The River by Peter Heller

My Rating: 4.9

Best friends, Wynn and Jack share their love of mountains, books, and fishing. Wynn is a gentle giant, a Vermont kid never happier than when his feet are in the water. Jack is more rugged, raised on a ranch in Colorado where sleeping under the stars and cooking on a fire came as naturally to him as breathing. When they decide to canoe the Maskwa River in northern Canada, they anticipate long days of leisurely paddling and picking blueberries, and nights of stargazing and reading paperback Westerns. But a wildfire making its way across the forest adds unexpected urgency to the journey. They also encounter several people and try to warn them about the fire but soon regret this.

Wow, wow, wow. Oh Peter Heller I love you (ok, at least your writing). I loved The Dog Stars and this was just as an amazing experience. I loved all the characters, the sense of foreboding and the amazing descriptions. I love that 'nature' was one of the characters. I am moving some of your other books up to the top of my queue as you have a way of whisking the reader away and when they land after that last page is turned, all they can do is reminisce over the magical journey you just took us on. Heller captures the power of nature as well as man's vulnerabilities so well. I highly recommend the audio version of this book.

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

My Rating: 2.5

The Nickel Academy is a reform school in Tallahassee Florida. When Elwood gets caught up in a tragic case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, ends up serving time. The Nickel Academy.is a grotesque chamber of horrors, where the sadistic staff beats and sexually abuses the students, corrupt officials and locals steal food and supplies, and any boy who resists is likely to disappear "out back."

For myself, this was about horrific events that had no feeling behind the writing. The writing felt flat and, despite feeling sorry for Elwood's circumstances, I didn't care about any of the characters, The first half of the book was somewhat engaging but the last half of the book was so poorly written that I had trouble staying engaged. Horrific things happened but it felt so detached. This is not historical fiction but a work of fiction based around an actual reform school. None of the characters were real and it didn't have any fact and definitely didn't bring that horrible period to life which was a missed opportunity.I don't think authors that try to capitalize on tragic events without any quality in the writing are for me.

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

My Rating: 4.0

Alice Wright marries wealthy American Bennett Van Cleve to flee from her judgmental home and family in England. She rues the day as the marriage is less than idyllic. She decides to escape the Van Cleve home by joining Margery in delivering books to the back woods of Kentucky.

If you haven't heard the controversy (I hadn't until later), Moyes came out with this book just a few months after The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. Both books are about the little written about time of the Kentucky Pack Horse Library Program. For me, the similarity stops there. I felt that Moyes book was fluffy, superficial and more about the characters. This was a quick read but very romance and drama based and a little too wrapped up in a bow for my liking. I enjoyed The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek more as it felt deeper and dealt with the women's struggles and joys in delivering the library books as well as the additional layer of the Blue People. I am not saying this book was bad but, with all the talk of comparison, if I had to pick only one, it would definitely be The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

My Rating: 4.8

In 1936, 19 year old Cussy Carter lives in Troublesome Creek, Kentucky. Cussy is the last of the rare 'blue people' who is so excited to get a job in the new Pack Horse Library Project.  As she travels with her mule up the trecherous mountains of Kentucky to deliver books to the folks on her route, they soon overcome their fear of her blue color and call her "Bluet" or "Book Woman" and can't wait for her visits.

I can't puzzle out why I loved this so much, but I did. I felt that this was about two different things - the blue colored people and the library delivery system - both of which were educational and fascinating. Cussy Mary was an absolute delight and I enjoyed the glimpse into the many lives in the back hills of Kentucky. This is not a fast paced book but rather, it takes you back in time to a slower pace and allows you to peek in on their lives. Delightful read.

The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff

My rating: 3.0

This covers WWII and the role women had as radio operators and couriers. It mainly deals with Marie and Eleanor and then also there is Grace who is in 1946.

While I enjoyed the story line of women's role during the war, the writing and characters felt 'flat' to me. Perhaps it was the audio narration but, despite a very interesting premise, I just didn't care about anyone in this book. It felt completely lacking in character development. I also felt there was a lot of holes in things (ditzy women being put in charge or being enlisted with no other skills than a language?) as well as historical errors (there was no daily news coverage back in 1946).  It was also very quickly obvious who the bad guy was so there was no suspense in that for me. I realize that I have read a few other books by this author and gavc them all mediocre ratings so, I think that this author isn't for me.

Dear Mrs. LaRue by Mark Teague

My Rating: 2.0

A dog is sent to obedience school and sends letters to his owner insinuating that rather than being in a pampered training school that he is in prison.

I didn't realize when I saw this book so highly recommended that the target audience of this 32 page book is accurately aimed at ages 4 to 8 years old. Those must be the ones who in their reviews said it was 'hilarious'. I think a child would enjoy this but definitely not meant for adults.

Bookmarks Nov/Dec 2019

Bookmarks makes any day better but what a fabulous start to the week to get it on a Monday! I am excited about quite a few of these books but, especially the few that were translated. For some reason, those always feel 'richer' to me and the reviews were stellar. Should be great reading.

Let me know any picks I missed or any fabulous books you have read lately that I should check out!

      


      


  

The Hummingbird by Stephen P. Kiernan

My Rating: 4.5

Deborah is a seasoned hospice nurse who is used to showing patience and compassion. Her skills and experience are tested in new and dramatic ways when her easygoing husband, Michael, returns from his third deployment to Iraq haunted by nightmares, anxiety, and rage. She is determined to help him heal, and to restore the tender, loving marriage they once had.

At the same time, Deborah’s new hospice patient is Barclay Reed, a retired history professor and expert in the Pacific Theater of World War II whose career ended in academic scandal. Alone in the world, the embittered professor is dying. As Barclay begrudgingly comes to trust Deborah, he tells her stories from that long-ago war, which help her find a way to help her husband battle his demons.

I learned so many things that I didn't know about WWII. This was such an interesting way to educate someone - with both the flashbacks to the event and the two current day stories. Very educational and enjoyable. Excellent depiction of the hospice nurse, Michael as the WWII PST survivor and the Professor bridging the stories. Strongly recommend the audio version which captured Deborah's sweet spirit.

One Day In December by Jose Silver

My Rating: 4.0

Laurie is on the bus and at a stop, she makes eye contact with a man that she knows is 'the one'. She spends almost a year with her best friend Sarah looking for 'bus boy'. She is trying to come to terms with never finding him and instead is thrilled that Sarah has met the man of her dreams - Jack. When Laurie finally meets Jack, he is 'bus boy'.

Part of me loved this. I fell in love with Laurie, Sarah and Jack and the many twists and turns of their lives. I loved that this was told from all three of their perspectives (I definitely saw Hugh Grant as Jack!). Another part of me felt this had a cheezy Harlequin Romance feel but thankfully that was only for a very small part of the book. This was a sweet endearing story of star crossed lovers, friendship and fate. Definitely recommend the audio version.

Side Note: this is my first and only book I have added to the 'romance' category.

The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer

My Rating; 4.7

Back in WWII Alina knew from the time she was 9 years old  that she was going to marry her best friend Tomasz. Now at 15 years old, she is engaged and blissfully naive of what it means as the Nazis invade Poland.

In present day, Alice is juggling being a mother of 2 children - a gifted girl and a little boy with Asperger's. She feels her husband doesn't know how to interact with their son and is working far too much. She struggles to juggle everything when she finds out her beloved 95 year old grandmother is in the hospital.When "Babscia" tries to have her grandaughter Alice find her long dead husband, the family thinks that stroke has impacted her memory.

I loved the unfolding of these two story lines and how they gradually wove together. I started  off enjoying Alina's story more but, as it unfolded, I really felt for Alice and everything she was dealing with. I thought the story line of Alice and her husband was particularly well done. Some reviewers say that Alina wasn't relatable but I think that at 15 years old, her oblivion of the war and focus on her own life was very understandable. This was a very enjoyable read.

Lock Every Door by Riley Sager

My Rating: 2.0

No visitors. No nights spent away from the apartment. No disturbing the other residents, all of whom are rich or famous or both. These are the only rules for Jules Larsen’s new job as an apartment sitter at the Bartholomew, one of Manhattan's most high-profile and mysterious buildings.

The protaganist was a whiny entitled bore. The plot that had promise in the beginning, took so many bizarre cult/supernatural twists that it left me behind. You might ask why I bothered finishing this book and that is a valid question that I am still asking myself. 

The Mother's Promise by Sally Hepsworth

My Rating: 4.7

Alice is a struggling single mother to Zoe, her teenage daughter who also has crippling social anxiety. They are always there for each other as their tight family of two, until Alice gets diagnosed with cancer. Then their circle has to expand to allow the help and support they need to get through the illness.

I really enjoyed this book. I felt so much for both Alice and Zoe. Zoe's social anxiety was very well portrayed and I loved her speech so much.There was one part that seemed a bit too coincidental with Alice's past and Sophie's husband but, I did love it and even cried at the end. Very well done.

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

My Rating: 3.0

A 91-year-old woman with a hidden past as an orphan-train rider and the teenage girl whose own troubled adolescence leads her to seek answers to questions no one has ever thought to ask. Nearly eighteen, Molly gets a community service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping her out of juvie and worse.

I enjoyed the story of the 91 year old woman much more than the current day story with Molly. The writing felt very weak and YA. Unfortunately the author doesn't know how to make "bad guys" have any depth, so the bad characters were very poorly portrayed with only one dimension and not believable. The political agenda was also off putting.  Disappointing considering all the hype that I heard about this book when it came out.

Forever Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid

My Rating:  3.2

Elsie meets the love of her life and within weeks, they elope. Nine days later, he is hit by a truck and killed. None of his family or friends even know that Elsie existed.

I have read several books by this author:

• The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
• Daisy Jones and The Six
• One True Loves (which I knew would be lighter than the above two)

and I loved them all. I realized that this book was written previously when the author seemed to be in to lighter books but since I enjoyed One True Loves (which was also written previously and lighter), I thought I would give it a try. Unfortunately this book didn't work for me. It felt that the plot line was too contrived and fluffy and none of the characters had any depth. I think I will stick to her more current books when she seems to have taken her writing up a notch.

The Better Sister by Alafair Burke

My Rating: 4.6

Chloe is married to Adam and raising his son Ethan. Chloe's husband just happens to be her sister Nicky's ex-husband. When Adam is murdered, Chloe reluctantly allows her estranged sister back into her life.

I enjoyed this quick read domestic thriller. There were enough twists and turns that I didn't have a clue of who did it until very near the end.