Another of the earlier Kinsey Millhone books. This time has Kinsey picking up mid investigation for a PI who died of a heart attack while working on a civil suit (or did he die of a heart attack… dun dun dun…) Read More »
I Read a Lot of Books
I read a lot of books. Sometimes I review them.
Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich
Janet Evanovich keeps cracking these books out, and I keep reading them. Read More »
Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich
Stephanie Plum, our hapless heroine is back to her old tricks. I think I mentioned that I am getting tired of this series in general. But when one gets books for free one reads them. Especially when I am in the midst of trying wean #3 and perhaps Evanovich’s light fare are all I can handle mentally right now.
Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly
You may have noticed that I’m reading a few more YA books than usual. Guilty. Now that #1 is in pre-school he comes home with all these book orders and I can’t resist. I’ve also noticed that when I graduated from University (Go Cougs!) I shortsightedly got rid of my ‘frivolous’ reads and now that my kids are getting ready for real books I am sad that I gave away all my hardcover Harry Potters… So I’ve been trying to get current on what good middle grade or YA books are out there. Read More »
Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev translated by Richard Freeborn
The back of this book reads “This new translation… makes Trugenev’s masterpiece about the conflict between generations seem as fresh, outspoken, and exciting…” blah blah blah. I can tell right now, fresh, outspoken, and exciting are not words I would use to describe this book. Read More »
The Zodiac Legacy: Convergence by Stan Lee and Stuart Moore art by Andie Tong
I have been looking for books that might interest my son when he gets a bit older. As his interests right now include super heroes, I thought this might be one to check out. I am pleased I did. Read More »
Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff
This isn’t the sort of book that I usually pick up, or at least, supernatural YA books don’t always appeal to me, but I was pleased to find that Paper Valentine is no mere YA book.
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Black Chalk by Christopher J. Yates
So, the tag on this book said, “A new Stephen King, albeit with a British Accent” and I thought. Oh. Gag. I don’t dislike Stephen King, it just isn’t my thing. BUT, my husband had read about this book somewhere and I am always looking for a good new thriller/suspense type book to read so I kept an open mind. Read More »
For Colored Girls who have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf: A Choreopoem by Ntozake Shange
I get it. I get it. I get it. This is a “choreopoem”. It isn’t supposed to be read but performed, but hey, you publish it and put it in a bookstore and I’m gonna read it. That’s just the kind of girl I am. As I was reading this book I found it challenging to review. Should I look at it as poetry? Should I take it as a play? Lyrics? At times it is all of the above, so I genuinely don’t think my grade will meet a universal expectation of grades. This was so close to a C- that I teetered on the brink and eventually I had to go with D+, because it is written and I am not seeing a theatrical performance. I believe that I’d enjoy the show. Read More »
Berlin: Portrait of a City Through the Centuries by Rory McLean
When I was 16 I won an all expense paid “study tour” of Germany sponsored by Diamler-Benz and the Goethe Institute. I jest not. My school was chosen to provide a participant, an essay contest ensued, and I won the opportunity to traipse about Germany with a group of 50 other North American teens (some Canadians came as well). The final stop was in Berlin. Read More »
Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich
Plodding along through this series with limited interest. In this installment Stephanie Plum is bumbling along as per usual. AAAANNNNDDDD as per usual her life is in danger. Read More »
C is for Corpse by Sue Grafton
Yes, back to the BEGINNING of these Sue Grafton books. For those who don’t remember, I am not reading these in any order other than the order that they come into my hands. I think the first of the Alphabet Murder books I read was N is for Noose. I’ve acquired various others along the way. One day I’ll get through all of them, perhaps before she writes Z. Read More »
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place Book 5: The Unmapped Sea by Maryrose Wood
Okay, I’ma ’bout to get nit-picky. Between books four and five they changed the style and design of the cover art which is no surprised as they changed artists. They also went from the deckle edge paper to regular old straight edge paper… UGH. It appears from her website that future releases of the books will have different cover art most likely using the current artist. I am not a huge emoticon user, but let me describe my face right now. I am frowning. My eyebrows are furrowed. Basically, my face is the annoyed emoticon. Read More »
Hocus by Jan Burke
Confession: I am somewhat behind on my reviews. I read this one so long ago that I couldn’t exactly remember what it was about. I had to begin re-reading. Within a few minutes I remembered it all. I tend to think more favorably of books a while after I’ve read them, so my review might be tainted by that. Read More »
As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust by Alan Bradley
If you recall my last review of this series, I expressed concern as to where the series was going. I worried that it all might be coming off the rails. You will be happy to note that I was being unnecessarily pessimistic. Read More »
A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler
I don’t exactly recall how this book came into my orbit… and how I randomly ended up with a large print edition? Very interesting. Or maybe it was a gift because I started taking sewing classes last year? Either way, it had nothing to do with sewing and was a nice little read. Read More »
Ordinary People by Judith Guest
I will admit, this is one of my favorite as a movie. I love a good miserable tragedy that ends with an unsatisfying whimper. I assure you, I’m not being sarcastic, I also really enjoyed it as a book. I picked this book up from the “FREE” bin at a second hand book store because, why not? Though–I rarely say this–I liked the movie better. Read More »
To Be a Runner: How Racing Up Mountains, Running with the Bulls, or Just Taking On a 5k Makes You a Better Person (and the World a Better Place) by Martin Dugard
Another running book. Get ready. Read More »
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
I try to limit my fantasy to the YA variety. Fantasy isn’t my favorite genre and all the adult fantasy writers seem to think that series containing 12 books are where it’s at. They also take several years between books. I am looking at you George RR Martin. Read More »
A Heritage of Shadows by Madeleine Brent
Oh man. I wish I liked this book because I’ve been vocal about my enjoyment in these guilty pleasure reads. Read More »
Tregaron’s Daughter by Madeleine Brent
We all have guilty pleasures, right? Things that we love, but KNOW they are ridiculous. Enter Madeleine Brent, Victoria Holt, Mary Stewart, etc. I LOVED these books in Jr. High. They really informed my early ideas of love and romance. Apparently, it isn’t REALLY love unless you think that the man you like is trying to kill you. I’m being serious here. All the books have variations of those plot points. That being said, when I saw this gem on Amazon.com my nostalgia was peaked and I wondered if I would like them as much as an adult… Read More »
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks
This book was a pleasant surprise. Normally, I don’t get into Zombie post apocalyptic books (I’m looking at you, Cormack McCarthy), but this was written in such an interesting way that I couldn’t resist. Read More »
The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan
Ah… literary fiction, my old nemesis. Also, winner of the Man Booker Prize. I’ve been burned by that prize in the past. As I type this review, I am still uncertain whether I actually enjoyed the book or not. Read More »
Five Little Peppers and How They Grew by Margaret Sidney
I find this sort of book a bit difficult to review. It wasn’t meant for an adult, and not meant for this century so as I read I am wondering what a modern day kid might think about this book. I can assure you, as a modern day adult, I found this book more than a little sappy and more than a little lame. Read More »
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
I’d never heard of this book, but my well read friend sent it for Christmas and I was intrigued. I went into the book with no background information and was pleasantly surprised. Gilead is the name of a town in Iowa where Congregationalist minister, John Ames, is preparing to die. Read More »
The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman
What makes a good fiction book? That is a difficult question. Does it entertain? Does it educate? Does it evoke a strong emotional reaction? The Light Between Oceans is not a book that I would typically choose for myself but as I discussed my reaction to the non fiction book An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination by Elizabeth McCracken with a good friend, she brought over the Stedman book and wanted to see what I thought. They both deal with women who have lost children and there the comparison ends. Read More »
The Saga of Hugh Glass: Pirate, Pawnee, and Mountain Man by John Meyers Meyers
How can a book be both fiction and non fiction you ask? Well, clearly, it doesn’t work, but I will get into that later. Let me just say… this was one of the worst books I have read in my life. Period. There were times when I debated finishing it at all. Ugh, it was awful. Do yourself a favor and never read it. Read More »
Eleven on Top by Janet Evanovich
I am swiftly coming to the end of the books I own in the Stephanie Plum series. My husband found some at a yard sale and bought them on the cheap. I only have one more and I don’t know if I will be buying the rest any time soon as there are so many great bubble gum reads out there. Read More »
Ten Big Ones by Janet Evanovich
I have three kids aged 3 months, 2 years, and 4 years. Even at University I managed to do my school work and still read for pleasure. Whenever I feel like I am slipping behind and not reading, I crack out of few of these books. I enjoy Plum series because they are easy to read, don’t require 100% attention, and the bright colors are a favorite of the 2 year old. She likes to stack and unstack and pull them off the shelves. Read More »
To the Nines by Janet Evanovich
I am back to the Stephanie Plum books, and while the ninth installment was entertaining, it wasn’t wonderful.