s a story full of mythology – from national legends, to her own family’s stories. Here are the roots of her ability to seamlessly weave elements of magical realism into her novels.
My full review HERE
Finished:
- 4*,
- 4*Started:
Oliver Twist - Own
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom - Library
How to Raise an Elephant - Library
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The Seasonal Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
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I, Alex Cross (other topics)
Fox & I (other topics)
On Gold Mountain: The 100-Year Odyssey of a Chinese-American Family (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Gill Paul (other topics)Elizabeth Peters (other topics)
Rainbow Rowell (other topics)
Liam Moiser (other topics)
Barbara Mertz (other topics)
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Reading:
For Love and Duty - Owned
A Killer Plot - Library
Murder is Easy - Library
A Good Nazi? The lies we keep - a moving story of friendship and hatred - Kindle
On Back Burner for now:
A People's History of the American Revolution: How Common People Shaped the Fight for Independence - Kindle