January
Book Reviews
By Suki Kim
Without
You, There Is No Us
by Suki Kim is a timely book, considering the situation in North Korea. Kim gives a glimpse into the unknown world
and culture of North Korea through her position as university teacher of male,
upper class college students. Her
background as a journalist is reflected and makes the memoir believable. At the same time, the expression of her
feelings about her students and the people of North Korea builds a sense of
compassion toward them. That’s not easy,
considering the repressive government and cult of Kim Jong-il. Definitely a significant read!
The
Martian
By Andy
Weir
The
Martian is a
promising start to the career of author Andy Weir. It’s twenty-first century science fiction at
its best. I listened to the Audible.com
version and enjoyed the journal entries of Mark Watney, as he struggled to
survive after being stranded on Mars.
Those journal entries alternated with the story of scientists back on
Earth, who were racing against time to rescue Watney. The narration was suspense-filled, engaging
and believable at all times. Definitely
a great listen!
The Snow
Queen
By Hans
Christian Anderson
I finally
listened to this free audio version of The Snow Queen, which I received in
December from Audible.com. It was a good
narration of the classic story. It was a
short, but good listen during this cold month of January. It might be of interest to parents or
grandparents who would like to share the classic fairy-tale with children.
Random
Acts of Caring
Artfolds
Color Edition
I loved
this colorful, Artfolds book. The
beginning and ending pages are filled with ideas for random acts of kindness
and caring. I knew all of them, but this
book was a sweet reminder. After folding
the majority of pages into a beautiful heart, I personalized the book with some
of this year’s valentines. I also added
origami, bling and ribbons. I love the
Artfolds books, especially since I was able to get them on sale for 60%
off. They are perfect for good reading,
happy creating and fond memories.
Definitely a book lover’s dream, especially if you can find them on
sale.
Christmas
Tree featuring Christmas Memories
Artfolds
Color Edition No. 3
I picked
this Artfolds Christmas Tree book from a sale bin at a local Barnes & Noble. At 60% off, it was a real bargain. It’s a three-purpose book. First, I had the pleasure of reading the
holiday poems that were included at the beginning and end of the book. Next came the fun of folding and adding my
own finishing touches to the book.
Finally, I’ll be able to enjoy the book during the holidays for years to
come. I’ll remember the people who sent
the few Christmas cards that I included and the joy of the books creation. I love the Artfolds books and purchased all
that were in the bin.
Artfolds:
Snowflake: The Snow Queen and Other Tales By Hans Christian Anderson
By Hans
Christian Anderson
Artfolds
Classic Editions No. 2
The Snow
Queen and Other Tales
by Hans Christian Anderson is another Artfolds book. This is a standard chapter book with 338
standard pages of classic fairy tales.
The tales ranged from ones that I new well, such as ‘The Snow Queen’ and
‘The Little Mermaid’, to many that were unfamiliar. Each tale was told in an older English style
with a moral at the end. Both children
and adults could enjoy most of the tales.
The Artfold for this book is a snowflake, which I have yet to
complete. A few snowy holiday cards and
scrapbooking snowflakes are waiting to be added to personalize the book. The finished project will be on my piano
until winter is over, some time in March.
I love Artfolds books. I have the
joy of reading the book, creating a project and memories of both as I view the
beautiful, finished project at the end… priceless!
By Suzanne
Chazin
The
Audible.com version of Land of Careful Shadows by Suzanne Chazin was a
good listen on many levels. First, it
was an engaging mystery. Anyone who
enjoys mysteries would enjoy this book.
Although there were quite a few red herrings, the progression of the
mystery was logical and realistic. I’m
sure anyone reading the mystery would enjoy it as much as enjoyed the audio
version.
More
importantly, the cultural content underlying the mystery was significant. Through the mystery, the reader gets a
glimpse into the lives and culture of Latino immigrants, both documented and
undocumented, in the United States. The
struggles of these immigrants as they try to navigate life in rural America is
as important as they mystery. The story’s setting is in rural New York State,
but it actually could have been anywhere.
The development of the characters and the conflicts they confront are
graphic and real. Although it’s not pleasant, it’s a story that needs to be
heard. I’m glad that Suzanne Chazin has
joined others in the telling of that story.
The narration by Armando Durรกn was great and added a lot to the
content of the book. Definitely a good
listen… and I’m sure it would be an equally good read. I’m looking forward to future Jimmy Vega
mysteries!
Book
Reviews February 2015
By Molly MacRae
The Audible version of Last Wool and Testament hooked me on this
series of mysteries by Molly MacRae. I
liked the sweetness of the characters and simplicity of small town life. While not a character, the departed
Grandmother Ivy adds flavor to the plot, as does a quirky sidekick ghost. What’s not to like about this cozy
mystery? It was just what I needed as
the world appears to be falling apart.
Emily Durante provided a great narration. Last Wool and Testament
was a good listen and would be an equally good read.
Dyeing Wishes
By Molly MacRae
I’m going through this series of Molly MacRae mysteries quickly. Dyeing
Wishes continues the adventures of Kath Rutledge and her needlework
posse. The storyline is consistent. The characters are warm and reliable. Emily Durante provides a great
narration. Ms. MacRae has provided
another engaging mystery with Dyeing Wishes.
Loved the Audible version!!!
Definitely a good listen and would be an equally good read.
Little Women
By Louisa May Alcott
I remember Little Women by Louisa May Alcott as one of my
favorite childhood books. I must have
read it many times because some of the passages were very familiar, like I had
read them yesterday. Rereading it
decades later, I now realize how Alcott had a subtle, but definite influence on
my life and decisions that I’ve made… for better or worse. I read everything that she wrote, probably
many times. I read the books during a
time when there was no Internet and not even much television, which probably
heightened their impact. Rereading Little
Women in 2015 was quite an experience.
While I found the book a pleasant, but old-fashioned read, I think my
granddaughter may have found it stifling and repressive. Her other grandmother gave her the book for
Christmas. I’ve asked her about several
times and she has totally ignored the question.
I wonder if she was able to get through it. My guess is… maybe not. The language is definitely dated. The values were not progressive, even for the
time in which the book was written. I would
say that it was a good read for me, but might not be everyone’s cup of tea.
Spinning in Her Grave
By Molly MacRae
Spinning in Her Grave
continues the adventures of Kath Rutledge, owner of the Weaver’s Cat. Spinning and murder turn the small town of
Blue Plum, Tennessee upside-down in this Haunted Yarn Shop mystery. I love Geneva, who does the haunting, and
Kath’s big orange cat. Spinning in
Her Grave is a quick, cozy mystery… full of fun without a lot of gore…
definitely not a heavy read or listen. I
found the Audible version to be entertaining while working on my own
needlework. I’m on to Plagued by
Quilt and look forward to Knot in the Usual Suspects, which will be
available in September 2015.
Griffin & Sabine Trilogy
By Nick Bantock
I discovered this Trilogy by Nick Bantock when I picked up Griffin
& Sabine for a dollar at our local library book sale. The joy of books (advertisement for reading)
is that this early 1990’s series was vibrant and new to me in 2015. I immediately went to the library and checked
out all of the Nick Bantock’s books (also an advertisement for libraries). The story and artwork are as engaging today
as they must have been 20+ years ago.
I was immediately hooked by the intriguing story, quirky format and
beautiful illustrations. All three books
of the books: Griffin & Sabine, Sabine’s Notebook, and The
Golden Mean; have the same format and plot.
The books are set up as a correspondence between two artists: Griffin,
who illustrates postcards and Sabine, who illustrates stamps. They develop a somewhat bizarre relationship
through letters and postcards. I had a
slightly voyeuristic feeling as I opened and read their letters. All three books are a very quick read, taking
less than an hour each. However, I’ve
already gone back and looked at them more than once. Definitely an excellent read accompanied by
beautiful illustrations… creativity at its best!!!
There is a CD game, Ceremony of Innocence: Griffin & Sabine,
based on this trilogy, that was produced in the late 90’s by Peter Gabriel’s
Real World Multi Media team.. It
includes all of the letters and postcards from the books and is probably very
interesting, although I’m not sure it would still work on current
computers. It appears to be only
available used, so I’ll have to watch for it.
Book Reviews March - May 2015
The
Gryphon
By Nick
Bantock
The
Gryphon is a
continuation of the bizarre, but beautiful tale of Griffin and Sabine. Their story unfolds through the
correspondence between two new characters, Isabella and Matthew. The reader follows the story through the letters
and postcards between all four characters.
The relationship between Isabella and Matthew strangely mirrors that of
Sabine and Griffin. The artwork is
exquisite. The tale is intriguing. I could hardly wait to go on to the next
book, Alexandria, which I did immediately. I love Nick Bantock’s work. This series is a great read!
Alexandria
By Nick
Bantock
Alexandria continues the Griffin and Sabine
correspondence, although the focus has definitely shifted to the adventures of
Isabella and Matthew. The correspondence
is between Isabella and Matthew, Isabella and Griffin, and Matthew and
Sabine. The love story is solely between
Isabella and Matthew, as are the adventures.
Once again, the story unfolds through the beautiful, yet bizarre letters
and postcards. As in the other books in
this series, reading it makes me want more.
On to Morning Star, the final book in the Griffin and Sabine
series.
Morning
Star
By Nick
Bantock
I love the
spiritual undertones of the entire Griffin and Sabine series, which is
concluded in Morning Star.
Without giving away any spoilers, this book carries through the same
characters and theme via letters and postcards.
The entire series was wonderful.
Each book was a visual and tactile adventure. The letters and postcards were lovely. The story was unique and intriguing. I was engaged from start to finish, which I
did in one sitting for each book. I’d
highly recommend having them all beside you so that you can read the story from
start to finish. Definitely a bizarre
and unique read!!!
The
Museum at Purgatory
By Nick
Bantock
The
Museum at Purgatory
is exactly what is stated on the cover, “a wondrous strange tale from the
author of Griffin and Sabine”. However,
Griffin and Sabine are absent. The story
is told through Non, the curator of the Museum at Purgatory. Non describes the different rooms in the
museum, telling the stories of the collectors, their collections and their
spiritual journeys. Once again, Bantock has
woven a bizarrely spiritual tale. The
artwork was interesting, but secondary to the thought-provoking words. The Museum at Purgatory was a
significant read that I will definitely revisit.
Plagued
by Quilt
By Molly
MacRae
Plagued
by Quilt was a
pleasant ‘listen’ as I worked on the beginnings of a new quilt. I listened to the Audible version, narrated
by Emily Durante. This is the latest in
the Haunted Yarn Shop series. The
characters and setting were predictable, as was the mystery. It was the perfect cozy mystery to pass the
time as I cut quilt pieces. I’ll
definitely listen to the Knot the Usual Suspects when it’s released in
September 2015. It would be a good read
for those who love cozy mysteries.
Miramont’s
Ghost
By
Elizabeth Hall
Miramont’s
Ghost was a quick,
but compelling read. Although fiction,
it was inspired by legends surrounding the real Miramont Castle in Manitou
Springs, Colorado. The story begins in
aristocratic France in the late 1800s.
It then moves to Manitou Springs, where Miramount Castle was built. The legend is as dark and haunting as the
castle. I found it to be an enjoyable
Kindle First Read selection.
The Cat,
The Quilt and The Corpse
By Leann
Sweeney
The Cat,
The Quilt and The Corpse was a random audio book choice for me, found on Audible.com because it
had the word ‘quilt’ in the title. It’s
the first in the Cats in Trouble series of mysteries. The main character, Jillian Hart, solves
mysteries, in addition to caring for her three cats and making quilts to sell
at craft fairs. Her small town lifestyle
as a recent widow is often more important than the mystery being solved, which
I don’t find problematic. It’s a cozy
mystery with cats and quilts… a perfect match for cozy afternoons in my attic
quilting. Definitely a good cozy listen!
The Cat,
The Professor and The Poison
By Leann
Sweeney
The Cat,
The Professor and The Poison is the second book in the Cats in Trouble series by Leann
Sweeney. It continues the story of
Jillian Hart and her three cats. She is
still making cat quilts and living her idyllic lifestyle in Mercy, South
Carolina. Jillian’s side-kicks: Deputy Candace, Jillian’s stepdaughter Kara and
boyfriend (in the chastest sense) Tom, are all back to help solve the
mystery. There is lots of cat
trivia. The story moves at a slow,
Southern pace. Good listen for cat and
cozy mystery lovers!
The Cat,
The Lady and The Liar
By Leann
Sweeney
The Cat,
The Lady and The Liar is book three in the Cats in Trouble series. I listened to the Audible version. By now, the characters, including the cats,
are familiar friends. The mystery
involves Ritaestelle Longworth, whose cat, Isis, has been found wandering. Shawn Cuddahee from the local animal rescue
asks Jillian to check out Ritaestelle’s ability to care for the cat. Jillian finds that Ritaestelle has more to
worry about than a missing cat.
Definitely a good listen!
Mozart
in the Jungle
By Blair
Tindall
After
watching the Amazon version and viewing the book cover, Mozart in the Jungle
was a complete surprise. It was not what
I was expecting at all. Yes, there was
some sex, drugs and classical music.
However, it was also a whole lot more.
I have to go back and watch the Amazon series again, because I think
their version is quite a leap from the book.
Blair Tindall took a very intelligent look at the entire lifestyle of
classical musicians. She did this with
hindsight, looking back at her own life, experiences and decisions. Sex
and drugs were a part, but certainly not all, of the story. Overall, they were
not the main focus of the book.
Being the
daughter of professional classical musician, Tindall’s story was very
enlightening. It’s hard to know a
parent’s story in life, especially when it is never told. At the end of my father’s career, he would
not take students. I thought this was
horrible at the time, but I now have a small understanding of, perhaps, why he
felt that way. I also look at our
bizarre childhood from a slightly different slant. This was not what I was expecting to find
when I began Mozart in the Jungle, but for me it was a valuable
surprise.
Poirot
and Me
By David
Suchet
I loved the
Poirot series and recently watched the entire thirteen seasons. When I saw the book by David Suchet, I knew I
had to read it. It was the perfect time
to read this book, which chronicles Suchet’s experiences creating the character
and filming the series. There is an index in the back, which would be helpful
to anyone watching the series out of sequence or looking for specific
information about Poirot or any of the episodes. It was a great read and would be a wonderful
companion guide for anyone viewing the series.
Definitely a must read for Poirot fans!
Book Reviews June – September 2015
By Leann
Sweeney
Surprises
are in store for Jillian Hart when she returns home to Mercy, South
Carolina. Her good friend, Tom, is
missing. In his place, an irresponsible,
unknown brother has appeared. Tom’s
diabetic cat is also missing and is definitely a cat in trouble. Where do the wife and weapon tie in? Who is the strange murder victim? The Cat, the Wife and the Weapon is
another mystery in the Cats in Trouble series by Leann Sweeney. There is just enough mystery and charm to
make this a good cozy mystery and a great audio book.
The Cat,
the Mill and the Murder: A Cats in Trouble Mystery BK. 5
By Leann
Sweeney
The
abandoned mill in Mercy, South Carolina holds a lot more than feral cats. Jillian Hart has her hands full when missing
person, Jeannie, is discovered along with her invisible cat, Boots. Mix in a murder, plus all of the small town
appeal of Mercy, and Leann Sweeney has another successful Cats in Trouble
Mystery. I love to listen to the Audible
versions of this series while I’m working on my own quilting. It’s the perfect theme match for an afternoon
good listening and sewing! Definitely a
good listen!!!
By Leann
Sweeney
Vagabond
Clyde is a cat, who returns home to a murdered owner. Fostered by Jillian Hart, Clyde helps unravel
the mystery that is sure to follow. I
continue to love the rambling, cozy mystery.
Cats, quilts and familiar small town characters… I can’t help but love
them all! The Cat, the Vagabond and
the Victim is another very appealing
mystery by Leann Sweeney. The Audible
version is a great listen for a cozy afternoon.
The True
Secret of Writing
By Natalie
Goldberg
I love just
about anything written by Natalie Goldberg, including my most recent read of
her book The True Secret of Writing.
Her writing is deeply personal and always inspiring. I’m going to try and include some of her
ideas in my ESL conversation class this year.
The subtitle of the book is ‘Connecting Life With Language’. I think that can be done with oral language
learners as well as with writers. I
can’t do the spiritual, meditation practice as such, but I do think that we can
approach some of the ideas and topics. I
especially love the books listed in the appendix. Thanks to Natalie Goldberg… a source of
insight and inspiration.
Heartburn
By Nora
Ephron
Narration
by Meryl Streep
What’s not
to love about Nora Ephron read by Meryl Streep?
It was great to revisit Heartburn, one of my favorite Ephron
novellas, read by Meryl Streep who could make anything sound good (and
funny). It was another feel good listen,
as the story is a feel good read!
Girl in
Translation
By Jean
Kwok
I enjoyed Girl
in Translation by Jean Kwok. It
explored the story of the emigration of a young girl and her mother from Hong
Kong to New York. The poverty and
struggles could have been those of many immigrants from many countries. The
strong female protagonist is a superhero and accomplishes much under very dire
circumstances. Although the story was dark at times, it would be a good read
for teens, especially girls. I listened
to the Audible version and found it to be a good listen.
Jane
Eyre
By
Charlotte Bronte
Artfolds Edition
This was a
summer of rereading classics for me. Jane
Eyre was clearly as good as I remembered, despite the dated period and
language. Charlotte Bronte was a good
writer. I was engaged with the Victorian
plotline from start to finish. It was
not a disappointment. As an Artfolds
edition, I now have the pleasure of folding the book into the word READ, which
is very appropriate for the book. Jane
Eyre deserves its place among the classics and was definitely a good
read.
Sense
and Sensibility
By Jane
Austen
Artfolds
Edition
I think
that I read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen in high school and I
don’t remember it being painful. Sense
and Sensibility, by the same author, was very painful and, from my
perspective, very poorly written. The
outdated language didn’t help, but I still felt the writing and the storyline
were terrible. Austen seemed to
specialize in run-on sentences. It was a
very LONG, Victorian soap opera.
I read and
enjoyed The Jane Austen Book Club a few years ago. I’ll have to rent the movie and remind myself
what they found so fascinating about Jane Austen. The only reason I don’t feel I wasted my
money is that this was an Artfolds book.
I still will enjoy folding the pages into the word LOVE. However, I did not LOVE Sense and
Sensibility.
The
Meaning of Flowers
Artfolds
Edition
The
Meaning of Flowers
is a lovely artfolds book. I almost
didn’t want to fold the pages containing folklore about various flowers. The actual reading of the book took only a
few minutes. It was a pleasant read and
an easy fold. The pages are glossy and
made a dimensional, orange flower.
The
Intellectual Devotional: Modern Culture
David S.
Kidder and Noah D. Oppenheim
The
Intellectual Devotional: Modern Culture by David S. Kidder and Noah D. Oppenhiem was by far their
best. The addition of contributing
editor, Alan Wirzbicki, and contributing writers, Daniel K. Fleschner and
Kristen Myer, is definitely noticeable.
The devotional includes 365 daily readings, organized into seven
categories: personalities, literature, music, film, ideas and trends, sports,
and pop culture. Since the copyright
date is 2008, some of the material seems dated and not ‘modern culture’
anymore. However, that does not make it
irrelevant and/or uninteresting. This
was the third Intellectual Devotional that my husband and I have shared. We read one or two entries daily with one of
our meals, giving us food for thought and discussion. All of the Intellectual Devotionals are
great for shared reading. Intellectual Devotional: Modern Culture
is the best that we’ve read so far.
We’re currently reading the Intellectual Devotional: Health. Stay tuned, as our favorite may change!
Fall
From Pride
By Karen
Harper
The Audible
version of Fall from Pride by Karen Harper was a good listen. I always enjoy an Amish mystery, and Fall
From Pride was no exception. In
fact, the characters and mystery seemed more real than in other Amish mysteries
that I’ve read. I imagine that the
inclusion of some modern ways and attitudes might be more reflective of Amish
life in 2015, although I don’t know if that’s true or not. In any event, Karen Harper wrote an engaging
mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Definitely a good listen!
Eragon
By
Christopher Paolini
If you
liked Star Wars and/or are a Robert Jordan fan, you will enjoy Eragon. Both influences and Paolini’s youth are
evident in his writing. However, he
definitely weaves a unique and exciting tale.
We listened to the Audible version of Eragon during a recent
vacation and enjoyed it immensely.
Eldest:
The Inheritance Cycle Book 2
By
Christopher Paolini
Eldest:
The Inheritance Cycle Book 2 picks up right where the first book in the series, Eragon,
left off. We found the Audible version
to be an exciting listen. There were a
few too many battles and too little romance for my taste, but my husband loved
it. It’s definitely a good story. Paolini seems to be developing as a
writer. We liked it enough to
immediately go on to Book 3, Brisingr.
Definitely a good listen!
Take
Down Twenty
By Janet
Evanovich
We had
started Take Down Twenty months ago on our last road trip, but it really
didn’t matter. As soon as we restarted
the audio book, we were right back in Chambersburg with Stephanie Plum and all
of the other familiar characters. It was
easy to reconnect with the predictable plot.
Janet Evanovich books translate into great audio books and are aowa6s
good for shared listening on a road trip.
Take Down Twenty was a funny, feel-good listen!
Safe
Return
By
Catherine Dexter
I loved Safe
Return by Catherine Dexter. It’s a
sweet short read that I picked up in the young adult section of our library
book sale. An orphan, a Swedish island
setting, a little bit of suspense and a little bit of knitting make this a
charming read, even for adults. The happy
ending might not appeal as much to today’s young readers, but it was just right
for me.
Anne of
Green Gables
By Maud
Montgomery
During a
summer of revisiting classics, I found Anne of Green Gables to be one of
the best. It was definitely very
old-fashioned, in plot and writing style.
However, the writing was good writing.
The descriptions were from another time, which from my perspective was
much of the charm. I revisited the world
of the early 1900s through the eyes of Anne and of Maud Montgomery. It took me back to a time when life was
simpler.
This copy
of Anne of Green Gables was another Artfolds book. I definitely enjoyed the reading. This winter I’ll fold it and perhaps pass it
on as a gift. I got a real gift from the
past and from Maud Montgomery as I read it.
Anne of Green Gables definitely a true classic.
The
Buddha in the Attic
By Julie
Otsuka
I picked up
The Buddha in the Attic as an audiobook from our local library sale. It
has a very unusual format and I wasn’t sure what to think of it at first. The
story is told through the voice of many different Japanese women. The narrator uses the collective voice, ‘I’
and ‘We’, as she speaks. The setting is
mainly on the Western Coast of the United States from the early 1900s up to
World War II. The events leading up to
the Japanese Interment in the United States was familiar but told through a
unique voice. The plot was a bit
difficult to follow at first, but once I figured out what was being done, it
flowed more smoothly. The narrator,
Samantha Quan, did a good job. It was
definitely an interesting approach and a good listen.
One
Hundred Years of Solitude
By Gabriel
Garcia Marquez
I truly
loved One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Listening to the Audible version was a
pleasure, but I think actually reading the book might have been better. The story follows the lives and struggles of
the Buendia family and the village of Macondo for a period of one hundred
years. Having a family tree to view and
being able to look back in the book would have been helpful. That being said, the beauty of the story and
language made a great audiobook, too. My
only regret is that I was not able to read the original in Spanish, which I’m sure,
would be even better.
Hiss and
Hers
By M. C.
Beaton
I found a
newer, more politically correct Agatha Raisin in the 2012 audio version of Hiss
and Hers by M. C. Beaton. While
Agatha may get a bit flustered by the new times and new technology, I liked her
character much better. There were fewer
references to women as “cows”, which I truly appreciated. Agatha, while still the quirky detective, has
matured and softened as a person… just a bit.
At the same time, she’s still surrounded by all the familiar characters:
James, Charles, Bill Wong and Mrs. Bloxby. As always, Beaton weaves a good murder
mystery. This time, as the title suggests,
vipers played a role. I borrowed the
digital audio version of the book from our local library, through NJ
Listens. Hiss and Hers was
definitely a good listen!
The
Third Girl: A Molly Sutton Mystery
By Nell
Goddin
For full
disclosure, I received an advanced copy of The Third Girl: A Molly Sutton Mystery
for review. That being said, I really
liked The Third Girl: A Molly Sutton Mystery. It had all of the elements that I love in a
mystery: an exotic location, strong female protagonist, good mystery and even a
quirky orange cat. Molly Sutton chose to
escape to a quiet French village to heal from her recent divorce. She quickly learned that life in her adopted
village was far from the quiet, safe retreat that she had envisioned. Goddin wove an engaging murder mystery,
without a lot of graphic details and gore. After being introduced to Molly and
all of her new neighbors, I was left wishing for a sequel. The village and
villagers were intriguing, as was the quirky cat. I also kept thinking there was room for a dog
in Molly’s life. I hope the next book in
the series comes out soon. I am
definitely looking forward to more Molly Sutton mysteries. The Third Girl: A Molly Sutton Mystery
was definitely a good read!
October 2015
And Then
There Were None
By Agatha
Christie
Another
great Agatha Christie murder mystery, this time set on a stormy island. A series of invitations brings together an
unlikely gathering of strangers.
Although written in 1939, this is another one of Christie’s timeless
mysteries. Adaptations have been made
into a play, at least three films and even a video game in 2005. Based on an old English nursery rhyme, the
murders are counted off until… When I’m
between books and don’t know what to choose next, a mystery by Agatha Christie
will usually work. I listened to the Audible version of And Then There Were
None, which was a very good listen.
The Life-Changing
Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing
By Marie
Kondo
I love my
little copy of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of
Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo.
I picked it up because we’re in the middle of downsizing… majorly. It was just what I needed. The tiny book is filled with the how’s and
why’s of tidying. I loved the philosophy as well as the method Kondo uses. As she suggests, tidying can be a
life-changing activity. It has helped me
to learn to ‘let go’ in many areas of my life, making room for new life and new
energy.
Kondo is a
bit OCD at times, but that can be easily overlooked. I would suggest taking what you can use and
adapting it to your own situation. I
felt that reading her book gave me permission to do what I really needed to do
in my home. I’m keeping the book handy as we continue to move our “stuff” on to
new homes where it will be appreciated and used. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The
Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing is an easy and helpful read.
Brisingr:
The Inheritance Cycle Book 3
By
Christopher Paolini
This is
where I leave the Inheritance Cycle.
It’s an interesting concept, but not really my cup of tea. My husband has read the entire series and is
enjoying the audio version immensely. I
think it appeals to his inner 14-year old boy.
There is lots of action and adventure, but very little character or plot
development. The action goes from one
battle to another, with long recovery scenes in between. Women appear in mother roles or as
unattainable elves. I’m enjoying my
husband’s retelling of book 4, but not so much the audio book. Sorry, but not a great listen from my
perspective.
The
Luckiest Woman Ever: Molly Sutton Mystery 2
By Nell
Goddin
I received
an advance copy of The Luckiest Woman Ever: Molly Sutton Mystery 2 as a
member of the Nell Goddin reading group.
After listening to last night’s news about Amazon reviewers, I want to
make it clear that I was not paid or compensated in any way. I was really happy to receive my copy of book
2 so quickly after reading the first Molly Sutton mystery, and I’m happy to give
my honest review.
I found this second book just as engaging
and enjoyable as the first. Goddin’s
descriptions are great. I love the
lifestyle in the small French village. Molly’s
challenges continue, along with daily life in France. The characters are realistic and
likeable. The cozy mystery has lots of
intrigue without graphic violence.
There’s an interesting twist at the end.
The Luckiest Woman Ever: Molly Sutton Mystery 2 is a great cozy mystery and definitely a good
read! I’m looking forward to the next
book in the series.
Life: A
Learning Experience
By Rhoda
Rice
This review
won’t be published, but I’m writing it anyway.
Rhoda Rice is the mother of my sister-in-law. Reading her memoir gave me insight into both
my sister-in-law and her mother. It also
inspired me. Rhoda wrote simply, but
elegantly. I never realized how much she
was holding inside of her and/or how deeply she felt about many things. I also did not realize the depth of the
sorrow in her life. Knowing the author
and then reading the book made for a very moving experience. Her book is a hidden gem, from which many
people could benefit.
The
Secret Keeper
By Kate
Morton
I listened
to and enjoyed the Audible version of The Secret Keeper. The story is
written in a flashback format that really works. The setting moves between London during WWI
and the family home, fifty years later. A family secret is unraveled through the eyes
of the oldest daughter, Laurel Nicolson.
The Secret Keeper is
interesting from a historical perspective and is a well-written mystery. I’m definitely going to look into other books
by Kate Morton. The narration by
Caroline Lee was excellent. The
Secret Keeper is definitely a good
listen.
Life and
Other Near-Death Experiences
By Camille
Pagan
I loved Life
and Other Near-Death Experiences! I
laughed and cried through the entire book, which I could not put down. I haven’t enjoyed a book so much in a long
time. While I normally don’t like books
that touch on the topic of cancer (trigger alert), I loved this one. Pagan writes with humor and compassion. The characters were so real that I had to
check and make sure it wasn’t a memoir.
The optimism and strength of her main character, Libby Miller, could be
inspirational to anyone in a challenging situation. She was a real person dealing with real-life
challenges. She kept going and Pagan’s
book kept me laughing. Definitely a very
good read!!!
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