Last of 2013

Lost in Translation  

By Nicole Mones

I loved Lost in Translation, the second book I’ve read by Nicole Mones.  I really have enjoyed both books that I’ve read by her.  They were both well researched, making them both informative and entertaining.  I love the Chinese setting and have learned a lot about more modern periods that are less well known.  The main character is a modern female, strong and well-developed.  I related to many of her internal struggles and found her growth throughout the story engaging.  I will definitely read more by Nicole Mones.  I recommend Lost in Translation as a really good read!

The Luminaries

By Eleanor Catton

The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton certainly delivered quantity in this 29+hours audio book from Audible.com.  I chose the book because it was a 2013 Man Booker Prize winner and the Canadian Governor Generals Literary Award 2013 winner.  The audio book was entertaining, but slow at times.  The plot consisted of many intertwining stories, told in flashbacks.  Sometimes it was difficult to follow and understand the relationships.  However, the Victorian setting and story was engaging and interesting, especially as an audiobook.  I’m not sure I would have enjoyed it as much as an 848-page book, however, it was a good listen.

Accused: A Rosato & Associates Novel Book 14

By Lisa Scottoline

Somehow, I received an ad for The Accused by Lisa Scottoline on Facebook.  I’m so glad I saw it.  It was a very refreshing, light mystery… just what I needed.  I loved the appealing, female main character and the Philadelphia setting.  Although a little ditzy at times, Mary DiNunzio, was strong and believable lawyer working through an engaging mystery.  Although this was a recent addition to the Rosato & Associates series (October 29, 2013), I was easily able to follow the story and relate to the characters.  I will definitely look for more mysteries by Lisa Scottoline.  The Audible.com version was a very entertaining listen.

The All-True Travels and Adventures of Lidie Newton: A Novel

By Jane Smiley

I’m not sure where my copy of the book came from, but The All-True Travels and Adventures of Lidie Newton: A Novel by Jane Smiley found its way to the top of the pile under my bed.  The first person narrated novel covers the settlement of the Kansas Territory prior to the Civil War.  It’s not a period that I know much about, so I can’t speak for the accuracy of the story.  However, I have found myself looking through the book to check and see if it really is a novel several times.  It reads as truth, spoken through the voice of the main character, Lidie Newton.  I enjoyed the book and would definitely read more by Jane Smiley.  I recommend The All-True Travels and Adventures of Lidie Newton: A Novel as a good historical novel and a good read.

November 2013

Mrs. Whaley and Her Charleston Garden

By Emily Whaley in conversation with William Baldwin

Mrs. Whaley and Her Charleston Garden was exactly what the title indicated, a rambling conversation.  I loved when the conversation was about her garden, which has inspired me to work more on my own garden next spring.  Some of her tips were very useful.  She would wander off topic, but kept coming back to the garden, which is what kept me reading. 

However, there were a great many flaws in the content and writing.  Many of her attitudes and opinions were definitely old school and not politically correct.  At times, I found them a bit offensive.  I also had a very difficult time with the writing.  Apparently, William Baldwin just transcribed the conversation.  Good conversation does not always translate well into good writing.  The never-ending sentence fragments were a challenge at first, and quickly became an annoyance.  The book is interesting if you are a gardener or interested in Charleston, but was definitely not a great read.

The Last Chinese Chef

By Nicole Mones

I loved The Last Chinese Chef.  Nicole Mones, the author, lived and worked in China for eighteen years.  That must have contributed to the authentic feeling throughout the story.  The historical and contemporary information about the culinary arts was fascinating.  The characters were well developed and believable.  Mones wove a great story, which I enjoyed from start to finish.  I found The Last Chinese Chef to be a great read!

November 8, 2013

Smokin’ Seventeen  and Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich (audio versions)

The Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich is great for long road trips.  They make six hour drives painless.  We listened to Smokin’ Seventeen  and Notorious Nineteen, one going and one coming home from a trip to Virginia.  I’m reviewing them together, because they are very similar in content and presentation.  The stories are wonderfully predictable and entertaining.  I found both of these to be a bit more suspenseful than others we’ve listened to.  Maybe they were or maybe it was just my frame of mind.  In any event, Stephanie Plum is great in small doses and both  Audible.com versions were a very enjoyable listen.

The Art of Setting Stones & Other Writings from the Japanese Garden by Marc Peter Keane

Reading The Art of Setting Stones was wonderful!  The book was divided into eight sections, each written as a meditation on some aspect of the Japanese garden.  Each section is filled with many little moments.  I found myself taking a week to read each section, pausing to let each small moment settle before going on to the next.  Keane’s words created images and feelings that needed to be enjoyed and absorbed, not rushed.  The illustrations were as lovely as the words.  The Art of Setting Stones  is a book that I will definitely revisit.  A++++

November 7, 2013

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (audio version)

I ran across The Great Gatsby about a month ago, while I was browsing through our public e-library.  I remembered reading it years ago, so I decided to try the audio version.  It was a good decision.  The 2007 Blackstone Audio version was enjoyable.  The narrator was very true to the feeling of the time and the story.  It definitely was not a glitzy Leonardo Dicaprio version, but probably much closer to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s original intent.  Definitely a good listen!

Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman

I loved Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman.  First, I love Anne Fadiman as an author.  Her first book, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, had a very significant impact on me when I was in graduate school.  Also, I love books about books.  Ex Libris had a slightly different slant than other  “books about books” that I’ve read recently.  The book contains a series of 18 essays written about books and Fadiman’s life experiences with them.  These are life stories, not just summaries or a critique.  They are about books and life.  They are charming and real.  Reading the book was like having a cup of tea with Fadiman.  The small, used copy has found a permanent place on my book shelf.  Definitely a great read for anyone who loves books!

How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez

I really wanted to like How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents, and if each chapter was taken individually, I did.  It did highlight the Hispanic cultural and immigration experience, which is what I was looking for. However, the overall organization of the book was very confusing.  The story was told in a series of flashbacks.  It started at the end in New York City, and moved back in time toward the beginning of the Garcia girls’ journey in the Dominican Republic.  It took me a while to realize that was what was happening.  It wasn’t explained or obvious at the beginning of the book.  I also kept getting the characters and situations confused, and had to repeatedly look back to figure out what was happening.  I think the book probably would have been more successful either in a different sequential order or as a series of short stories. 

September 21, 2013

I am still in a full moon funk... which is why I missed yesterday.  Instead of writing about my woes, I'm going to review some more books.  It will be much more interesting and will get my mind on something else.

She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb

She's Come Undone is my most recent read.  It presents Dolores Price, a very realistic character, dealing with more than realistic life challenges.  I felt that she was portrayed from a female perspective, which is surprising, since Wally Lamb is male.  He did a great job of creating what could have been the true story of Dolores, from preadolescence through to early middle age.  All of the characters’ struggles and pain rang true.  As in real life, the personal growth of the characters was unpredictable and varied. There were some humorous parts, but on the whole, the story was dark.  I have to admit that I skimmed a few of the darker sections.  While the ending wasn’t a “happily-ever-after” ending, it was a satisfactory resolution that felt real and complete.   I definitely consider She’s Come Undone a good read.

Ender’s Game

I’m going to begin my review of the entire Ender’s Game series with a disclaimer.  While I loved the book and the series, I do not share, support or endorse the author’s political and/or moral views.  I am reviewing the books, not the person.  I also have to mention that I have not seen, nor do I intend to see, the movie. 

That being said, I loved the book when I read it in 1999.  It was one of the best recommendations that I’ve gotten from a former student.  I also loved the Audible audio version of the book.  My husband and I listened to the series on vacation and thoroughly enjoyed it.  The multiple narrators did a great job and added to the excitement of the book.  I would definitely recommend Ender’s Game as a good read and a great listen.

Speaker for the Dead

Having read most of the series in 1999, it was great to revisit again as an audio series in 2013.  As when I originally read it, I liked Speaker for the Dead even better than Ender’s Game.  In the Audible version, Orson Scott Card explained that Ender’s Game was originally a novelette, which he expanded to a book to introduce the characters for the series.  It was in Speaker for the Dead that the story real takes shape.  It is definitely science fiction at it’s best.  The multiple narrators make the Audible version of Speaker for the Dead a great listen!

Xenocide

Xenocide was my favorite book of the Ender series, even though it’s definitely long.  The Audible version was twenty hours and fifteen mminutes… but it went FAST!  It was action packed and very engaging.  The various narrators did a fantastic job and added to the excitement and tension in the story.  I didn’t want it to stop and was very happy that there was a sequel.  I loved Xenocide.  It was a great read and an AWESOME listen!

Children of the Mind

Children of the Mind was a continuation of Xenocide.  In his introduction, Orson Scott card explained that it was originally going to be part of Xenocide.  However, he realized that the book was going to be much too long, so he found a stopping point and broke it into two books.  While Xenocide was long book that read quickly, Children of the Mind was the opposite.  It seemed to never end.  Instead of showing by action and engagement, the book seemed preachy.  The characters spent a lot of time explaining their philosophical views.  The thirteen hour Audible version seemed twice as long as the twenty hour Xenocide.   I would recommend the book if you have read the entire series.  It does tie up some loose ends.  However, it’s not the best book in the series.  It’s an OK read and listen.

September 3, 2013

I have to start this review with a disclaimer.  I received The Bohemian Love Diaries by Slash Coleman as a free book, and am doing the review as a courtesy.    That being said, it’s one of the best books I’ve read recently.  I enjoyed it and laughed a lot while reading. The book is reminiscent of books that I’ve read by David Sedaris, and if you like Sedaris, chances are very good that you will like Slash Coleman.  However, Slash Coleman has his own story to tell and he certainly does it in his own unique style.  I did laugh a lot, but at times, I was touched or saddened by his situation and/or insights.  The Bohemian Love Diaries is a quirky memoir that I won’t soon forget.  I definitely recommend it as a good read.  As a book to keep me laughing, it certainly did the job.

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman is a sweet, Cinderella-esque novel by Beth Hoffman.  After living for many years with a mentally ill mother, and without a seemingly alcoholic father, her mother dies leaving twelve-year-old CeeCee an orphan.  Her fairy godmother appears in the form of Great-Aunt Tootie, who whisks CeeCee off to Savannah, Georgia and a life of luxury.   Her home becomes a beautiful southern mansion with beautiful southern gardens.  Her closet is filled with more stylish clothes than she’ll ever be able to wear.  A loving aunt, a loving housekeeper and a never-ending procession of loving southern belles surround CeeCee.  There are some cute escapades and some truly frightening situations, but the story ends happily ever after.  As I was reading, I kept thinking, where was Great-Aunt Tootie when I was growing up?  I could have used a fairy godmother, too.  Saving CeeCee Honeycutt is a sweet read that I would recommend for an afternoon of escape.

I found Red Tape by Michele Lynn Seigfried through a poster at a local library where she will be soon be speaking.  Red Tape is described as a cozy mystery and I think that’s correct.  It got off to a slow start, but caught my interest when it brought Hurricane Sandy into the story.  Seigfried wrote with the empathy of someone who had actually lived through the Hurricane Sandy experience.  Having lived through the same experience, her words rang true.  For me, her descriptions were the most heart-felt and engaging part of the book.  By the time I finished the book, I understood where the slow beginning had been heading.  Red Tape was a good, cozy read and worth reading to get a feeling for what it was like at the Jersey shore during Hurricane Sandy.

August 29, 2013

It's another gray, rainy day in Vermont, so I think I'll continue with recent book reviews.  All of these reviews are of audio versions of John Scalzi books.  I've gotten them through audible.com.  The quality of the audio is great and I've had very few disappointments.  I'm going to review the audio versions of the Old Man's War series, all written by John Scalzi, starting with The Old Man's War.

I loved Old Man's War from start to finish.  It's a science fiction classic, written from the perspective of John Perry, a 75 year old volunteer for the Colonial Defense Force for the Colonial Union.  I'm not yet 75, but I did listen to the story as an older person.  I'm quite amazed at the maturity and insight offered by the author, John Scalzi, who is only middle-aged at this point.  If Old Man's War is any indication, Scalzi has quite a career ahead of him.  The narrator was wonderful, but the story definitely would have read well, too.  I listened to it twice, once by myself and once with my husband.  I was totally engaged with the story both times, catching little nuances that I missed the first time during the second listen.  It was definitely a GREAT listen, and I am sure it would be an equally great read!

Ghost Brigades is the second book in John Scalzi's Old Man's War series.  This time, the perspective switches to that of the Special Forces for the Colonial Union.  Scalzi continues to set up background for the series, while weaving a great story that continues to explore what it means to be a human.  Jane Sagan emergences as a more developed character and Zoe Boutin is introduced.  Once again, the audio version was great.  The narration was excellent, enhancing an already fantastic story.  Definitely a GREAT listen, and I'm sure it, too, would be an equally great read!

The Sagan Diary was my introduction to John Scalzi and his Old Man's War series.  I got it as a special deal when I first joined Audible.com.  The first time I listened to the novelette, I was totally unaware of the series and had no background at all.  Despite this, I loved absolutely loved The Sagan Diary.  It was a sensitive and touching story, told from Jane Sagan's perspective.  It stood up well as an independent story.  Since then, I have listened to the story two more times, both after listening to Old Man's War and Ghost Brigades.  I enjoyed it more each time I listened.  Definitely a great little book and an awesome listen!

The Last Colony continues John Scalzi's Old Man's War series.  Although the third book in the series, I'm sure it would stand up well as an independent book.  In The Last Colony, characters from former books, notably John Perry, Jane Sagan and Zoe Boutin, continue on with interstellar exploration and wars determining the fate of humankind.  Once again, Scalzi has woven a great story that is totally engaging.  The narration on the Audible version was excellent, adding to Scalzi's unique perspective.  Definitely a great listen, and would be an equally great read!

I don't have much to say about Zoe's Tale.  I only got through the first three chapters.  It appears to be a valley girl, young adult retelling of The Last Colony.  I was hoping for more than this from Scalzi.  Definitely not my cup of tea!

I'm writing this review after listening to the Audible version of the entire Old Man's War series over a period of a few weeks.  The Human Division is very different from other Scalzi books. The book is actually a series of short stories, not a novel.  At first, the stories seem unrelated.  However, as the book progresses, the relationships begin to reveal themselves.  The stories were intriguing and their relationship was interesting.  However, for me, the ending was frustrating and unsatisfying.  There were also two, totally unrelated short stories thrown in after the ending.  Since we were listening to an audio version, it wasn't entirely clear where the actual story ended until the two extra short stories were finished.   I really question the quality of editing Scalzi is receiving.  Someone reading the book prior to publishing should have caught the ending issue.  I'd give this four out of five stars because the short stories were great.

August 28, 2013

One of the best parts of this vacation has been the time to read.  I've been able to read a lot every day.  Today, I finished my book club selection for the month:  The Books They Gave Me: True Stories of Life, Love and Lit by Jen Adams.  At first, I wasn't sure I would like it, which I didn't.  I LOVED it!  It was full of stories about people receiving books as gifts.  I loved it for the stories the people told about the occasions surrounding the giving of the books.  They were both personal and charming.  However, most of all, I loved the descriptions of the books.  We made a special trip to a wonderful bookstore in Lydonville, Vermont called Green Mountain Books, where I picked up two of the books that were included in The Books They Gave Me.  I have two more "must reads" on my list which I am going to order right away.  There is nothing better than a good book that leads you to other great books.  The Books They Gave Me was a great read!

At the same time, we've been listening to the audio books ever since we left home.  On the long, 10 hour ride to Vermont, we listened to Redshirts by John Scalzi.  This is one of those books that was probably much better as an audio book than it would have been as a straight read.  I can't say that for sure because I didn't actually read the book. (Added 9/4/13:  Obviiously, it's just as good as a book.  Redshirts just won the 2013 Hugo Award.  Congratulations, John Scalzi!)  However, the narrator was wonderful and his expression and interpretation of the characters really enhanced the story.  Without giving away any spoilers, I think that Scalzi needs to work on stopping when the story is done.  In Redshirts, he had a perfectly plausible ending that was satisfying and yet left the real ending up to the interpretation of the reader or listener. Then he added a snarky, one-liner that felt like whip-lash.  I'm not talking about the Coda, which I loved.  It definitely added to the story and was clearly separate from the main story.  You will see what I mean if you listen to or read the book.  I would definitely recommend Redshirts as a very good listen, especially good for a long drive.   I'm giving it 5 stars because we loved the book, despite the ending.  I feel the editor should have caught the weak ending to an otherwise great book.

March 26, 2013

Binding Spell
by Elizabeth Arthur
This is a book that I read over 10 years ago.  For some reason, I thought it was a great book and left it on my shelf to reread at some point.  Well, I actually did reread it and I cannot figure out why I thought it was so good.  There must have been a reason, but after rereading it, I sure can't think of one.  It wasn't great and it wasn't awful... just mediocre. Definitely NOT a great read.  I'm passing it on to the library.  Perhaps someone else will enjoy it more than I did this time.

American Tapestry
by Rachel L. Swarns
I listened to the audio version of American Tapestry and really enjoyed it.  It explored Michelle Obama's genealogical history, which I found fascinating.  Some reviewers have mentioned that it was hard to follow at times, but I didn't find that to be true at all. Perhaps it was because I was listening to the audio version.  In any event, I found the book both interesting and inspirational.  After discovering Family Finder through this book, I decided to have my own DNA tested.  I'm hoping to find answers to questions that no one in the family has been able to answer.  Like Michelle Obama, I'm prepared for whatever the testing reveals.  Definitely a good listen!

Needlecraft Mysteries
by Monica Ferris

• Crewel World #1
• Framed in Lace #2
• A Stitch in Time #3
• Cutwork #7

I'm grouping all of these mysteries together because they all fall into a similar category and pattern.  If you like needlework and mysteries, you will certainly like this series.  Each mystery includes a pattern of some kind and many needlework hints woven into the story. The setting is Lake Minnetonka in Excelsior, Minnesota.  I'm not sure if it actually exists, but Monica Ferris' characters bring the setting to life.  There are usually no surprises. You'll be able to figure out "who done it" if you follow the clues.  All are enjoyable, cozy mysteries!

March 25, 2013

The Death of an Artist: A Mystery
by Kate Wilhelm
I listened to the audio MP3 version of Death of An Artist and really enjoyed it.  The mystery took place in Oregon and involved an artist, her mother and her daughter.  Of course, there was an older detective who was a love interest and helped solve the mystery.  It was a good mystery and a very enjoyable "listen".

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking
by Susan Cain
I loved Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking. Since I am most definitely an introvert, I found this book fascinating. Among other things, it discussed both Dale Carnegie and Anthony Robbins, men who were very influential in the formation of the current societal worship of the extrovert. I wish that I would have read this book while I was still teaching. It would have given me more confidence and permission to accept myself and my introverted students. I'm very happy to see that there has been some research done regarding the strength and positive impact that introverts have on the world. Definitely a great read! It should be required for all educators and administrators of any kind.