Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes

My rating: 5.0

I read this book back in 2012 and gave it 5 stars and it made my Best Of List for 2012.  When this was picked for my bookclub, I knew I wanted to read it again. Not only is it amazing writing but thanks to my poor memory, the 'twist' got me again this time as well.

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This is one of those books where, the less you know about it the better so, I won’t reveal too much here. This book is told by Tony, one of a group of three friend in high school. Their group is joined by a fourth, Adrian. The telling varies between their high school years and a middle aged Tony. This is not a light read but, if you listen to it on audio, it flows effortlessly. Both kindle and audio are available through my Overdrive library system (and hopefully are at yours as well). I am in awe of Julian Barnes' writing.  Amazing!  Thoroughly enjoyable and I can't wait for the bookclub discussion.

The Bees by Laline Paull

My rating: 3.0

This is what life might look like to be a hive member. This is not a kids book but a grown-up drama that includes both sweetness and considerable sting.  I admire the uniqueness of this book but at times it was a bit too quirky.

Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner

My rating: 3.0

The story of friendship between two couples.  Maybe I am not literary enough or else I read too many glowing reviews of Stegner over the years but this book was a struggle for me.  The writing was truly 'work' to read.  It is not a plot driven book and none of the characters appealed to me.

I am sure I am in the minority in not appreciating this classic but I won't be rushing out to read any more of Stegner's work.  It made me crave something light and easy to read.

About Grace by Anthony Doerr

My rating: 4.7

As a young boy growing up in Anchorage Alaska, he has a dream of a man carrying a hat box being hit by a bus.  Weeks later, when he and his mother are walking down the street, he walks right into that same scene and everything crystallizes and slows down as his dream becomes reality. Years later, David has another dream about his infant daughter.

David Winkler is a very unique individual.  Not only that he has premonitions but, the way he views life.  He is a hydrologist and has a fixation with water and snow.  He has no concept of money and, in general does not look at the world or do things the way other people do.  If you can not let this frustrate you and instead enjoy his quirks, you will love this book.

I am absolutely enamored by Doerr's writing.  It is not a book you can skim but rather one you must focus and read every word and truly absorb and enjoy.  Poetry.  I will be reading more by this gifted author.

Diary of a Witness by Catherine Ryan Hyde

My rating: 4.6

Ernie and Will are friends as they have the bond of both being outcasts at their school. This is a light easy read that tackles so many difficult topics.

 Hyde is such a gifted writer and I have enjoyed so many of her books and she didn't disappoint with this one. I didn’t see the twist at the end but absolutely loved it. Highly recommend as I do all of Ms Hyde’s books.

Mrs. Hemingway by Naomi Wood

My rating: Didn't finish

My rating of this book is in no way a reflection on the writing. In fact, it may be that Ms Wood did such a fine job of writing and capturing the dysfunction that it disturbed me so much I couldn't finish the book.

I knew of Hemingway’s life, his wives, his affairs, etc and yet, this was an extremely uncomfortable book to read. If you can handle the love triangles and wreckage that was Hemingway’s life, you may enjoy this book that was put together from real love letters and telegrams.

The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins

My rating: 2.0

85%+ of this book was exquisitely written.  If the last 15% hadn’t taken such a turn south, this would be the type of book that I would be recommending to strangers. It is like a different writer wrote the last portion of the book as it was cheesy and such a disappointment. So sad when it had so much potential.

The Shell Collector by Anthony Doerr

My rating: 4.0

I don't normally like short stories but, Anthony Doerr is such a gifted writer that I wanted to check this out.  Some of the stories were brilliant and some didn't grab me but I enjoyed the writing consistently throughout the book.  So gifted.

If you like short stories, you will probably enjoy checking these out.

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

My rating: 4.6

This is a light beach read type of book and yet still addresses some weightier issues. The politics of kindergarten mothers in a small town in Australia. This is told through different voices of each of the mother's particularly Celeste, Jane and Madelaine.  Moriarty takes you along the journey of trying to unravel what led up to a murder on a Trivia Night.

I have enjoyed other books by Moriarty - The Husband's Secret, What Alice Forgot and The Hypnotist's Love Story. They are all light, enjoyable reads but this may be her best work. Truly fun and yet intriguing.

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

My rating: 2.6

The story of long and sad demise of a mixed race family. James Lee, an American of Asian descent and Marilyn, a blonde girl from Virginia, marry and have 3 children. I realize that I am in the minority but, I felt this book had a lot of flaws.  The main one was very poor character development.

You can see Ng's writing potential but, unfortunately for me it just didn't deliver.  This whole mess was dysfunctional and depressing and I had to wade through to finish it.

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

My rating: 5.0

Marie-Laure is 6 years old and lives with her father in Paris when she goes blind.  He constructs a miniature replica of their neighborhood so she can learn to navigate her way around.

Werner grows up with his sister in a foster home in Germany and becomes an expert at fixing radios.

With the war six years later, their lives intersect.

This is told in various pieces of time from either Werner or Marie-Laure's perspective.  Stunning detail and gorgeous metaphors with a pitch perfect story made this absolutely beautiful.

This took Doerr 10 years to write and I can see why.  I just pray that his next book doesn't take that long but, in the meantime, I will be putting his other 4 books into my queue.  What a stellar read to start the year.

The Possibility Dogs by Susannah Charleson

My rating: 3.0

An inspiring story of rescue dogs that are turned into service dogs for psychiatric disabilities (ADD, Alzheimer’s etc.) While this book was very enjoyable especially if you are a dog lover, it also dragged a lot at times

Sleep Tight by Rachel Abbott

My rating: 2.0

Olivia has several tragedies in her life and the police are investigating several possibilities. The story line was pretty good and had potential but, quickly fizzled.  I felt nothing for the characters.  In fact, the style of writing made it seem fluffy and like a bad movie of the week script. There wasn't much description and you know very early who 'who dunnit'.

The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell

My Rating: 1.0

I wanted to love this book.  It started off ok but then quickly started to drag for me.  At 20% of the way in, I realized that I was not looking forward to reading which is a sure sign that I need to switch to a new book.

I'll Never Be Long Gone by Thomas Christopher Greene

My rating: 4.7

Brothers Charlie and Owen Bender's lives are changed forever when their mother sends them into the woods to find their father to discover that he has commited suicide.  The second shock is in who he leaves the family restaurant to.

I found that the plot was quite predictable but, I didn't care.  I absolutely loved the writing and how it captured the rural lifestyle, nature and the delicious food.