The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney

My rating: 3.2

This book revolved around the four siblings of the Plumb family all anticipating getting their share of "The Nest" (their inheritance) when all the money is spent making a lawsuit disappear for their oldest brother Leo.

This was an unusual book in that none of the characters were particularly likable, the plot is mediocre and aimless and yet, there is something entertaining about it all. While this isn't a must read, I did find it a light entertaining read.

The Light of Hidden Flowers by Jennifer Handford

My rating: 1.0

This was a book club read. I wanted to like it but I didn't. In fact, I hated it. The characters were very flat and poorly developed.  The writing was very juvenile with "she said..." "he said..." "They went..." and no creative prose at all. The character describes herself with repeated negative traits and sums it up by saying "If I were a company, I wouldn't buy my stock". If she hates herself so much, how are we supposed to like her? If she hates herself and her life so much, why didn't she change? I could have understood if she was contented with her life and others found it boring but for her to describe herself  without any redeeming qualities seemed bizarre. I don't know why it took her father's letter to make her wake up.  Also, she knew all along that was how her father felt as she said she resented it and wanted his praise - again, why was the letter such a revelation.

If this had been in the hands of a skilled writer, the story line could have had hope but, it felt so stilted and implausible that I finally gave up on it. I have to call out that I was listening to the audio version and I believe a narrator can make or break a book so it is entirely possible that the printed version might be more palatable.

Restless by William Boyd

My rating: 4.7

British widow Sally Gilmartin gives her daughter Ruth a folder and asks her to read it.  Ruth looks at the folder and asks her mother "Who is Eva Delectorskaya?" to which Sally replies "I am."  This is about becoming a spy, the impact on your life and others as well as the mother/daughter relationship,

I love books that flash back and forth in time and I found the training of a spy to be fascinating. It did slow down at times but I enjoyed the entire book very much.

Delicious! by Ruth Reichl

My rating: 3.8

A woman, Billie, has a wonderful sense of taste and is hired by a cooking magazine. Despite her love of food and extraordinary palette, Billie doesn't cook. Told in a fun way. Reichl's love of food shines through and will make you hungry.

This is definitely light and very predictable but I found it enjoyable.

Bookmarks Magazine Sept/Oct 2016

Nothing compares to the thrill of opening my mailbox and finding the latest edition of Bookmarks Magazine.Here are the books that I am adding to my queue.  This is my quick first pass as it is a school night and I need to get to bed but, I wanted to share the ones that jumped out at me.

Let me know if you are enjoying any good books or have any books in your queue you are anxious to start.

         

    

Once Upon A Secret by Mimi Alford

My rating: 2.5

This book was Mimi's "response" to the press expose of her affair with the JFK.  Apparently this story broke around the same time as the Clinton/Lewinsky affair was made public. The trouble I have is that no one I know, even knew about the affair other than from this book so her 'response' seems to have only drawn attention to what most people didn't know.

I realize that  young girls can be swept up with power but what she described wasn't an affair but a Call Girl. I appreciate that Mimi seemed to be honest and to try to tell things in a straightforward but respectful way which is the only reason I am not rating it lower. I don't care for gossip tell-all type of books like this but, it was picked for my bookclub. That being said, I think it will make an interesting discussion.

The Japanese Lover by Isabelle Allende

My Rating: 3.8

This is the story of Alma and Ichimei. In 1939, as Poland falls under the shadow of the Nazis, young Alma’s parents send her away to live in safety with an aunt and uncle in their opulent mansion in San Francisco. She encounters Ichimei, the quiet and gentle son of the family’s Japanese gardener and they begin a love affair. This flashes forward to decades later when Alma is near the end of her life.

 This books captures the war, illicit cross-culture relationships, treatment of the Japanese and so much more as it spans the generations. Unfortunately, Allende's writing and characters felt very flat. These story lines had so much promise but didn't deliver. I loved Allende's Island Beneath the Sea but it feels like her writing and character development have changed since then. Very disappointed.

The Widow by Fiona Barton

My rating: 2.8

This book starts off with Jean's husband Glen having died and his secret is told through flashbacks. Don't believe the comparisons to Gone Girl and Girl on the train as this book will be found lacking.  The story drags and none of the characters are likable and I was quite glad when it was done.

Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster

My rating: 4.8

An 18 yo girl (Judy) that was raised in an orphanage has an anonymous benefactor willing to pay for her schooling with one condition...she must write him letters. This book is told through her letters.  It captured my heart. 

 I have no idea how this 'classic' novel wasn't even on my radar but I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it to all.

You by Caroline Kepnes

My rating: 4.6

Thanks to Guinevere Beck's incessant sharing on Facebook and Twitter, Joe Goldberg has everything he needs to know to move from stalker to boyfriend.  

It is hard to believe that this is Kepnes first book.  Wow.  SO disturbing and creepy and yes, I am twisted enough that I thoroughly enjoyed it and couldn't put it down.  Although different, I found it was reminiscent of The Kind Worth Killing which I also thoroughly enjoyed.  I can't wait for the next book by Kepnes to become available at the library (I think it is a sequel to this one).

Caution: There is explicit language, sex and violence

If Your Not the One by Jemma Forte

My rating: 4.7

Have you ever looked back on your life and wondered if you took 'the road not taken' and married someone else what your life would look like? Jennifer Wright has the opportunity. Jennifer is in an unhappy marriage and when she gets hit by a car and goes into a coma, she has the opportunity to go back and see 'what if'.

I really enjoyed the premise of this book and, unlike some others, I also enjoyed the ending. This would make the perfect light beach read but I also think it would make a fabulous book club discussion and it would be fun to talk about our "roads not taken and the what if's". Very fun premise.

Lily and the Octopus

My rating: 4.2

This is about Ted's journey in accepting that his beloved dachshund companion Lily is dying. As someone who has an aging dachshund where I may be getting near making this decision, this sure hit home. I loved parts of it but the reason I am not rating it higher is that the dream sequence could have been condensed to a chapter instead of being 1/3 of the book.  Yes, I do understand why it was so long but it felt way too long. 

I don't think it is a spoiler to say that yes, it has a sad ending and yes, you will cry. This book is for any animal lovers. It will capture your heart. 

I! LOVE! GOING! IN! THE! POOL! (Ozzy talks like Lily)

Glory Over Everything by Kathleen Grissom

My rating: 4.8

I enjoyed Grissom's first book The Kitchen House  a lot, so when a friend said that she had enjoyed her second book, I eagerly picked it up. 

This book is set in the 1800's and starts off with a black man, Henry, approaching Jamie to help him find his son who is also Jaime's beloved servant Pan. As the story unfolds, it also flashes back in time to explain how Jaime and Henry met when Jamie had to flee his Virginia Plantation home and, as a white man, soon gets employment as a silversmith. 

This is a stand alone novel but, if you have read The Kitchen House, you will realize that Jamie is a continuation of a character from that book.  This was a gripping story with vivid characters. I loved the alternating voices in each chapter. Just like Grissom's first book I found myself looking forward to squirreling away time to be able to find out what had happened to the characters that I had come to know and care about.

Bookmarks Magazine July/August 2016

I had a wonderful day working at home, going in the pool with Ozzy Poozer at lunch and finishing up early. After work, I did my nails and decided to brave our 120+ heat to check the mail box....and am I glad I did as there was my Bookmarks! What a fabulous start to the week. Here are the books that I have put in my queue. Let me know what you are reading or want to read so I can have it on my radar.


      

      


     

My library didn't have these ones in but I still want to read them. Maybe once I get through my queue, they will have them in.

   

The Gates of Evangeline by Hester Young

My rating: 4.0

This starts off with a young woman having a dream about a missing child, that she then is reality on the tv news. Since she just lost her son, she isn't sure if she is going crazy or should trust her dreams.

It has lots of twists and turns and, despite some formula romance misunderstandings I enjoyed it. A fun light beach type of read that held my interest.