Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks

My rating: 2.5

Jessica signs up for a psychology study conducted by the mysterious Dr. Shields, she thinks all she’ll have to do is answer a few questions, collect her money, and leave. Little does she know that this study will gradually pull her in to become more personal and she soon will wonder just how much Dr. Shields knows.

This had a very promising unique story line and I was intrigued. I also loved that Jess was a make-up artist and there was a lot of attention to fashion but, that could only keep me enamored for so long. I didn't care about the characters and the plot quickly turned implausible. I think I am tired of these thriller suspense novels where the female characters don't have a brain.

The Secrets Between Us by Thrity Umrigar

My rating: 4.8

Bhima had just been fired from her 20 year job as a servant for a woman who she thought of as family. After this difficult parting, Bhima is struggling to make a living for herself and her grandaughter. This captures their daily life in the slums of India. Bhima makes an unexpected relationship with Chitra and Sunitra as well as an older crotchy woman named Pavarti.

This is the 2nd part to The Space Between Us and again, Umrigar doesn't disappoint in her ability to capture the poverty of India, the struggles of all women and trying to make a life as well as friendships. Such beautiful writing and powerful characters. 

A Meal In Winter by Herbert Mingarelli

My Rating: 4.9

Three German soldiers in the middle of winter in Poland. They will either have to execute Jews or, be sent out to hunt them down. Their Commander sends the three men out into the frozen Polish countryside to bring back a Jew for execution.

This was such beautiful writing. It flowed so easily I could have devoured it all in one sitting but I wanted to savor ever sentence. The descriptions of the winter made me feel cold to my bones. This made me wonder how I would feel being in any number of their positions. War is not a happy story but this was a delight. This was very different and yet somehow reminiscent of City of Thieves.

The Girl Who Was Taken By Charles Donlea

My Rating: 4.7

Two high school seniors, Nicole and Megan, are at a beach party when they go missing. Megan escapes but Nicole is never heard from again. Livia, Nicole's older sister and a pathologist, does an autopsy on a young man connected to Nicole.

This twisted thriller moves at a fast pace and kept me enthralled  This is a disturbing and original storyline. I will definitely be reading more by this author.

After The Fire by Will Hill

My Rating: 2.5

Moonbeam is raised in the Holy Church of the Lord's Legion cult in Texas. There is a fire and it flashes back and forth between "before" the fire and "after" the fire.

There really isn't a story here as you know there was a fire from the title. This is just Moonbeam flashing back and forth between telling what life was like in the Cult to the psychologist in the pysch ward.  The only "suspense" if you want to call it that is what will happen to her after the Psych hospital. I felt that this was VERY long and drawn out and absolutely nothing happens. I know I am in the minority but I would not recommend.

Three Things About Elsie by Joanna Cannon

My Rating: 1.5

Florence lives in an old folks home and has fallen. As she lies on the carpet waiting for someone to rescue her, the story unfolds of a new resident in the home who she thinks is from her past.

The first chapter, I thought I knew what was going on but told myself "no, that wouldn't be so obvious". I kept reading and tried to put that thought out of my mind so, when right near the end they have "THE BIG REVEAL" and it happened exactly as I had thought in chapter 1, to say I felt it was cheezy and predictable is an understatement. I also felt the author was intentionally trying to manipulate our feelings (hate that!) with the sentimentality. There was a lot of over dramatic writing to try to pass it off as amazing prose or trying to be cute. Too bad as this had promise.

We Have Always Lived In The Castle by Shirley Jackson

My rating: 1.0

Merricat Blackwood lives on the family estate with her sister Constance and her Uncle Julian. Not long ago there were seven Blackwoods—until a fatal dose of arsenic found its way into the sugar bowl one terrible night. Acquitted of the murders, Constance has returned home, where Merricat protects her from the curiosity and hostility of the villagers.

This had a sense of being creepy, only in the strangeness of the family not fitting in with the townsfolk and feeling ostracized by the townsfolk. Other than that, this is just plain boring. Definitely don't waste your time.

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

My Rating: 4.8

Brian's parents are recently divorced and Brian is on his first plane trip when the small prop plane pilot suffers a heart attack. Brian crash lands the plane by a remote Canadian lake and soon realizes, he has no one to rely on for his survival except himself.

As 13 year old Brian learns lessons, many the hard way, you come to respect and grow with him. I can see why this Young Adult book won the Newberry Prize. 

The Trespasser by Tana French

My Rating: 4.8

Detective Antoinette Conway and Detective Stephen Moran are investigating the murder of beautiful Aislinn Murray. They are being pressured to close the case but things aren't as they seem.

I love how French makes us feel we know the Detectives and all the players in the case. As always, phenomenal writing! Can't wait to read Witch's Elm. Tana definitely deserves the title of First Lady of Irish Crime.

The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss

My Rating: 4.8

Kvothe is at University and takes an involuntary gap year. In his continued pursuit of the Chandrian, he ends up being hired to slaughter bandits and spends an indeterminate amount of time with a fairy. This book is very different than the first in that it meanders and feels like it is laying the foundation for the 3rd and final book. Although it was different, it was no less entertaining.

This is the continuation (second book in this trilogy) of the story of Kvothe. There is definitely a lot more fantasy in this book but the writing is so enjoyable. I can't wait for his third book to come out!

The Secret Place by Tana French

My Rating: 4.5

An unsolved murder of a boy who was found on the grounds of a girls school.  A year later, Holly Mackey arrives in Stephen Moran's office with a photo of the boy with the caption: “I KNOW WHO KILLED HIM.” Stephen, along with Detective Antoinette Conway, reopens the case—beneath the watchful eye of Holly’s father, fellow detective Frank Mackey.

This took me a while to get into - perhaps due to the narration switching to a bunch of immature annoying high school girls. I can say that French captures the high school drama well! Once I understood the alternate story-lines, I got in to it and enjoyed it a lot. I love feeling like I know all these Detectives as French does such an amazing job of building their characters. I am sad that I only have a couple more books left in this series.  Tana, you need to write faster!! :-) 

Funny In Farsi by Firoozeh Dumas

My Rating: 3.8

In 1972, Firoozeh and her family move from Iran to California. She tells various stories from her life in moving to the United States.

For me, this wasn't near as entertaining as "It Ain't So Awful Falafel". I felt like she retold a LOT of the same stories in a slightly different way. I would recommend "It Ain't So Awful Falafel" and skip this.

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

My Rating: 2.0

Keiko has always been considered an odd child. Now, nearing 40 years old, she has worked her whole life at a convenience store. She tries desperately to navigate the pressures from the "normal world" to grow up and have a regular job, relationship, etc. but it just isn't for her. Once Keiko understands she is ok with who she is and accepts herself, she is happy.

I felt like there was potential with this novel but, it really missed the mark for me. Murata could have explored Keiko being autistic - she doesn't know appropriate responses or how to read body language and has to take her queue from her peers, Keiko's comfort with routines and patterns - this could have been a more interesting novel. Instead, it was more of a judgment on conforming and learning to accept oneself which I don't consider to be profound. If you have never been to Japan you may find some of the things about convenience store "interesting" at best but I don't think this book is worth your time.

Broken Harbor by Tana French

My Rating: 4.8

A brutal crime scene with Patrick Spain and his two young children murdered and his wife, Jenny, in intensive care. Mick “Scorcherˮ Kennedy is the star of the Dublin Murder Squad who gets assigned this case.

Very few write a good mystery like Tana French.  Between the fabulous Irish accents on the audio version and feeling like you know all the detectives before they show up on the crime scene, she has me hooked. 

Bookmarks Magazine Nov/Dec 2018

For a change, it felt that I was last on the list to get my Bookmarks magazine.  This is something that I look forward to getting so when you hear all your friends are receiving their copy, it makes you almost want to tackle your Postman and demand to know where your copy is.  Luckily no bail money was required, as my copy arrived today - YEAH!

There were quite a few selections this month that, while they sounded very intriguing, just didn't make my list. Maybe it is my current frame of mind but, that is why I save all the magazines so I can go through past editions again for anything I may have missed that may appeal to me later.

Here are my picks:

      
      


  

As always, please share your picks or any great books you think I should add to my queue!