#57 - T is for Tresspass

Book No: 57
Title: T is for Trespass
Author: Sue Grafton
Genre: Suspense
Published: 2007
Obtained: 2007/paperbackswap
Completed: 7/13/08
No. of Pages: 387
Rating: 4.5/5*****

This is the 20th book in the Kinsey Millhone alphabet series, and after some not so great entries in the series this one was one of the best.

When Kinsey’s elderly neighbor Gus, a cantankerous old man, takes a bad fall, Kinsey and her landlord Henry do all they can to help him. This includes investigating the home care nurse Gus’ niece wants to hire to care for him at home. All seems okay at first, but when Kinsey begins to suspect elder abuse things go from bad to worse. As readers we know from the start that there are indeed evil deeds occurring; the fun of the book is the cat and mouse game played by Kinsey and the villainous Solana Rojas. A few side cases keep Kinsey busy also, but the main storyline is gripping in its accelerating horror in what seems like an ordinary life, and the hope that Kinsey puts the pieces together before its too late.

#56 - Sweetwater Creek

Book No: 56
Title: Sweetwater Creek
Author: Anne Rivers Siddons
Genre: Fiction
Published: 2005
Obtained: 2007/Audible.com
Completed: 7/11/2008
No. of Pages: N/A
Rating: 4/5*****

This was a sweet and enjoyable coming of age tale set in the Carolina’s low-country. Emily Parmenter is twelve years old, living on her family’s plantation with her distant father and two older brothers. Her mother disappeared while Emily was a toddler and her adored older brother Buddy committed suicide, leaving her bereft and lonely. Her only salvation comes from training the family’s well known Boykin hunter spaniels. Emily seems to have an innate talent for this and her life is in a simple pattern of school and working the dogs, her only friends her beloved dog Elvis, her Aunt Jenny and the housekeeper Cleta. Into this quiet world comes the golden Lulu Foxworth, a debutante in need of a place to recover from what appears to be a nervous breakdown. In order to impress the wealthy Foxworth family Walter Parmenter invites Lulu to spend the summer working with Emily training the dogs. Lulu jumps at the chance and soon spins her magic web around the family. With her arrival comes life and laughter to an empty household, but it also brings dark secrets that ultimately changes everything. Permeated with sadness the story is also about friendship, love, betrayal and finding one’s way in the world.

#55 - The Idiot Girls Action Adventure Club

Book No: 55
Title: The Idiot Girls Action Adventure Club
Author: Laurie Notaro
Genre: Memoir
Published: 2002
Obtained: 2007/Kindle
Completed: 7/11/2008
No. of Pages: 240
Rating: 4/5*****

I seem to be on a roll, reading laugh out loud funny books by incorrigible women, first Jen Lancaster and now Laurie Notaro. This is Notaro’s first book and I literally laughed until I cried. The book is a collection of essays she wrote for the Arizona Republican; chronicling a few years in her life, through college and trying to become, more or less, a responsible adult. No one escapes unscathed; she targets not only herself, but friends, family and strangers. Her description of her teeth getting stuck in a caramel apple, while driving, is priceless. Another funny bit of great beach reading. I love summer!

#54 - Marley and Me

Book No: 54
Title: Marley & Me
Author: John Grogan
Genre: Memoir
Published: 2005
Obtained: 2007/Paperbackswap.com
Completed: 7/11/08
No. of Pages: 291
Rating: 3.5/5*****

I am not a big fan of animal books so I was prepared to not like this book, but it was a choice of my F2F book group. Although I love dogs, I didn’t want to read a memoir about ‘Life and Love with the World’s Worst Dog”, sure it would be a sentimental remembrance that just wouldn’t appeal to me. So imagine my surprise as I was utterly captivated by the story of Marley, if not the world’s worst dog, surely a difficult one. A very large, headstrong and virtually untrainable Labrador retriever, Marley was also lovable, steadfast and the true definition of man’s best friend. His absolute joy for life and his love of his fmily came through on every page. Marley was not an idealized version of a dog, a Hollywood Lassie or Rin Tin Tin both of whom probably never sniffed anyone’s crotch. He had the heart of a puppy through all of his 12 years, but at 90 pounds his exuberance was often of a destructive nature. Marley hated thunderstorms, loved the ocean, was protective of his family and always ready with a big slobbery kiss. I give a lot of credit to the Grogan family for seeing the good in their beloved dog, he is the kind of adorable puppy that when grown often ends up back in a shelter. For all the love Marley gave them, they returned it in equal measure. A funny and thoroughly enjoyable memoir.

#53 - Where Are You Now?

Book No: 53
Title: Where Are You Now?
Author: Mary Higgins Clark
Genre: Mystery
Published: 2008
Obtained: 2008/Paperbackswap.com
Completed: 7/8/08
No. of Pages: 289
Rating: 3 /5*****

Mary Higgins Clark is a ‘comfort’ read for me. I’ve read all of her mysteries since her first book Where are the Children? came out, about 25 years ago. In the last several years her books have been hit or miss with me, although I found this one to be one of her better stories. The mystery involves the disappearance of Carolyn MacKenzie’s older brother “Mack”. Ten years ago he disappeared without a trace, yet he calls home ever Mother’s Day to tell his family he’s okay. Now an attorney Carolyn has decided to find out what led Mack to walk away from his family. In starting this investigation Carolyn opens up a Pandora’s Box of trouble and long buried secrets. While the writing was not top notch, the mystery was fairly well done, although some of the stereotypical cop behavior was a little over the top. Still I was entertained, even though I had figured out most of ‘whodunit and why’ about half way through the book.

#52 - Kitchen Confidential

Book No: 52
Title: Kitchen Confidential; Adventures in the Cultural Underbelly
Author: Anthony Bourdain
Genre: Memoir
Published: 2000
Obtained: 2003/Bookbox
Completed: 7/7/08
No. of Pages: 302
Rating: 3.5/5*****

Anthony Bourdain has become the celebrated bad boy of the restaurant business, and in the process has become a star of the Food Network, some of whose famous chefs he ridicules in this book, written before said stardom. That however does not take away from the enjoyment I took from this strangely beguiling memoir. I say strangely because Bourdain is clearly an Alpha Male, who has lead a wild and crazy life, crawling up the restaurant food chain to become the Head chef at Les Halles, a celebrated NYC establishment. This book is outrageously profane and full of sex, drugs and rock and roll. Having worked in the business myself for over 20 years, I can attest to the truth of many of his stories about life in the kitchen. The story telling is gritty but also extremely funny, and inside all the machismo I think there beats the heart of a nice guy, although I’m sure he would have you believe otherwise. The downside is you’ll never eat in a restaurant without thinking about what’s going on in the back of the house, and wondering what exactly went into the meal you are eating.

#51- Bright Lights, Big Ass

Book No: 51
Title: Bright Lights, Big Ass
Author: Jen Lancaster
Genre: Memoir
Published: 2007
Obtained: 2008/Kindle
Completed: 6/30/08
No. of Pages: 400
Rating: 3.5/5*****

She’s bbaacckkk! Jen Lancaster, of Bitter is the New Black fame, continues her totally irreverent view of the world in Bright Lights, Big Ass. Picking up pretty much where Bitter ended, Jen continues skewering anyone she finds pretentious, and gives you more of her wry and frequently convoluted take on the world. She and Fletch are slowly getting back on their feet after their financial meltdown and are still living in the city, which Jen make sure you know is nothing like Sex in the City. After receiving her advance to write what would become BITNB, Jen is still working temp jobs so she can write, still spying on her neighbors and still shopping-although her holy trio of stores is no longer Bloomies, Nordstrom or Neiman Marcus; it’s now Target, Trader Joe’s and Ikea. Her writing can sometimes seem way over the top, but her acute observations make you laugh in spite of yourself. Some of the best ‘beach reading’ I’ve done in a while. (Well since last week when I finished Bitter is the New Black). Also her wonderfully delicious and long subtitles really helped rack up the points for the Alphabet Soup Challenge!

#50 - The Queen of the Big Time

Book No: 50
Title: The Queen of the Big Time
Author: Adriana Trigiani
Genre: Fiction
Published: 2004
Obtained: 2004/Audible.com
Completed: 6/26/08
No. of Pages: N/A
Rating: 3.5/5*****

Adriani Trigiani revisits the theme of Italian immigrants in her story of Nella Castelluca and her family. Roseta is a small Italian community in Pennsylvania where Nella lives on the farm with her parents and four sisters. It is the early 1920’s and 15 year old Nella longs to go to school in town, and hopes to one day live there. When an accident forces Nella to give up her dreams of an education she goes to work in the local factory, where she meets two men who will become the loves of her life.

While I enjoyed much of this book I found the writing often very simplistic and there seemed to be huge gaps in the storyline. Certain characters are very well developed at first and then seem to fade away. Also toward the end the book seems to fly through the years. However the story of Nella and her determination was often enjoyable, and brought a tear to my eye more than once. I loved her Big Stone Gap books more, and this one wasn’t quite as good, but it wasn’t a bad read either.

#49 - Bitter is the New Black

Book No: 49
Title: Bitter is the New Black
Author: Jen Lancaster
Genre: Memoir
Published: 2006
Obtained: 2008/Kindle
Completed: 6/23/08
No. of Pages: 415
Rating: 4.5/5*****

Jen Lancaster’s memoir is funny, very, very funny. It may not be for everyone, but I laughed ‘til I cried while reading her story.
During the go, go dot.com craze at the turn of the millennia Jen Lancaster is living high off the hog. She makes a ridiculous amount of money, as does her live-in boyfriend Fletch. They have a spectacular apartment in the hippest part of Chicago and they spend money like crazy. Then comes the dot.com crash and before you know it Jen is out of a job and soon after so is Fletch. In the next two years, until re-employment comes her way, Jen mines her major lifestyle changes for some deliciously brutal comedy writing.

Jen doesn’t censor her thoughts and everything she thinks just comes out. Nobody escapes her wicked and wry commentary, not even herself. As she figures out how to go from the high life to please don’t turn my electricity off, she examines her irresponsible life-style and has an epiphany but it hasn’t changed her sardonic outlook one bit, she’s as caustic as before but now she is a bit more understanding of some of the plight of average wage earners. A bit!

I enjoyed this book so much I immediately got Bright Lights; Big Ass and will be back with that review fairly soon.

#48 - Blackbird

Book No: 48
Title: Blackbird
Author: Jennifer Lauck
Genre: Memoir
Published: 2000
Obtained: N/A
Completed: 6/21/08
No. of Pages:406
Rating: 4.5/5*****

Blackbird is the story of Jennifer Lauck’s childhood, which is reflected in the sub-title- A Childhood Lost and Found. Told through the perspective of the child that she was, Jennifer tells of the harrowing six years of her life, from the ages of 5 to 11. Five year old Jennifer is living with her parents and older brother Bryan. It is obvious that Janet, Jennifer’s mother is in the end stages of a long illness, and Jennifer takes care of her mom as best she can at her young age. In the course of time Janet Lauck passes away, and the children are left with their father, a kind but overwhelmed man; he quickly remarries a woman with children of her own, who obviously does not care for Jennifer or Bryan at all. When another tragedy befalls the Lauck family, things go from bad to worse. Although there is some abuse in the book, it is far more psychological than physical and quite disturbing. The indomitable spirit of Jennifer to keep on going, despite it all, is what lifts this book from maudlin to inspiring. The child’s eye view of the adult world is heartbreaking at times, but you will care about this little girl and root for her right until the end, hoping someone or something good comes her way.

Hooray! I am all caught up

It took me about a week, but I am all caught up, and posted over 20 reviews. What a relief :)

#47 - The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox

Book No: 47
Title: The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox
Author: Maggie O’ Farrell
Genre: Fiction
Published: 2007
Obtained: 2008/Paperbackswap
Completed: 6/19/08
No. of Pages: 245
Rating: 4/5*****

I really enjoyed this book, a gothic tinged mystery.

Iris Lockhart is living out her life in Scotland, running her vintage clothing store, having an affair with a married man, and just living a fairly normal life. One day Iris receives a stunning phone call, regarding her Aunt Esme, a woman she never knew existed. It seems that Esme is being released from a local mental institution where she has been incarcerated for 60 years, and Iris is named as the person to receive notification. When Iris calls her mother she is assured there is a mistake, but Iris cannot ask her grandmother Kitty about Esme, because Kitty is in the late stages of Alzheimer’s disease. So Iris brings her supposed aunt home, and tries to unravel the mystery of her incarceration.

Through Esme’s memories and Kitty’s ramblings we slowly piece together the tragic and haunting story of Esme, which leads to a final and stunning act.

I could not put this book down, I had to find out Esme’s story, and I had to read the ending twice to make sure I understood what happened. Very compelling read.

#46 - Sliver of Truth

Book No: 46
Title: Sliver of Truth
Author: Lisa Unger
Genre: Suspense
Published: 2007
Obtained: 2008/paperbackswap
Completed: 6/14/08
No. of Pages: 305
Rating: 4/5*****

Sliver of Truth is the sequel to Beautiful Lies, a book I read and enjoyed several months ago. Many questions were left unanswered at the end of Beautiful Lies, and here Unger tries to answer them, with some heart-pounding suspense, twists turns and all out action. It’s hard to review a sequel without ruining the first book for those who haven’t read it, but I’ll give it a go.

Ridley Pearson’s Uncle Max died a few years ago and Ridley has recently found out some life altering news about Max and his life. But if Max is dead then why is the FBI following Ridley and asking her questions about him? Why does Ridley’s friend Jake believe Max is alive? And why does everyone Ridley contacts while investigating Max’s death end up dead? Unger produces a very dark and intricately plotted story that delves more deeply into Ridley’s character as well as those people who are a part of her life. You care for Ridley and walk with her every step of the way, hoping she will find the answers she so desperately seeks. Good sequel and I am definitely going to read Black Out, Unger’s newest book.

#45 - Stealing Athena

Book No: 45
Title: Stealing Athena
Author: Karen Essex
Genre: Historical Fiction
Published: 2008
Obtained: 2008/Bookbrowse.com
Completed: 6/12/08
No. of Pages: 452
Rating: 3/5***

Stealing Athena tells the story of two women, Aspasia, courtesan to Pericles, the famous politician who spent his lifetime seeing that beautiful monuments to the Gods were built in Greece; and Mary Elgin whose husband Robert Elgin would spend many years of his life trying to bring all of Greece’s art to England. Through these women’s eyes we learn of all that went into building the Parthenon, a temple to Athena and all that went into the deconstruction of the Parthenon 2000 years later, when Lord Elgin removed many of the marble friezes and had them sent to England, where they are today, known as The Elgin Marbles.

I should have loved this book, as I am a huge fan of historical fiction, particularly those focusing on ancient Rome and Greece, and those set in Victorian England. I was however disappointed in this book. The two stories did not seem to mesh well together and none of the characters came alive for me. The writing was often so descriptive the story would lose momentum. I never really cared for anyone in the book and struggled to finish reading it. At over 450 pages, what this book needed was a good editor to tighten up the story. Not a bad book, but not a very good one either.

#44 - The Quickie

Book No: 44
Title: The Quickie
Author: James Patterson
Genre: Suspense
Published: 2007
Obtained: 2007/Gift
Completed: 6/08/08
No. of Pages: 352
Rating: 1/5*

Why, oh why is James Patterson a bestselling author? I seriously don’t get it. I stopped reading his books several years ago because I found that they just seemed to be getting worse and worse. Then last summer my mom-in-law gave me this book as a gift. It languished on my shelf until now and frankly I wasn’t missing anything. The plot, so to speak, involves Lauren Stillwell, a police officer who finds out her husband is cheating on her. So instead of confronting him she decides to have a ‘quickie’ with a co-worker. While looking out the window of the room where she has her assignation Lauren sees something so shocking her life is turned upside down, and she can’t tell anyone, because that would reveal her affair. The plot was dumb, the characters cardboard cut-outs that I cared not one whit for, the dialogue trite, when not laughable, the writing pedestrian and the ending ridiculous. Awful is too nice a word to use when describing this book.

#43 - Ice Trap

Book No: 43
Title: Ice Trap
Author: Kitty Sewell
Genre: Suspense
Published: 2008
Obtained: 2008/paperbackswap
Completed: 5/31/08
No. of Pages: 340
Rating: 4/5*****
Dr. Dafydd Woodruff’s marriage is falling apart. The inability to have children has both David and his wife Isabel struggling to maintain the relationship though Isabel is bitterly disappointed in this failure. Things only take a turn from the worse when Dafydd receives a letter from a young girl maintaining that she and her twin brother are his children from a relationship 15 years earlier. Insisting that this is impossible, Dafydd is stunned when the DNA tests he demanded prove he is the father. Deciding that in order to prove his innocence Dafydd leaves Isabel and travels back to Moose Creek, in the Canadian Northwest Territories. It was here Dafydd came 15 years earlier, trying to forget the medical error he made and hoping to rebuild his confidence. Taking an interim position he has a difficult relationship with the caustic head nurse Sheila, who is now claiming he is the father of her children.

This is one of those stories, where you are almost positive that the main character is being expertly played, and you enjoy watching the cat and mouse game between Daffyd and Sheila as the psychological tension ratchets up. The barren town of Moose Creek is a perfect setting for this mystery, with its cast of eccentric characters and the bitter weather as a chilling background. Although some of the resolutions seem a little implausible, overall I enjoyed this suspense tale very much.

#42 - The Meaning of Night

Book No: 42
Title: The Meaning of Night
Author: Michael Cox
Genre: Mystery/Victorian
Published: 2006
Obtained: 2007/Audible.com
Completed: 5/31/08
No. of Pages: N/A
Rating: 4/5*****
This Victorian mystery opens with Edward Glyver’s confession of a murder he committed. He has killed a stranger, an innocent man, as a practice run for his planned murder of his enemy. Who this enemy is and why Edward wishes to kill him is the basis for this book, the purported confession of all the events in Glyver’s life that have pushed him to this point.
Very Dickens like in tone this story is an examination of obsession and how it can overtake a life, to ruinous results for all. Our protagonist Glyver is a man that, although you can understand some of his anguish, isn’t all together likeable. When Glyver is told to trust no one, it is apparent that everyone in this tale is not what he or she seems. Filled with long buried secrets, lies, betrayals, revenge, love, houses of ill-repute, and opium dens one can almost hear evil laughter in the background. Though a long book, it moves fairly fast as we are caught up in the web of lies and sinister doings. A first rate tale.

#41 - All Hallow's Evil

Book No: 41
Title: All Hallows Evil
Author: Valerie Wolzien
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Published: 1992
Obtained: 2003/Half.com
Completed: 5/29/2008
No. of Pages: 247
Rating: 3/5*****

Another entry in the Susan Henshaw cozy mystery series. Soccer mom Susan Henshaw finds a body in the library of her local library. Naturally she solves the crime before the ‘real’ detectives. Nothing very special here, an average cozy without much heart.

#40 - The River Wife

Book No: 40
Title: The River Wife
Author: Jonis Agee
Genre: Fiction
Published: 2007
Obtained: 2007/Doubleday
Completed:
No. of Pages: 396
Rating: 4/5*****

It is 1930; seventeen years old, and pregnant, Hedie Rails has just married Clement Ducharme and has moved into his family estate, a remote home in rural Missouri. Hedie’s new husband seems to be involved in some shady business, going out at all hours of the night, sometimes coming up bloodied and hung over. While roaming the house at night Hedie finds the journals of Annie Lark, the first wife of Jacques Ducharme, the larger than life ancestor of Clement and the man who built the estate. Through Hedie’s reading we learn how Annie was rescued by Jacques during the New Madrid earthquake. With Annie’s’ story anchoring the early life of this saga, and Hedie’s the latter part, we also learn the stories of the other women and their children in Jacques Ducharme’s life, and how each of them struggled to find their place in a man’s world and how Jacques ruled them all with an iron fist. Throughout the book it is the spirit of Annie that inhabits everyone’s memories and her ghost that inhabits the Ducharme estate.
I was quite entranced with this book, in particular Annie’s story, but all of the ‘river wives’ had fascinating stories, except perhaps Hedie, whose story was the most uninvolving of them all. All in all I think this was a very worthwhile read and believe there is a lot here for book clubs, it’s a wonder to me this book isn’t more popular with discussion groups.

#39 - Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea

Book No: 39
Title: Are You There Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea
Author: Chelsea Handler
Genre: Humor
Published: 2008
Obtained: 2008
Completed: 5/21/08
No. of Pages:
Rating: 4/5*****

I laughed a lot while reading this book. Chelsea Handler’s series of essays is laugh out loud funny even if everything she does is so not right. She is completely not PC and is constantly getting herself into trouble, mostly because she lies a lot and drinks way too much. The book starts with Chelsea convincing everyone in her third grade class that she is going to have the role of Goldie Hawn’s daughter in the sequel to Private Benjamin, a movie that doesn’t even exist and ends with Chelsea pretending to be her dad’s trophy wife on their honeymoon to get an upgrade to first class. Along the way there is regifting, relationships with very young men, and Chelsea’s strange obsession with a midget who looks just like her. If you take offense easily this book is not for you, but if outrageous humor is your idea of fun then read this book.

#38 - Wife Goes On

Book No: 38
Title: Wife Goes On
Author: Lesley Lehr
Genre: Chick Lit
Published: 2008
Obtained: 2008/Paperbackswap.com
Completed: 5/20/08
No. of Pages: 307
Rating: 3/5*****

Four women from varying walks of life are going through, contemplating or recovering from divorce. Through a series of coincidences they end up being friends and each other’s support group as they begin to make new lives for themselves.

Cute and often funny this was an easy read chick-lit book. Reminiscent in many ways of The First Wives Club it was breezy and sometimes witty but some of the situations seemed wildly improbable, and I find it hard to believe that these four women, from such different environments would cross paths in the first place, never mind become fast friends. A nice bit of fluff to start of the summer, a no brainer read.

#37 - People of the Book

Book No: 37
Title: People of the Book
Author: Geraldine Brooks
Genre: Fiction
Published: 2008
Obtained: 2008/Paperbackswap
Completed: 5/20/08
No. of Pages: 372
Rating: 4/5*****

In 1996 a rare and beautifully illuminated Haggadah from 15th century Spain has been found and Hanna Heath, a rare book expert, has been called into examine it. During her inspection of the book Hanna finds an insect wing, a wine stain mixed with blood, salt crystals, probably from tears, and a white hair. Hanna collects these items in order to determine the books history; author Brooks uses them as a jumping off point to tell the story of the Haggadah and how it has survived for 600 years. Traveling back from the present to the creation of the book we meet those people who had a hand in the creation and often desecration of this book, we also meet heroes and villains from all walks of life who play a role in the books surviving. Inter-mixed with the past stories is a current day story involving Hanna and her mother, an unloving and self-absorbed surgeon with whom Hanna has a contentious relationship, and Hanna’s love affair with a tortured Muslim librarian, one of the latest saviors of the book.

I really loved Year of Wonders by Brooks, and was really looking forward to this book. Happily I was not disappointed as I love the way she wove all these disparate stories into a poignant story of love and hate throughout the centuries, right up to the present day. Excellent story, fabulous book.

#36 - The Secret History of the Pink Carnation

Book No: 36
Title: The Secret History of the Pink Carnation
Author: Lauren Willig
Genre: Historical Fiction
Published: 2005
Obtained: 2005/Kindle
Completed: 5/12/08
No. of Pages: 464
Rating: 0/5*****

Quite possibly one of the worst books I have ever read. I think the author may have been going for a satire of the Scarlet Pimpernel story, but this book is dreadful. Clichéd characters, people who speak and act like 21st century characters in a 19th century setting. Laughable dialogue, a contrived storyline, from start to finish there is nothing to recommend the book. I thought I was getting a good historical fiction, what I got was a bad romance book and most unbelievable of all to me is that this appears to be the first of a series. With all the wonderful writers out there, the fact that this book was even published is astounding.

#35 - And Only To Deceive

Book No:35
Title: And Only to Deceive
Author: Tasha Alexander
Genre: Historical Fiction
Published:
Obtained:
Completed:
No. of Pages:
Rating: 3.5/5*****

Lady Emily Ashton is less than upset when her husband Viscount Philip Ashton dies on an African safari. Although he seemed a nice enough person, Emily did not love him, and the marriage was, for her, one of convenience, a way to have a home of her own away from her overbearing mother. So it is with much surprise that Emily finds herself falling in love with her husband through his journals, which she has begun to read. She also learns that in fact, her husband was very much in love with her. As she learns more about her husband the more she wishes to have known him better while he was alive. Soon however she begins to suspect Philip may have been involved in black market antiquities, and it’s possible he isn’t really dead.
A clever Victorian mystery, I enjoyed the character of Lady Ashton and the mystery of the antiquities. I enjoyed seeing her character grow and change through learning of her husband’s passions and had a good time reading the book as well.

#34 - Silent in the Sanctuary

Book No: 34
Title: Silent in the Sanctuary
Author: Deanna Raybourn
Genre: Historical Fiction
Published: 2008
Obtained: 2008/Paperbackswap
Completed: 5/10/08
No. of Pages:552
Rating: 4/5*****

This is the second book in the Lady Julia Grey series.

Lady Julia Grey has been in Italy for several months, recovering from the events that occurred in the first book. When her father summons Julia and her brother’s home for Christmas, they return to the family estate; a former monastery for monks. Am0ng the invited house guests is Nicolas Brisbane, the private investigator who helped Julia with the inquiry following her husband’s death and with whom Julia has fallen in love. To her surprise Brisbane is accompanied by his fiancée, the lovely Charlotte King. When over the course of a few days a curate is found murdered in the sanctuary, Julia’s cousin Lucy is the main suspect and some very valuable pears belonging to Julia disappear, Brisbane and Julia decide to resume their investigative partnership to solve the mystery and robbery.

Once again Raybourn delivers a thoroughly delightful story with Brisbane and Julia thrown together once more and a houseful of eccentric characters to sort through on the way to solving the cleverly plotted mystery. A totally enjoyable romantic suspense book set in Victorian times, I am looking forward to book three.

#33 - Song of Susannah

Book No:33
Title: Song of Susannah
Author: Stephen King
Genre: Fantasy
Published: 2004
Obtained: 2004/Audible
Completed: 5/07/08
No. of Pages: N/A
Rating: 3.5/5*****

Song of Susannah is the sixth book in the Dark Tower series, which is to be concluded in the final chapter-Book Seven. Unfortunately I found this ‘chapter’ to be rather disappointing. In most of the other books the action takes place mostly in other worlds, this one takes place almost entirely in New York of 1999 and Maine of 1975 up to 1999. The plot is not moved forward any, we are mostly waiting for Susannah/Mia to have her baby, the one destined to grow up and kill Roland of Gilead, The Gunslinger. Also the inclusion of the author as a character in the story was a bit disorienting-although kind of fun. I also didn’t much care for the abrupt cliffhanger ending. Hopefully all will be resolved satisfactorily in the next book, I hope so I have a lot of time invested in the story and the characters, about 20 years time.

#32 - Jezebel: The Untold Story of the Bible's Harlot Queen

Book No: 32
Title: Jezebel: The Untold Story of the Bible’s Harlot Queen
Author: Lesley Hazleton
Genre: Non-fiction
Published: 2007
Obtained: 2008/Kindle
Completed: 5/01/08
No. of Pages: 272
Rating: 3/5*****

Was Jezebel really evil? Or has she been misconstrued throughout the ages? In this retelling of the biblical woman’s life Lesley Hazleton takes the position that Jezebel was not a bad woman and that her life, like that of many women of the bible, has been changed to suit those who wrote the bible centuries after the actual events. Portraying Elijah not as the savior of the Jewish people, but as a fundamentalist religious fanatic, she turns the known story topsy-turvy. Although this is fiction she uses the device of historical imagination to determine the thoughts and emotions of the characters in reaction to the events surrounding them. I found that a little distracting, thinking it was more on the lines of fiction. Though I did learn a great deal about Elijah and Elisha, I didn’t really learn as much about Jezebel as I would have liked, it seemed whole decades of her life were skipped over until we got to the more tantalizing parts of her story-in particular her brutal death. While the reviews on Amazon have been raves, I found the book at times a bit boring and I think the historical imagination device led to a lot of leeway with the story.

#31 - Names My Sisters Call Me

Book No:31
Title: Names My Sisters Call Me
Author: Megan Crane
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Published: 2008
Obtained: 2008/Kindle
Completed: 4/25/08
No. of Pages: 336
Rating: 4/5*****

Nora, Raine and Courtney are three sisters who have been estranged for the past six years, when Raine ruined Nora’s wedding and then ran off with Matt, her best friend and Courtney’s secret lover. Now Courtney has gotten engaged and with boyfriend Lucas in tow is off to California to try and patch things up with Raine. Much to her surprise Matt and Raine are still living together and Courtney finds herself still harboring an attraction to him. Soon after Lucas and Courtney return home to start planning their wedding Raine and Matt show up, opening up a hornets’ nest of trouble. Secrets are revealed, old wounds are opened and scores are settled as the three sisters try to work out their feelings for one another.

Funny, sad and very real this book touched on a lot of the emotions and feelings that sisters and family have for one another, and how we all seem to always revert to our long established family roles when we are thrown together. Crisp writing, great characters and a realistic story line made this a really satisfying read.

#30 - Lemon Meringue Pie Murder

Book No:30
Title: Lemon Meringue Pie Murder
Author: Joanne Fluke
Genre: Mystery/Cozy
Published: 2004
Obtained: unknown
Completed: 4/23/08
No. of Pages: 352
Rating: 3/5*****

Another cute entry in the Hannah Swensen series of cozy mysteries. Despite all her good intentions Hannah is once again involved in a mystery when her mother finds the body of Rhonda Scharf in the basement of Hannah’s boyfriend Norman’s new home.

Lots of cookie recipes and family gatherings where lots of talking goes on, taking up far more of the story than the actual mystery. Still if you like this kind of book it’s a nice break, although I find the two boyfriend sub-plot annoying.

#29 - I am Madame X

Book No:29
Title: I am Madame X
Author: Gioia Diliberto
Genre: Historical Fiction
Published: 2003
Obtained: 2008/Kindle
Completed: 4/22/08
No. of Pages: 272
Rating: 3/5*****

John Singer Sargent’ s most celebrated work is Portrait of Madame X, one of the most famous works of art of the 19th century. However the painting caused a scandal when it was revealed at the 1884 Salon in France. This book is a fictional account of the woman behind the portrait, Virginie Gautreau, an American expatriate. A well known beauty in French society, Madame Gautreau’s reputation (such as it was) was destroyed by the unveiling of this painting, as was Sargents, who chose to leave Paris for good. The author has depicted a very vivid and interesting early life for Virginie, however in the long run the subject comes across as shallow and self-serving. She actually seemed to me a Paris Hilton of her day, renowned for nothing more than attending parties and being what was termed a professional beauty. The writing captured the essence of the time, and I found parts of the story fascinating, but the main character often seemed so whiny that I really didn’t like her much. I did appreciate the authors notes at the end, where she clarifies some of the history of the story, indicating the fictional adaptations she made. An interesting if not particularly riveting read.

#28 - The Tunnels

Book No: 28
Title: The Tunnels
Author: Michele Gagnon
Genre: Suspense
Published: 2007
Obtained: 2008/Kindle
Completed: 4/21/08
No. of Pages: 304
Rating: 4/5*****

I seem to be on a serial killer jag.

At a small Northeast college female students have been found murdered, in the old tunnel system underneath the schools grounds. Enter FBI special agent Kelly Jones and her partner Roger Morrow, assigned to try and find the killer before he strikes again.. In addition former FBI Agent Jake Riley is now a private investigator, hired by the father of one of the victims, and Jake isn’t bound by the same rules as the FBI team.

Nicely done, very good pacing, plausible suspects and good lead characters. The banter and respect between Kelly and her partner rings true, and although there is a hint of attraction between Kelly and Jake, it doesn’t overwhelm the mystery or the suspense. I plan on reading Boneyard the next Kelly Ryan book, due this July.

So Far Behind

My goodness, I just didn't realize how far behind I was. I have almost 20 reviews to get up here. I am doing too many challenges, plus I took on co-administrating Play Book Tag at Shelfari. Plus everyday life is also busy, I just can't seem to catch up! LOL :) The good news is I haven't read this much in years, and almost all of the books I am reading came from my massive TBR pile. So now I am going to try and post two reviews per day until I am up to date. Hopefully I can manage this much.

#27 - A Wicked Snow

Book No:27
Title: A Wicked Snow
Author: Gregg Olson
Genre: Suspense
Published: 2007
Obtained: 2008/Kindle
Completed: 4/20/08
No. of Pages: 400
Rating: 4/5*****

Hannah Griffin is a Crime Scene Investigator in a small town in California. She is also a wife and mother, but very few people know that she is the daughter of one of the most infamous murderers in Oregon, where Hannah lived as a child. Relocating and rebuilding her life, Hannah has tried to forget the horrors of her childhood, and has done a great job, until a mysterious package is sent to her and the past comes roaring back when it appears that Hannah’s mother, long thought dead, may still be alive.

I really enjoyed this book, very tautly written and well plotted, although I have to say that the ‘present day cop-survivor of a childhood tragedy’ device is getting a little cliché. In spite of that small complaint I liked the pacing and the characters in the book, even if Hannah could get tiresome, trying to look at things from her point of view she was lucky to survive and make an almost normal life.

I did not know that the author has written true crime books prior to this, but his background comes through with his attention to detail and understanding how wicked people can be. A first rate thriller and a new author for me. I’m looking forward to getting A Cold Dark Place, the ‘teaser’ chapter at the end of this book was really tantalizing.

#26 - Earthly Pleasures

Book No:26
Title: Earthly Pleasures
Author: Karen Neches
Genre: Chick Lit
Published: 2008
Obtained: 2008/paperbackswap
Completed: 4/18/2008
No. of Pages:320
Rating: 3/5*****

I wanted to like this book, really I did. But parts of it were downright silly, so I had a hard time with that. There is a clever idea in here, a modern view of heaven, and how it works like a business, with intakes, evaluations and adjustment sessions, with a CEO (read the Supreme Being) overlooking it all; but some of it was too cute-Wishberrys instead of Blackberrys, and TV where you could ‘watch’ earth. In this almost cloying sweetness there was the germ of a good mystery, and all the strands of story lines introduced earlier all came together in a neat conclusion, but too many characters from the earlier parts of the book just disappeared, and complete happily ever after never seems real to me. Not bad, good for a couple of days diversion, but in the long run just fluff.

#25 - Day of the False King

Book No: 25
Title: Day of the False King
Author: Brad Geagley
Genre: Mystery/Historical
Published: 2006
Obtained: 2007/Half.com
Completed: 4/15/08
No. of Pages: 254
Rating: 3.5/5*****

Day of the False King is the second book to feature Semerket, Pharaoh Ramses IV’s Egyptian Clerk of Investigations and Secrets, a story of Murder set in Ancient Babylon.

Semerket is mourning the loss of his former wife Naia, after her banishment to Babylon, to become a slave, due to her current husbands involvement in a plot to kill the Pharaoh. When Ramses becomes ill, he sends Semerket to Babylon, to request that the idol of Bel-Marduk, believed to have healing powers, be allowed to come to Egypt to cure the pharaoh. He also gives Semerket papers to free his wife so that she may return to Egypt. At this time Babylon is in an uprising against the Elam, their current conquerors. Semerket gets involved in far more than finding his wife and bringing the idol back to Egypt, he finds himself in the middle of a mystery involving the disappearance of a Princess as well as the apparent murder of Naia.
A very entertaining book, the author places us in the middle of Ancient Babylon and creates a story with colorful characters, lots of history, and also a very good mystery.

# 24 - The Dollmaker

Book No:24
Title: The Dollmaker
Author: Amanda Stevens
Genre: Suspense/Thriller
Published: 2007
Obtained: 2008/Paperbackswap
Completed: 4/13/05
No. of Pages: 376
Rating: 3/5*****

Clare and Dave’s young daughter disappeared seven years, without a trace. Dave found his solace in a bottle, leading to the end of his marriage. Claire has remarried, but that marriage is falling apart. When she sees a doll in a shop window, a doll that looks remarkably like her missing daughter, Clare turns to Dave, who is now sober and a private investigator, to find out what the dollmaker knows about their child’s disappearance.
Although the book has a good premise, and the characters of Clare, Dave and others are well developed, this book was for me neither suspenseful nor thrilling. I found it a solid read, but figured out the mystery fairly quickly and found nothing too remarkable about the book, I never felt that edge of the seat excitement I look for in books of this kind. A good, but pedestrian thriller.

#23 - A Great and Terrible Beauty

Book No: 23
Title: A Great and Terrible Beauty
Author: Libba Bray
Genre: Fantasy
Published: 2005
Obtained: 2008/Paperbackswap
Completed: 4/11/08
No. of Pages: 403
Rating: 3/5*****

A Great and Terrible Beauty is the story of Gemma Doyle, a high-spirited 16 year old girl who is living in India with her family, and longing to go home to London, a place she has never been but desperately wishes to go to. After a tragedy strikes the family, Gemma does go to London, but to Spence Academy, a place where young Victorian women are taught all the things necessary to be the perfect wife. Gemma struggles to fit into this much regulated world, but has trouble with the clique’s of girls who have been there for years, as well as the rigidity of the curriculum. Eventually making friends and finding her way Gemma must also deal with the awakening of supernatural powers within her, including crossing over into a land of magic called The Realms. Soon it becomes apparent that Gemma may not be in control of the magic she and her friends have unleashed.
I found this to be an okay read, nothing outstanding. I felt that the book is obviously a set up for a series. I also don’t think that the plotlines were fully developed. There was no reasoning for the existence of this other world, what its purpose was, the ‘villain’ is never fully delineated, in fact most of the characters seemed underdeveloped to me. I also found the friendship of the four girls at the core of the story problematic. These girls were often very cruel and vicious, yet Gemma seems to forget all this as soon as she is one of the popular girls. Also the language and some of the girls’ ideas were very modern sounding and not at all Victorian. Parts of the book were very good, in particular the increasing sense of danger is very well done, and the last several chapters fly by in a whirl of activity, but the ending is ultimately unsatisfying because almost nothing of Gemma’s situation is resolved, quite obviously another book is in the wings, hopefully it will resolve some of the loose ends.

Crazy Busy

I haven't been here to check in for ages! I haven't stopped reading, just haven't had time to write and post reviews. I have about 15 reviews to get up here, I'm hoping to get to it today. I've also joined a new challenge, the Reader's in Thongs Alphabet Challenge, plus Play Book Tag as been having a Survivor type reading game that has kept me so very busy. I've made it through 17 rounds, but expect to be knocked out soon, as there are people in the challenge that read 2 books a day, just crazy :)

#22 - Brilliance of the Moon

Book No: 22
Title: Brilliance of the Moon
Author: Lian Hearn
Genre: Fantasy
Published: 2004
Obtained: 2007/Paperbackswap.com
Completed: 4/07/08
No. of Pages: 344
Rating: 3/5*****

The third book in the Tales of the Otori series.

I loved Across the Nightingale Floor and Grass for His Pillow, but was very disappointed in this 'final' book in the trilogy (although there is a new one out, plus a secondary series of books related to this series). None of the fantasy elements that I enjoyed in the first two books came into much play in this book.

Takeo and Kaede have married and are trying to claim Kaede's inheritance and at that same time ward off their enemies. Separated once again by circumstances beyond their control, they struggle to find a way back to each other. The book is filled with rather boring battles, and the love story of Takeo and Kaede seems very pedestrian this time around. Takeo seems to be the main focus of the book, while Kaede becomes a washed out, very docile shadow of her former self.

Although the ending is somewhat satisfying the book itself was less so.

#21 - The Birth of Venus

Book No: 21
Title: The Birth of Venus
Author: Sarah Dunant
Genre: Fiction
Published: 2004
Obtained: 2004/Audible.com
Completed: 3/03/08
No. of Pages: N/A
Rating: 3.5/5*****

The Birth of Venus begins with the death of an older nun, whose manuscript of her life is found after her death. We know who she is, what we don’t know is how she came to this convent. So begins the tale of Alessandra Checci, daughter of a wealthy Florentine merchant.

Alessandra is a bright, inquisitive and impetuous fifteen year old girl who’s dream of becoming a painter is impossible, considering the mores of 15th century Florence, and the role of women at that time – to marry and bear children, period. When Alessandra’s father hires an artist, referred to throughout the book as the painter, to create frescos for their family chapel, Alessandra finds herself repeatedly drawn to him, despite knowing that they can never be more than painter and subject. As the city of Florence is thrown into turmoil by the rise in power of the fanatical monk Savonarola, so too does Alessandra’s life take many surprising twists and turns.

I loved this book and the story, which was often very surprising. Just when you believe the story is heading in one way, a clever twist takes it in another. I loved the characters of the women in this book, Alessandra; reckless and brave, Erila; the wise and compassionate slave and Alessandra’s mother, a strong and beautiful woman trying to tame her impetuous daughter. I learned quite a bit of Italian history that I had no prior knowledge of in this enchanting and very entertaining tale.

#20 - The House of the Spirits

Book No: 20
Title: The House of the Spirits
Author: Isabel Allende
Genre: Fantasy
Published: 1985
Obtained: 2007/Paperbackswap.com
Completed: 3/31/08
No. of Pages: 433
Rating: 3.5/5*****

Although this book is set in Latin America, in an unnamed country, it is clearly supposed to be Chile, home of the author Isabel Allende. One of the main portions of the book deals with the military overthrow of the government, Ms. Allende’s uncle was Salvadore Allende, who was murdered in such a coup. The story focuses on the family of Esteban Trueba, who is engaged to the beautiful Rosa, who dies before their marriage. Esteban then courts and marries Rosa’s sister Clara, a clairvoyant and telekinetic, who talks to the sprits that roam through their home. Esteban is the patron of Tres Marias, the family plantation, that he rebuilds into a wealthy estate. We follow the lives of this family through about seventy years of hard times and prosperity, viewing the lives of the children and grandchildren of Esteban, that become intertwined with the politics of the country.
Although the writing in this book was beautiful, at times the story was very uninvolving. Part of that stems from the fact that Esteban Tureba is a bullying autocrat, a character so unsympathetic that at times it was difficult to read many of the scenes he was involved in. The women alternated between spineless and strong, and although their paranormal abilities are taken for granted, there doesn’t seem to be any purpose to them throughout the book, except for foretelling future events, a practice that becomes a bit tiresome over the course of the book.
For me the story finally comes alive in the last third, when Esteban’s granddaughter is born, and the political upheavals begin to take center stage. At this point in the book I was very involved in the tale and in knowing the outcome. For that reason, and the writing this book garners a bit higher grade than I originally planned on.

#19 - Th1rteen R3easons Why

Book No: 19
Title: Th1rteen R3asons Why
Author: Jay Asher
Genre: YA
Published: 2007
Obtained: 2008/Border’s
Completed: 3/15/08
No. of Pages: 288
Rating: 4/5*****

One day Clay Jensen receives a package. Inside are 14 audiotapes. When he plays them he is shocked to hear the voice of his high school crush, Hannah Baker, a young girl who took her life just a few weeks earlier. On the tapes Hannah tells the story of the 13 people who contributed to her decision to take her life, and Clay is one of them.
Written in alternating voices, Hannah’s on the tapes and Clays reactions to and memories of the events described, made for a compelling read, I barely stopped reading this book for 6 hours straight. It is heartbreaking to see how sometimes seemingly small events can snowball in one person’s mind, until she feels she has no choice. A must read for both children and parents, hopefully opening up some lines of communication.

#18 - Change of Heart

Book No: 18
Title: Change of Heart
Author: Jodi Picoult
Genre: Fiction
Published: 2008
Obtained: 2008
Completed: 3/15/08
No. of Pages: 464
Rating: 4/5*****

Boy oh boy, Picoult sure knows how to pick some hot buttons issues and put them into a story that you cannot stop reading, even when you know the outcome cannot be good.
In her latest outing we have Shay Bourne, a convicted murderer on death row and facing imminent execution. When he learns that the sister of the young girl he is accused of killing needs a heart transplant, he tells his spiritual advisor Father Michael that he wants to donate his heart to her. Enter Maggie Bloom, ACLU attorney, who sees this case as a way to make a stand against the death penalty, and to stand up for Shay’s belief that his only way for salvation is to make this organ donation; despite the mother’s decision not to accept the heart. When miracles seem to be occurring around Shay, many people come to believe he is a Messiah. The media picks up the case and soon people are protesting and picketing outside the prison and the courtroom when Maggie gets an expedient trail for his case.
Telling the story from the viewpoints of Maggie, Father Michael, another inmate and June, the mother of Claire the girl in need of a heart, we see the death penalty and religious beliefs in many different lights, always causing us to think about our own feelings to these subjects. This should be a hot book club book because there are so many things to talk about, not the least of which is the last sentence in the book.

#17 - Lost and Found

Book No: 17
Title: Lost and Found
Author: Carolyn Parkhurst
Genre: Fiction
Published: 2006
Obtained: 2006/Audible.com
Completed: 3/13/08
No. of Pages: N/A
Rating: 4/5*****

Reality series have become a staple of television for a number of years now. They are in fact one of my guilty pleasures, especially The Amazing Race. This book is a look behind the scenes of a fictional reality show called Lost and Found, an around the world race very similar to The Amazing Race.
The book focuses on a few of the teams that are playing the game, teams that seem to have been chosen not just for their personalities or appearance but also because of some secrets or sad stories or controversy they may bring to the show. As the show races to its conclusion we are treated to some twists and turns in the game play, some betrayals, some game manipulation, melt downs and a budding love story.

I really enjoyed this book that succeeds in poking a little fun at the game realty show genre, the people who choose to be contestants on the show and those of us who watch these shows, choosing our faves and cheering them on, even if almost nothing on the show is real except some of the raw emotion that pokes through here and there. Lost & Found was a satisfying and very entertaining read.

#16 - The Palace of Illusions

Book No: 16
Title: The Palace of Illusions
Author: Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Genre: Fiction
Published: 2008
Obtained: 2008/Bookbrowse.com
Completed: 3/09/08
No. of Pages: 360
Rating: 4/5****

The Mahabharat is an epic poem that tells the tale of the Pandava and Kaurava families and their rivalry for the throne of Hastinapur. The author uses that poem as the basis for her retelling, imagining the story from the view point of Panchaali, the woman who was the wife of the five Pandava brothers.

Divakaruni expertly brings together the stories of the two families, effortlessly weaving history, mythology and magic together into a fantastical retelling of this tale. Reminiscent of the story of Homer, here too the gods live and intermingle with the people on earth. The writing is so well done that we soon accept the magic and interaction with the gods as normal.

Panchaali’s story is fascinating and complex. Born in fire and told that her destiny is to change the world she is always wondering what it is she is meant to do. When her desire for revenge sets a course of action that ends in devastation she realizes that she does indeed change history, but not necessarily for the better.

At times I had a little difficulty with the names in the book as they were sometimes very similar, but I soon was able to follow the story line and was captivated by Panchaali, even when she was sometimes petty or whiny. I read through the last half of the book in one sitting, I had to know how everything turned out. I loved the ending; it was the perfect finish to a wonderful story.

#15 - Mystic River

Book No: 15
Title: Mystic River
Author: Dennis Lehane
Genre: Suspense
Published: 2002
Obtained: 2003
Completed: 3/03/08
No. of Pages: 448
Rating: 4/5*****

Three young boys from the mean streets of Boston lives are forever altered when one of them is abducted. Jimmy Marcus and Sean Devine did not get in the car with the two men who turned onto their street one day, but Dave Boyle did. Although Dave manages to escape from the pedophiles the friendship is never the same and all three men move on with their lives. Sean is now a police officer, Jimmy a reformed mobster who spends a few years in jail and changes when his wife dies while he is away, leaving him to raise their daughter Katie. Dave is married but hasn’t done much with his life, still harboring the pain of his past. All three of these men’s lives come together again when a teenaged Katie is murdered; Sean is the lead investigator, Jimmy is wracked by grief and guilt, and Dave becomes increasingly unraveled as many of his secrets become exposed.

Powerfully written with unforgettable and complex characters, this is one of the best suspense books I have read in a very long time. Each character seems so real they almost come off the page. You empathize with them; shake your head at their weaknesses but care about each one. The language is real, the situations are real and the question of morals and ethics is explored time and again. Good people do bad things; sometimes bad people can do good things, and there is a strong sense of karma throughout the book. The ‘what if’ questions of making a different turn on a given day and the consequences are explored and the scars that are left on three boys as they mature into men is examined in their day by day reactions to Katie’s death.

I have never read Lehane before, but I plan to remedy that situation. I have A Drink Before the War on my TBR and I will definitely read that one very soon.

#14 - Born Standing Up

Book No: 14
Title: Born Standing Up; A Comic’s Life
Author: Steve Martin
Genre: Memoir
Published: 2007
Obtained: 2008/Kindle
Completed: 2/24/08
No. of Pages: 224
Rating: 4/5*****

I love Steve Martin. I loved him on SNL, when he did stand up and in the movies. I have never read any of his books, but I think I will now. I really enjoyed this memoir of Martin’s life as a youngster working in Disneyland, where he got his start in show business. Alternately sweet and funny the chronicle of Martin’s years of creating and honing his craft as a comedian and his decision to walk away from it all was a warm and engaging story. Martin is known to be intensely private, but here he lets us all in, just a little, but enough to appreciate how much work went into becoming that ‘Wild and Crazy Guy”. A memoir that wasn’t self pitying but instead is a compelling narrative of a less than happy childhood that led to one of the world’s funniest and ground breaking comedians alive today.

#13 - 20th Century Ghosts

Book No: 13
Title: 20th Century Ghosts
Author: Joe Hill
Genre: Horror
Published: 2007
Obtained: 2008/Kindle
Completed: 2/22/08
No. of Pages: 336
Rating: 4/5*****

I am not big on short stories, but having read and loved Heart Shaped Box last year, I thought I would give Joe Hill’s anthology try. I’m very glad I did. These stories are an eclectic collection, some of them not horror at all, but perfectly pitched stories about fathers and sons. Some were outright creepy, like the boy who turns into a cricket and some were a bit of both, sweet and slightly creepy, which was the story of a young teen ghost who haunts a movie theatre. Although not every story clicked with me I really enjoyed the writing and the variety Hill provided here; I hope he is working on another novel as we speak, I will be first on line to buy it.

#12 - Firefly Lane

Book No: 12
Title: Firefly Lane
Author: Kristin Hannah
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Published: 2008
Obtained: 2008/Kindle
Completed: 2/20/08
No. of Pages: 496
Rating: 4/5*****

Kate and Tully meet as teens, both of them outsiders in their school. They form a bond that cements and binds their friendship through thirty years of life and love. Tully, the abandoned daughter of an alcoholic mother and unknown father strives to be loved and to that end chooses a life in the spotlight. Kate, always a little in Tully’s shadow, chooses a more mundane life; marriage and motherhood. Through their many ups and downs, fights and jealousies Tully and Kate are always devoted friends until Tully begins to interfere with Kate’s raising of her teenage daughter Marah. Although it seems as if their friendship is over and cannot be repaired one event will bring them back together… friends forever.

I’ve had my ups and downs with Hannah over the years, but I have to say I loved this book, even if it was a bit predictable. A lot of the subject matter hit close to home, I needed the tissues at the end. Although this was a long book I read it in two days. If you like contemporary fiction about friendship this book is a must read.

#11 - In the Woods

Book No: 11
Title: In the Woods
Author: Tana French
Genre: Suspense
Published: 2007
Obtained: 2008/Kindle
Completed: 2/18/08
No. of Pages:429
Rating: 4/5*****

In the Woods is not only a mystery but a look at how the past shapes everything in our lives, and how psychological damage that is deeply buried is always there waiting for a chance to pop out its head and say got ya’.

Adam “Rob” Ryan was the victim of a mysterious crime when he was 12 years old. He is found alive but the two friends he was with disappear and Adam has total amnesia regarding the events of his ordeal. Now as an adult he goes by Rob and has told no-one about his background except his partner Cassie, with whom he has formed a unique friendship. They are both detectives on the Murder Squad, and when a young girl is found brutally murdered in the same place where Rob and his friends were the long ago victims the linking of the two crimes is inevitable. Or is it?

Well written, intricately plotted and with characters that were completely believable I found I could not put down this book. For those who expect their mysteries to be tied up in a neat little package, beware, this book ends the way life often does; not every question will have an answer.