(2) Brief Book Reviews - Our Missing Hearts; Celeste Ng and Left on Tenth: A Second Chance at Life, A Memoir; Dwlia Ephron

 

 Our Missing Hearts; Celeste Ng

Penguin Audio - 2022

(library download) - 9 hours 51 min   

 Narrated by:  Lucy Liu, Celeste Ng

I've read and enjoyed everything Celeste Ng has written so I couldn't wait for my audio reserve of her latest book to become available.  This book is quite different - a bit of a mystery with with a dystopian theme.

Noah Gardner (his mother calls him Bird) is a twelve-year-old boy who lives with his father in a dormitory at the university where his father works at the library.  Their life is one of order and routine ever since the "Crisis" changed everything for their family and his mother, a Chinese American poet, disappeared from their lives. At school he is learning new things and around him things are happening which he is desperate to understand. For example, why Asian Americans like his family are looked down upon and viewed by others with a mistrustful eye. In school Noah hears the taunts that his mother is a traitor. The boy has no friends except for Sadie and, one day she mysteriously disappears. as well

This is a story though set in the near future seems frighteningly realistic as to what we've seen on television or read about happening here in some parts of the United States to targeted race groups including child parent separations.  The audio book was mostly riveting; although a somewhat sad story, it is one that will stick with most readers I suspect.

RATING - 4/5 stars

Length: 9 h

Left on Tenth: A Second Chance at Life; Delia Ephron

Little Brown and Company - 2022

Library Download - 7 hours 39 min

read by author - good

In her newly released memoir, Delia Ephron, successful novelist, screenwriter, playwrite and lover of all things that the Big Apple has to offer gives readers a glimpse at her second chance at life.  

After losing her husband Jerry to a cancer diagnosis, an op-ed essay that Delia wrote for the New York Times earned her a surprise contact by a man from her past and a second chance at love.  Her new relationship is tested when Delia, like her sister Nora, learns that she has (AML) a fast progressing form of leukemia and that her only chance at survival is a successful bone marrow transplant.   Instead of running away from the very ill 72 year-old-woman, Peter, her new found love, asks Delia to marry him.

This memoir is indeed a second chance at love and life. Told with humor and, yes, there is at times some sadness too, but the writing was wonderful. I love that the audio was read by the author.

RATING - 4.5/5 stars

Current Reads 

90% completed

Book group read 

75% completed

Hope to Start Soon

Some September Reading

 

Hey readers, this week finds me with enough energy to share some bookish thoughts on some more recent  books that  I've read or listened to in September (so that's progress.) 

Dark Tales: Stories; Shirley Jackson

Penguin Audio - 2021

)8 hours - multiple narrators - all excellent

Dark Tales was a collection of (17) short stories.  I enjoyed more than half of the stories and, although all of the stories were new to me, I didn't find them all that scary or creepy.  If anything some of the stories that I didn't care for just seemed just kind of odd. The best part of the collection was the quality of the audio narrators: Ottessa Moshlegh, Kirsten Potter, Kimberly Farr, Karissa Vacker and Mark Deakins.

One very short but powerful story was called; What a Thought, which explored all the different ways a wife considers killing her husband who seems likely a decent guy.  She is obsessed  with these thoughts and the ending was shocking.  Louisa Please Come Home was another one I liked.  A younger girl isn't happy with her home life and runs away, changing her appearance many times.  After being gone for over (3) years and no response to the reward the family has offered, a man she meets convinces her to go home so he can claim the reward.  The family does not recognize their daughter with her changed appearance and the man who brings her home has a history of trying to claim rewards with other missing persons so in the end nothing has changed. The final one I will mention was All She Said Was Yes - A young girl's parents have died in a car accident and the neighbor takes the girl in until some family is able to take her with them.  When trying to talk to the girl about her feelings about her parent's death, her response is a rather flat affect and the claim that she told her parents this would happen to them but, they didn't listen.  The girl has other warnings including one for the neighbor who took her in but, will they heed her warning?

I liked the situations Jackson created with these stories, simple, everyday people and occurrences which suddenly take a darker turn and the reader can easily imagine that things will not end well. Other stories had a locked-room feel.  It was fun to listen to a few of these at a time. Worth trying.

RATING - 4/5 stars

Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six; Lisa Unger

Park Row - 2022

(eGalley)

Three couples all family and friends escape to a luxurious, isolate cabin in Georgia, complete with all amenities including spa and personal chef.  It isn't long before a dangerous storm take hold, internet is out and all communication to the outside comes to a halt.  If things couldn't get much worse one of the group members goes missing.

A thriller with a creepy, locked-room feel, this story is told from multiple POVs and past and present timelines which made this story all too much at times. All of the characters seemed spiteful and full of secrets (except for one individual). I found it hard to keep turning the pages at times and put this aside for several days at one point.  I did love the set up and the setting but, the characters left me mostly disappointed.

RATING - 3.5/5 stars

The Lost Girls of Willowbrook;  Ellen Marie Wiseman

Recorded Books - 2022

(Library audio download - 13_ hours - Morgan Hallett narrator - very good)

This story is based in part on a true story surrounding The Willowbrook State School in Staten Island, New York in the 1970s.

Sage and Rosemary Winters ere identical twins who loved many of the same things, even though Rosemary had some developmental and emotional issues.  At age 13, the girl's mother was killed in a car accident and Sage is led to believe by her step father that her twin sister died of pneumonia.  The truth is Rosemary was sent to Willowbrook because he didn't want to deal with her after the mother's death.

At 16, Sage discovers the truth and goes to Willowbrook to find her sister.  At Willowbrook Sage is mistakenly believed to be Rosemary who had recently gone missing.  While trying to convince staff that she isn't Rosemary she begins to witness first hand the horrors of how residents of the state school are mistreated and abused.

This was a tough read at times to see how those trusted in the state's care were treated prior to this institution being closed in the 1970s.  Although some of the story felt repetitive, I thought that the author did a good job emphasizing the abuses that took place and how administrators looked the other way.  I was happy I decided to listen to the audio which was well done.

RATING - 4/5 stars

We Spread; Iain Reid

Simon ^ Schuster Audio - 2022

(5 hours 58 minutes)

Narrator - Robin Miles - very good)

(audio download sent by publisher)

Penny is an elderly artist who has lived in the same apartment with her long term partner for years and years.  After her partner passed away, she felt comfort in the sameness of her days, surrounded by the things she loved and which brought her comfort. She felt happy and at peace despite the fact her partner had died.

After a few incidents at the apartment, she finds herself uprooted from her apartment and the things that she loves to a strange but beautiful home occupied by several elderly residents her age and some kind staff.  The group dines together, continues with hobbies and socializes. They are supervised by a caring staff who monitors their daily activities but, for Penny it is not the same as her apartment.

This was quick, well-written novel that I very much enjoyed.  It was one of those stories that as a senior myself, made me pause and reflect. It was hard to see many of Penny's prized possessions of her former life packed away as she was moved to her new residence.  Her new life was often clouded by confusion yet it felt quite realistic.

RATING - 4.5/5 stars

Book Review - The House Across the Lake; Riley Sager

 

The House Across the Lake; Riley Sager

Dutton/Penguin Audio - 2022

(Bernadette Dunne - narrator) - 11 Hours approx.

Casey Fletcher is a former NYC actress and a recent widow.  She is trying get some peace, quiet and relaxation at the family lake house on Lake Greene in Vermont.  She also drinks too much with a penchant for bourbon.  With plenty of time on her hands she takes to spying on her good looking neighbors across the lake, Katherine and Tom Royce. When one day Casey saves Katherines from a drowning incident, the two women become friendlier.  Before long Casey is thinking that the couple across the lake isn't the perfect, happy couple she initially thought they were.  She begins to wonder if perhaps Katherine should fear Tom.

This is one of those thrillers with an unreliable narrator that starts out a bit slow but, I still remained engaged and kept wondering what the heck was going on.  The set up, think The Woman in the Window, AJ Finn or the movie Rear Window. Yes, it is a style that has been overused and, in the end this book had more twists than I could have anticipated -- yes, some were a bit much.

This was a combo read/listen and although Bernadette Dunne has been a terrific narrator that I've enjoyed in the past, she was inappropriate for the voice of the younger Casey. Bernadette, although a great reader, she has a raspy voice that makes her sound like an elderly woman.  After a while I  found it necessary to switch to the print edition.  Overall, this was an okay read but, it did not wow me by any means.

This is my 8th book read from my initial 20 Books of Summer list.

Rating - 3.5/5 stars

(Note:  audio book downloaded from my library and eBook courtesy of the publisher.)

Brief Book Review - What Happened to the Bennetts? Lisa Scottoline

 

What Happened to the Bennetts? Lisa Scottoline

G.P. Putnam and Penguin Audio - 2022

(Edoardo Ballerini - narrator - excellent - 10 hours 15 minutes)

The Bennetts are a family who live in PA. The father Jason, is a court reporter, his wife Lucinda, a photographer and they have (2) children Allison, a teen and Ethan around ten.  One evening on the way home from a hockey game in their Mercedes, they are carjacked and shots fly. One of the carjackers is shot but Allison also takes a bullet and later dies at the hospital.  When the FBI shows up at the Bennett's house the following day, it quickly becomes clear that this was not a random incident.  Why would what seems like a typical American family be the target of an attack at the hands of organized crime?

This is a thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. The audio narrator Edoardo Ballerini did a wonderful job in keeping the listener focused.  I was surprised to find this tragic family story turn into a political thriller.  The story is told from the POV of Jason and there is a lot of action involved as the story moves along.  I did find myself want to hear more from Lucinda and Ethan whose lives were turned upside down and were still grieving with the loss of their daughter and sister.  Still a good political thriller with plenty of surprises to be had.

Rating - 3.5/5 stars

(NOTE:  The audio download was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for my unbiased review.)

Book Reviews - The Book of Cold Cases; Simone St. James - Nine Lives; Peter Swanson

The Book of Cold Cases; Simone St. James

Penguin Audio - 10 hours 44 min.

(Narrators: Brittney Pressley, Kirsten Potter and Robert Petkoff - very good)

Shea Collins is a young woman who works in medical office by day and maintains a true crime blog, The Book of Cold Cases, in her free time.  She tries to get tips on unsolved cases the authorities are no longer actively pursuing.  One day at her office job she recognizes Beth Greer, a woman linked to, but acquitted of, (2) separate 1977 unsolved murders. Both victims were men and were shot by a woman who left a note. The gun used, coincidentally, was the same type of gun that killed Beth's father years earlier. Beth has kept a low profile at the family Oregon mansion ever since she was acquitted of what has been called the Lady Killer Murders.

Shea pursues Beth in the hopes of getting a brief interview and surprisingly, Beth eventually agrees to meet with her at the Greer mansion. The meetings are uncomfortable to say the least and it seems clear that there is at least 1-2 ghostly beings that are not happy about what is going on.  

The characters were interesting enough as both Shea and Beth have a good deal of baggage which gets uncovered.  Shea has been dealing with trauma from her past and we learn of Beth's troubled childhood as well. The story has a slow build and was satisfying over all. I thought the author did a decent job balancing the serial killer story line while adding a bit of the paranormal as well. Of course my favorite minor character was a cat by the name of Winston Purrchill.  I loved the authors previous book: The Sundown Motel which also had a bit of a paranormal element to it. This offering was slightly less thrilling for me but, yet it held my interest and I enjoyed the way the story played out.

Rating - 4/5 stars

Nine Lives; Peter Swanson

William Morrow and Harper Audio - 2022

(combo read/listen)

(Narrators - Jacques Roy and Mark Bramhall - very good - 7 hours 11 min)

Nine Lives was an interesting mystery that involved a rather cryptic list of names. Nine individuals in different parts of the country receive a list of nine names, their name being one of them.  At a quick glance none of the individuals seem to know the other people on the list but, it soon becomes clear that someone wants them these people dead.  The people on the list are different ages, occupations, sexual orientations and live in different areas of the country.  What's the connection or motive? One of the individuals on the list is Jessica Winslow, an FBI Agent from Albany, NY and, she hopes to see this case solved before she ends up as one of the victims.

This isn't a really long book and the story is told from multiple POVs which worked out well; I never found it difficult to follow even when listening on audio after I switched off from the eBook.  I felt like the reader is given just enough back story on each of the individuals on the list to keep things interesting before the story moves on to another potential victim. The manner of death varied which kept it interesting as well.  Some of the characters were likable while others not so much.  In many ways this book reminded me of Agatha Christie's,  And Then There Were None except that all of these victims died in very different locales.

Rating - 4/5 stars

Book Review - Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times; Katherine May

 

Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times; Katherine May

Riverhead Books & Penguin Audio - 2020

(combo - read/listen - audio 6 hours 54 min. read by Rebecca Lee - very good)

Wintering is a memoir / inspirational kind of book that came out the end of 2020 and has been on my TBR list since then.  I finally decided to listen to the audio and there was so much that spoke to me that I had to download the eBook from the library and, I even ordered this print UK edition  (look at that pretty cover art) because there is so much I wanted to highlight.  This is one of those rather short books that just might become an annual winter read for me.

Katherine May's memoir begins in September when her husband fell ill and required an emergency appendectomy for a burst appendix; it almost ended his life.  Following his gradual recovery, the author also started to feel unwell, just a feeling that something wasn't right. To ease her depression and anxiety she took time off from her position as a writing director and what happened soon after was a kind of transformation or celebration.  It happened around the time on the winter solstice and a new way of thinking about and embracing winter evolved.  Just as nature needs time to slow down and regenerate, so do us humans. 

The author speaks of the new joy of cooking and creating, reading by candlelight on a cold winter evening wrapped in a favorite blanket or comforter.  Is it so terrible to stay home, prepare tasty comfort foods, work on projects that were long ago set aside or, how about just sitting still and reflecting or our lives past and present?

This was a most interesting  and reflective sort of book - the topics sometimes felt random or even scattered yet I found it to be very satisfying. I think many people could benefit by reading this book; it gives the reader much to think about and, may be even more important to individuals prone toward cold weather winter bouts of depression.  It's time to change how many of us think about winter and the darker and more difficult paths we must walk from time to time.

The audio was provided by Penguin Audio at no charge in exchange for my unbiased review. The eBook was downloaded from my library and I've purchased the print edition which should arrive soon.)

Quotes - (just a few - there were so many more that I liked)

--“Life meanders like a path through the woods. We have seasons when we flourish and seasons when the leaves fall from us, revealing our bare bones. Given time, they grow again.” 

--“Winter is a season that invites me to rest well, and feel restored, when I am allowed to retreat to be quietly separate.” 

---“In our winter, a transformation happened. We read and worked and problem-solved and found new solutions. We changed our focus away from pushing through with normal life and towards making a new one. When everything is broken, everything is also up for grabs. That’s the gift of winter: it’s irresistible. Change will happen in its wake, whether we like it or not. We can come out of it wearing a different coat.” 

--“That is wintering. It is the active acceptance of sadness. It is the practice of allowing ourselves to feel it as a need. It is the courage to stare down the worst parts of our experience and to commit to healing them the best we can.” 

--“Once we stop wishing it were summer, winter can be a glorious season when the world takes on a sparse beauty and even the pavements sparkle. It’s a time for reflection and recuperation, for slow replenishment, for putting your house in order.” 

Rating - 5/5 stars

Book Review - The Lincoln Highway; Amor Towles

                                                      The Lincoln Highway; Amor Towles 

                                           (Combo read/listen) - Viking - 2021 & Penguin Audio

I spent the better part of last week reading and listening to The Lincoln Highway. This is my third book by Amor Towles and IMO, another winner.  I loved the characters, even most of the minor ones were a joy to hear from.

Set in 1954 the story takes place over the course of ten days.  The story begins with 18 year old Emmett Watson being released early from a one year sentence to a work farm in Kansas for an involuntary manslaughter charge.  It was an unfortunate incident that landed Emmett this sentence. Now back in Nebraska, his father has died so it's just Emmett and his eight year old brother Billy. The boy's mother had abandoned Emmett and Billy years earlier.   With their house foreclosed and a few thousand dollars set aside Emmett and Billy plan to start fresh and head along the Lincoln Highway in Emmett's prized Studebaker. Billy has dreams of finding their mother who always looked forward to 4th of July fireworks in Lincoln Park in CA.

Things don't go exactly as they planned when two of Emmett's work farm inmate buddies: Dutchess and Wooly escape and show up to derail those plans.  I thought the road trip alone was time well spent.

All of the major characters here are looking for new start: Emmett and Billy hope to build a new life together, Dutchess would like to have his own restaurant and Wooly would just like to find peace and happiness.  There are several minor characters who left an impression as well (both good and bad) : Sally, a spunky next door neighbor, Ulysses a WWII veteran, the unsavory Pastor John and Professor Abernathe.  The story is told in multiple POVs which really helped to shed light on the past of each character.  I was especially fond of Emmett and Billy.  I admired Emmetts fierce concern and devotion to his smart, intense eight year old brother Billy; Billy won my heart as well. I found the ending both heartbreaking yet hopeful.  Highly recommended.

The audio book production was excellent with a full cast:  Edoardo Ballerini, Dion Graham and Marin Ireland. Although in general I like Marin Ireland as a narrator, I found her slightly annoying in the role of Sally.  This was a combo read/listen - about a 50/50 split.

Here are a few quotes I noted:.

Quotes -

 "Wouldn't it been wonderful if everybody's life was a piece in a jigsaw puzzle. Then no one person's life would be an inconvenience to anyone else's.  It would just fit snugly in its very own, specially designed spot, and then in so doing, would enable the whole intricate picture to become complete."

"Because young children do not know how things are supposed to be done, they will come to imagine the habits of their household are the habits of the world.  If a child grows up in a family where angry words are exchanged over supper he will assume that angry words are exchanged at every kitchen table; while if a child grows up in a family where no words are exchanged over supper at all, he will assume that all families eat in silence....."

Rating 4.5/5 stars

Note: I purchased the print edition of this book and the audio version was provided to me at no cost by the publisher.

Book Reviews - Matrix; Lauren Groff - My One Square Inch of Alaska; Sharon Short and Reckless Girls; Rachel Hawkins

Hope everyone who celebrated Christmas had a wonderful day. We had an inch of the snow of Christmas Eve which looked so pretty and then freezing rain came on Christmas to crust over the snow. Fortunately, the kids, spouses and granddaughters were able to come for dinner and presents.  It was a beautiful day for us and it felt much more relaxed for me in the meal preparation department compared to all the side dishes and prep involved at Thanksgiving. I kept it simple:  fruit plate, chicken parmesan, pasta, salad, rolls, pistachio cake and (4) different kinds of Christmas cookies (we are a dessert family.)  Note to self: make fewer cookies next year.  Yes,  I overcooked and all went home with a care package.  Everyone loved their gifts - all is good.

We all seemed healthy - time will tell - everyone was fully vaccinated, including the girls and all adults boosted as well.  

Reading - I finished what will be my last (3) books of 2021 (quick reviews below). I started Winter Solstice, Rosamunde Pilcher but, I am not enjoying the audio version so I stopped listening and ordered a print copy to arrive during the week.  This week I hope to work on 2021 stats and favorite reads of 2021....stay tuned.

Do you have in New Years Eve plans? We had early dinner plans at a nice restaurant but, we most likely will cancel with the raging virus once again.

Matrix; Lauren Groff

Penguin Audio - 2021 

8 hours 51 min. - Adjoa Andoh - narrator _excellent

(audio download provided at no charge by the published)

The setting for this historical fiction story is a 12th century rundown abbey in England. It's a feminist novel that is all about women, sisterhood and the power of friendship and community and there's a bit of sex among women as well.

Marie is the illegitimate daughter of the royal court. At 17, she is tall skinny and unattractive and, she is deemed "not marriage material" by Queen Eleanor, who Marie deeply loves.  She is sent away to an impoverished abbey and, the work that needs to be done there is almost insurmountable.  Marie, although not all that religious is devoted, smart, strong and industrious but, don't cross her as she can be mean as well.

Initially, I thought this book might not be for me but, because I've had good luck with the author in the past, I decided to give it a try. I was very happy I did.  If you are into audio books, I highly recommend the audio read by: Adjoa Andoh, a new narrator to me.  She made this book feel like a theatrical performance at times by giving each character a distinct voice. 

I loved the way the women banded together to get things done whether it be farming, baking, building, weaving and even writing. A group of engaged, committed women shut off from the outside world building a life and making things better.  This feminist historical book is worth reading is you like historical fiction at its finest and a character driven story.  Rating - 4.5/5 stars

My One Square Inch of Alaska; Sharon Short

Plume Books - 2013

(print edition - my shelves)

Donna Lane has a lot on her plate; she's about to graduate high school but, she's also a mother figure to her younger brother Will.  Their mother took off when they were young and their father drinks a bit too much.  Donna has dreams of her own but, it's her brother she is most concerned with. 

Brother Will is obsessed with collecting enough cereal box tops for a chance to win a contest - "one square inch of Alaska."  Will is also obsessed with protecting and giving a better life to a neglected, mute, Siberian Husky that lives nearby. When Will is diagnosed with childhood leukemia - (it's the 1950's-60s) and recovery is not looking very good for Will,  Donna is determined to make her brother's dream come true.

This book sat on my shelves far too long and I'm so happy that I finally got to read it.  It's a story that started slightly slow and at times seemed geared more to the YA genre but, oh my did it ever stir up many emotions as I read - such a good story - worth reading.  Rating - 4/5 stars

Reckless Girls; Rachel Hawkins

Macmillan Audio - January - 2022

7 hours - 43 min - Barrie Kreinik - Narrator - very good

(Audio download provided at no charge by publisher and NetGalley)

Lux and Nico are a young couple in need of a change after an unfulfilling job and personal tragedy.  The two find what seems like the perfect opportunity to get away and change things up.  The couple is hired to sail two friends Brittney and Amma to the remote island of Meroe in the South Pacific.  Expecting to be there alone they are surprised to find another boat there as well.  Soon (4) becomes (6) as Jake and Eliza, who appear to be not only wealthy but quite interesting and welcoming as well.  Before long the reality of their isolation sets in as does a feeling of desperation. Soon (6) become (4) and the reader is left wondering who to trust and whether there is someone else lurking in the remote jungle?

This was one of those thrillers that started out slow and I began to think this might not be for me. Barrie Kreinik is a great narrator though so I persisted. Soon as we begin to get insight into each character's secrets and past the story became more interesting.  I began to get the feeling that one or more of the players could not be trusted.  I loved the remote island setting. The story of told from the POV of Lux in the present and flashbacks to the past of all of the characters as well. The short chapters and the way the story was told held my interest once it got going. My suspicions proved correct yet I still wondered a bit about motivation when all was said and done.  Rating - 3.5/5 stars

Book Review - The Family; Naomi Krupitsky

The Family; Naomi Krupitsky

G.P. Putnam and Penguin Audio - 11/2021 - (9 hrs. 53 min.)

Narrator - Marin Ireland

Set in the late 1920s in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Red Hook,  The Family, tells the story of two best friends whose fathers, Joey and Carlos, were part of the Italian Mafia.  Sofia Colicchico and Antonia Russo were best friends from a very young age, their families even had Sunday dinners together. The girls knew their fathers worked together but what they did was a mystery.  When Antonia's father Carlos goes out one night and never returns, it is Joey who steps up and takes care of the fatherless Russo family.  As the girls grow, marry and become mothers their lives take a much different turn and fissures in their relationship begin to show but, they remain friends.  

What happens when someone wants out of the "family?"

I wasn't sure this book was going to be for me but, I found it to be a rather powerful coming of age story.  The husbands of Sofia and Antonia added much interest to the story as well (Antonia marries a Jew). I liked the time period: prohibition, the Great Depression and WWII.  I also enjoyed the background on how the Mafia and the protection aspect first came into play.  I  found some parts of the book to be a bit repetitive and I knew the ending would be somewhat shocking or surprising at the very least. I wasn't disappointed.  This book seems to have sequel potential as well.  The audio book was read by Marin Ireland who did an excellent job.  I think this debut is worth reading and was happy I tried it.

Rating - 4/5 stars

Book Reviews - 3 mini Book Reviews: Unsettled Ground; Claire Fuller - Not a Happy Family; Shari Lapena and All the Lonely People; Mike Gayle

Thank You Deb@ Reader Buzz

Whew this has been such a hot and humid weather week with some terrible thunderstorms and a brief loss of power (2 hours) one night while we slept. We stayed indoors with AC as much as possible and spent time with (3) books, watched one movie, Saving Private Ryan and playing gin rummy with my husband.  Speaking of "gin" we tried our gin soaked raisins this past week (10) each evening and so far (it's only been 3 nights so far) we don't see any change in his low back pain or my knee pain but, it says it can take (3) weeks so I'll keep you all posted.

My daughter stopped over with the girls one day and while my husband entertained the girls, playing cards (WAR) for money, we got to chat uninterrupted. He is so good amusing them and they had so much fun. They said they's like to come back to play cards with him again.  He told them "you are welcome here anytime and S the 9 year old said "great, not tomorrow though, we are busy." LOL.  Of course they went home with extra money from their card game winnings, how did that happen?

My (3) days of yoga this week had slightly fewer people than the first week which was nice. I also had an ultrasound this week with good results so that was a relief.  Looking forward to lower temps starting tomorrow - still summer-like though.  

How was your week?

READING

It seems like I've been reading about (3) books a week most weeks and I am happy to report that this week's books were much better than the ones I read the previous week.  I still need to get better control over the books I want to read or have committed to reading so, I bought myself a 17 month planner - fingers crossed, I use it and it helps. In my working life I was so organized - less so as a retiree.

Here's what I finished this week:

Unsettled Ground; Claire Fuller

Tin House Books - 2021

(library hardcover)

Unsettled Ground was a beautifully written story that, quite frankly, left me feeling more than a little "unsettled."

Jeanne and Julius are 51 year old twins who have never left their run down remote cottage in Inkbourne (UK). Their father died when they were only 12 years old (the tragic details are revealed eventually)and as the story opens their 70 year old mother Dot dies of a stroke.  Neither of the kids have had much schooling and Jeanne doesn't even know how to read. She and her mother for years have spent their time tending to a large garden while Julius picked up odd handyman jobs. Neither has held a proper job, they have no real friends nor much of a life to speak of. When their mother was alive the (3) of them were content making music together in the evenings by each playing a different musical instrument. They don't have a car, a television or even a bank account and although they believed the dilapidated cottage was theirs to live in rent free, after Dot's death they learn that is not the case.  With no money, no jobs,  a mother to bury, and now also facing eviction, the reader wonders why the family has  allowed this to happen and wonders why they have chosen to live in seclusion and never asked for help.  

As the reader I felt sad for these characters but, I think they were more comfortable with their life than I was reading about it.  Although most of society might view these individuals as a bit odd, the author makes them seem rather content with life on the whole.  There was a bit of a mystery element to the story which slowly gets revealed and although this story had a quiet feel, it packs an emotional punch. Very will written and highly recommended.

4.5/5 stars

Not a Happy Family; Shari Lapena

Penguin Audio - 9 hours 11 min.

Narrated by Ellen Archer (very good)

(library download)

When millionaires Fred and Sheila Merton are found brutally murdered after the family has gathered for Easter dinner at their Brecken Hills estate in New York, everyone in the family and extended family are soon suspects in the murder.

When the (3) adult Merton children and spouses and partners gather for Easter dinner, everyone is uptight and on edge. Fred Merton is not well liked or respected and has been known to routinely upset the applecart. On this occasion something happens and everyone leaves in a huff, including the maid who had once been a live-in nanny to the children.  By the next day the children: Catherine, Dan and Jenna as well as Irina, the maid, and Audrey, Fred's sister, are suspects in the murders.

This was a very good audio book that hooked me early on and never let up.  None of the characters had any redeeming qualities but I still found the story addictive.  My husband and I listened to this one together and we found ourselves changing our theories a few times as new info got revealed. Fast paced, character driven, with unexpected twists, we liked that extended family members were also introduced along the way for even more mystery.  The detective duo left a lot to be desired and it felt like this was their first case of this type.  The epilogue was a welcome bonus and made me smile.

4.5/5 stars

All the Lonely People; Mike Gayle

Grand Central Publishing - 2021

(finished copy sent to me by Publisher)

Hubert Bird is an 84 year old man who has lived alone after his wife Joyce passed away and his daughter Rose moved to Australia to teach at the University.  Rose calls him weekly to check in and Hubert has painted a rosy picture of his fun life as a retiree so that she doesn't worry about him.  The truth is his life is anything but rosy. He has basically shut himself off from others and the friends he used to have, so when Rose tells him she has taken a sabbatical and will be coming home for a visit, Hubert must change his ways and make friends fast or reveal the sad truth to his daughter.

Told in the present day and through flashbacks to when Hubert arrived in England as an immigrant from Jamaica in search of a better life.  Instead of finding opportunity as a young man in a new country, he faced racism and prejudice prevalent in his workplace and also as he fell in love with Joyce, a white woman who became his wife.  I liked the dual timelines and the overall flow of the story. Yes, loneliness is often reality for seniors like Hubert who live alone and don't have a support system close by.  I thought the subject was handled well and the story was more uplifting than depressing.  This is my first novel by Mike Gayle but, I will be curious to see what other books he has written.  

Rating - 4/5 stars

The Rest of August

I need to read a few more books for my (20) book Summer Reading Challenge - I think I've read 16/20. I'm already thinking and hoping that there will be another RIP Challenge for Fall. I've participated for about 12 years now and am already making a thriller, mystery list for September and October fall reading - not that I want to rush the seasons.

                                         Hope Everyone Has a Great Week!

Book Review - The Paper Palace; Miranda Cowley Heller

 

TITLE/AUTHOR:   The Paper Palace; Miranda Cowley Heller

PUBLISHER:  Penguin Audio

YEAR PUBLISHED: 2021

GENRE: Fiction / Family Life

FORMAT:  eAudio / LENGTH: 12 hours and 37 min.

SOURCE:   (print - library) (audio - publisher download)

SETTING(s):  Cape Cod, MA

ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY:  Can the past be totally forgotten? 

BRIEF REVIEW:     The "Paper Palace" is a summer camp style cottage with paper thin walls located in the back woods of Cape Cod, MA. It's a place for lazy days on the screened-in porch and lots of delightful swims in the fresh water pond. For years Elle Bishop and her family have spent time here each summer ever since she was a child.  It's the place Elle first met Jonas when both were still children and the two developed an immediate connection spending as much time as possible together. It was also a place where something happened that changed things between them.

From the beginning of this book we know that Elle is now married to a good man named Peter and the couple has children. Jonas is also married and also spending another summer on Cape Cod. As both families gather indoors one evening over food and drinks, it's clear Elle and Jonas are still attracted to one another.  After a quick outdoor interlude between Elle and Jonas occurs, Elle, now 50 finds herself rethinking the life choices she has made. Is the dark past she shares with Jonas and how very much he means to her more powerful than the life she and Peter have built?

This book is no summer beach read. The story is dark but, it is beautifully written. There are definite triggers early on: parental neglect and detailed sexual abuse that go back generations.  The setting was lovely and beautifully described, I felt like I could almost smell the musty camp-like smell,  salt air and cool and clear pond water.  There were a lot of irresponsible adults in this story but yet the story worked in so many ways.  The ending may disappoint some readers as it is definitely ambiguous IMO but, I was not disappointed as in the acknowledgements, I thought it was pretty clear how the story ended. Recommended.

Thanks go to Penguin Audio for allowing me access to this book in exchange for my unbiased review. The audio book was read by Nan McNamara who did a great job.

RATING:  4.5/5

Book Review - Northern Spy; Flynn Berry

 

TITLE/AUTHOR:  Northern Spy; Flynn Berry

PUBLISHER:  Penguin Audio

YEAR PUBLISHED: 2021

GENRE: Fiction / Thriller

FORMAT:  audio download / LENGTH: 7 hours 52 min.

SOURCE:  Publisher download

SETTING(s):  Northern Ireland

ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY:  A spy story that offers something more, geared to appeal toward readers who usually avoid reading them.

BRIEF REVIEW:  Tessa Daly is a single mother of  an infant son, she is close to her mother and her sister Marian.  Tessa lives in Belfast, Northern Ireland where the conflict between the British territory and the IRA has long been a part of life. Working as a BBC producer, one day Tessa sees video footage of a robbery with a suspect that appears to be her sister Marian, pulling a ski mask over her head. The authorities believe that Marian is part of the underground IRA.  How can this be - Tessa knows her sister so well?

When the authorities come to Tessa to question her about her sister and later the truth comes out about Marian's seven year involvement, family ties are tested especially when Marian asks for her sister's help.

I liked the way this story was written with short chapters and a plot that keeps the story moving along at a quick pace.  It's a story that gives the reader a lot to think about especially for someone like me who was pretty unfamiliar with the IRA conflict and the general political climate.  It's a story that makes you think about the choices and sacrifices that one must sometimes make for the greater good.  Tessa's character held my interest but, I found it a little hard to believe a young mother might take some of the risks she considered. I also thought that Marian's character could have been further explored. There were also a couple other characters that I would have liked to know more about like Seamus and the MI5 agent. Despite this I was happy I tried this one.

I was on the fence about this book but, once I began listening, it was hard to take a break. The audio was read by Katharine Lee McEwan whose accent seemed to made the story all the more compelling.

RATING:  4/5

Thanks go to Penguin Audio for allowing me access to this audio book at no charge in exchange for my unbiased review.

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intro - What Comes After; JoAnne Tompkins

Welcome to First Chapter/Intros, now hosted by Yvonne @ Socrates Book Reviews. 

Each week readers post the first paragraph (or 2) of a book they are reading or plan to read soon.

 What Comes After; JoAnne Tompkins

Penguin Audio - 2021

1

First, the raw facts.

A week into his senior year, my son failed to come home after football practice. When he hadn't appeared by morning, I called Daniel's mother Katherine. She walked off her nursing shift, drove six hours from Spokane and boarded a ferry to Port Furlong.  By the time she was pulling up my drive, Gary Barton, the sheriff, was pulling out.  I had contacted him when calls to friends and relations turned up nothing.  Gary a gruff, efficient man, had, in the span of a few hours, recruited and organized two dozen people to start a search.

This one was released in May and has been on my radar for a while. Hoping that I'll going to like it.

What do you think, read more of pass.