Books with Almost Identical Covers

I thought that this was an interesting article in the Huffington Post on books that have almost identical covers:

The Heretic's Daughter by Katherine Kent

My rating:  4.7

This novel of the Salem Witch Trial's is told by Sarah Carrier the daughter of Martha Carrier, who was one of the first women to be tried and hung for witchcraft in 1692.  The first half of the book is the day-to-day life of Sarah .  You slowly feel things building towards the last half of the book when Martha is arrested and the gloom and fanatical fevered pitch of fear shows itself.  Very haunting and even uncomfortable and well told.

Katherine Kent is a direct descendant of Martha Carrier and spent five years researching and writing this novel.  

The Snow Hunters by Paul Yoon

My rating:  4.6

The Snow Hunters is about Yohan, a North Korean War Refugee who is arriving to live in Brazil.  The story goes back and forth in time as the memories ebb and flow.  This is a quiet haunting Hemingway type of book.  

 

The author captures the mood and the memories in this elegant novel.  This book definitely will not be for everyone but I thoroughly enjoyed this sparse novel even if the ending didn't live up to the rest of the book.

The Son by Philip Meyer

My Rating: 4.7

This epic novel covers three generations of a Texas family; from the Comanche's in the 1800's to the oil boom in the 20th century

1. It starts in 1840 with 13 year old Eli McCullough being kidnapped by Comanches after they brutally rape and murder his mother and sister
   
2. Peter McCullough is Eli's son and considered a disappointment.
   
3. Eli's great granddaughter is Jeanne/JA McCullough and she struggles to succeed in a man's world .  

For anyone who enjoyed Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove, you will love this book.

Chasing Windmills by Catherine Ryan Hyde

My rating:  4.7

Sebastian and Maria both ride the subway to escape their lives of abuse and control.   This is a modern day version of West Side Story. I love Hyde's writing style.  It flows so easy in the conversational style.  There are no plot twists and yet I thoroughly enjoyed this tale of love and finding one's identify.  This is my second book by Hyde and this won't be my last.

Mystery Book Recommendations

In my recent YouTube post about my beloved Bookmarks magazine, a lot of you wanted mystery book recommendations.  I contacted my mystery book friends and here is what they came up with for you.

• The Shadow Woman by Ake Edwardson
• Silence of the Grave by Arnaldur Indridason
• Broken by Karin Fossum
• Broken Harbor by Tana French
• All of the Steig Larsson books
• Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
• In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
• Drowning Ruth by Christina Schwarz
• Devil In White City by Erik Larson
• Every Last one

Please comment below with any good mystery books you would recommend so others can benefit.  Thanks!

Longbourn by Jo Baker

My rating:  4.0

This is the lives of the servants the Bennett estate of Pride & Prejudice.  There is Mrs.Hill who manages the staff that keeps Longbourn running smoothly: the young housemaids, Sarah and Polly; the butler, Mr. Hill; and the mysterious new footman, James Smith

I haven't read Pride & Prejudice but could appreciate this story.  That being said, sometimes it felt wonderfully light hearted with the typical struggles a Staff has of running an estate like Longbourn and other times it vascillated from a fluffy romance novel to the author adding in some very heavy topics that, for me, just didn't meld.

I think literary critics could find lots of flaws in this book but, all in all, this was an enjoyable read and I think most Jane Austen fan's would appreciate it.

The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

My rating:  4.8

In the early 1800's, a rich white girl is given her own slave.  The rich white girl doesn't want the slave and so the story begins with each chapter being told in turn by either the white girl, Sarah Grimke, or the Slave, Hetty (Handful).  This was a book that I couldn't wait to pick up again.

If you enjoyed The Secret Life of Bees or The Help, I think you will enjoy this book.  I also think it would make a wonderful book club discussion.

The Day I Killed James by Catherine Ryan Hyde

My rating:  4.6

This raw witty novel starts off about Theresa's neighbor James who has a huge crush on her.  Theresa is smitten with her jerk boyfriend Randy.  This is the story of actions, consequences and coming to terms with what happens.  It is a light easy read that had me laughing out loud at several points while deftly dealing with heavy topics of guilt, remorse and healing.  This won't be the last book that I read by this author.  For such a dark topic, this was a thoroughly enjoyable little read.

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

Rating: 4.8

I enjoyed this book a lot. Not only was it interesting to hear about the lifestyle in 1920’s Paris and to learn about Hemingway and the circle of artists in 1920’s Paris (Picaso, Joyce, Fitzgerald, etc.) but the attitudes were so different back then. I think the author did a wonderful job of making the characters, even the unsympathetic ones, come to life. Some of it wasn't easy to read as Hemingway did not treat his wives well but the author did a fabulous job in bringing this to life.

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

My rating:  4.2

This book was in need of an editor.  It also was excellent writing so I didn't mind that it was gratuitously long.  The other fault was the characters did not mature.  I have heard this called a 'coming of age' story.  When at the beginning of the book the boy who is 13 years old has not changed or matured when he is in his 20s at the end of the book, it is hard to agree with it being a coming of age story.

While the above is true, I enjoyed this book.  I don't know that it is a recommend and I definitely do not think it should have won the Pulitzer but, it was still an enjoyable read.

The Spymistress by Jennifer Chiaverini

My rating:  4.4

This work of historical fiction tells the story Lizzy Van Lew and her efforts to help the Union during the Civil War.  While there were times when the details of the war were a bit cumbersome, overall this book had a good pace and gave me a much greater understanding of the sacrifices both black and white made during those times to help the North succeed.

How to Start a Book Club

I highly encourage you to join a book club.  If you can't find one you like, start your own!

Before you start your club, decide on things like:

• a name
• the type of books you want to read (mysteries, fiction, non-fiction?)
• how you want to run your club
• how many members
• where do you want to have it

The hardest part is advertising.  I have had good luck with putting up flyers at Starbucks, advertising in the local paper.  Meet-up.com is ok but you have to realize that meetup is meant as a 'drop in' event so I haven't had as good of luck when I want permanent members.

The Bee-Loud Glade by Steve Himmer

Rating:  3.8

Finch is a lackadaisical cubicle worker until he gets laid off and meets the eccentric billionaire Mr. Crane.  Mr. Crane hires Finch to live the life of a hermit/monk in his garden.

This quirky book is very original and also quiet and understated.  Not much happens at all and some may call it boring but, for me, it was enjoyable.

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

My rating;  4.5

This is a light cute story of Don Tillman, a professor of genetics, who is an extreme/cliche example of Asperger's.  Don decides to find a wife and has a very specific idea of what he is looking for.  He embarks on The Wife Project.  When he meets Rose, she is the opposite of everything he thought he wanted - a barmaid, a smoker, a drinker, or a late-arriver.   This sweet story entertained me all the way through and was the perfect thing to capture my overworked exhausted brain.

It is free through your library or $1.99 for the Kindle version through Amazon.