Starvation Lake by Bryan Gruley

Debut Novel

I can't say I was overly impressed with this debut mystery novel.  Nothing against Mr. Gruley, whom I had the pleasure of meeting at a book signing in Salem, MA., but I felt the book was often times repetitive (facts repeated even though I read them just 10 pages ago) and simplistic.  It took a while for the plot to unfold, even though I had figured out quite a bit of it early on, and then some loose ends where quickly tied together at the end (i.e. Detroit court order).

On a positive side, I did like the small town feel of the story and it's not too often you find hockey so central in a book - I'm not a HUGE fan, but can figure my way through an NHL game, so I found some of the hockey parts interesting.

Not sure I feel compelled to read the next two (2) books in the series though.

March by Geraldine Brooks

Historical Fiction

A fantastic book.  Could be because I'm biased toward historical fiction, biased towards "Little Women" or biased towards Civil War themes!!

Brooks does a fantastic job of bringing Mr. March to life in his imagined place in the reality of the Civil War.  I'm drawn to books about the War, possibly because I have the opportunity to visit the places mentioned, but I think more because I value the stories of the strength and fortitude of the slaves themselves and the abolitionists who fought for their freedom.  This book had that and more!  Plus Brooks has a beautiful style of writing and prose.

Quotes: "I've always imagined paradise as something like a library"

"...so there is a union at last, a united states of pain."

"I had learned the meteorology of Marmee's temper:  the plunging air pressure as a black cloud gathered, blotting out the radiance of her true nature; the noisy thunder of her rage; and finally the relief of a wild and heavy rain - tears, as copious cataracts, followed by a slew of resolutions to reform.  But the dark cast of her expression told me we were still within the thunderhead..."

The Dinner by Herman Koch

New Author

I don't want to say too much about this book because part of the reading enjoyment is wondering what happened and the anticipation of what they are going to do about it.  While I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book, at times I couldn't put it down (dare I say I "devoured" it), I am disturbed by the characters.

It is not a book that you can put down and walk away from for days at a time, as there are a lot of flash backs to tell the complete story.

I didn't mark any notable quotes, but the book makes you think about what a parent's role is to their child/children.  You are their protector, but to what extent?  Isn't your role also to instill morals and values into your child/children, to teach them responsibility for their actions, to foresee, understand and accept the consequences of their actions?  Or does a parent protect their child/children, at any cost, forever?

The Language of Bees by Laurie King

Series

After struggling with the past couple Sherlock/Russell books, this one brought me back!!  Loved everything about this book, the storyline, the humor, the wealth of knowledge - even the part on aviation.  As much as I hate flying, I am ever so grateful I live in a time of advanced aviation technology and I bow down to the brave souls who tested the early days of flight.

Looking forward to the next one in the series, as this one left the reader with a cliffhanger ending!!

The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth De. - Nichole Bernier
                 DEBUT  novel

How well do we really know each other??

Do we keep secrets to protect our loved ones or ourselves??

Set during the summer on Great Rock Island, Kate inherits a trunk of journals belonging to her close friend Elizabeth. Elizabeth was killed in a place crash and Kate is trying to make sense of that loss.

But the journals paint a different picture of the woman Kate knew , making Kate question their friendship and choices that she made in her own life. 

Astray - Emma Donoghue
       "D" Author


I don't normally like a collection of short stories but Ms. Donoghue added an interesting element.  At the end of each short story was an historical fact which gave her fodder for the story.

Also, each story tells of a way in which the characters had gone "astray".

The Memory Collector by Meg Gardiner

Guilty Pleasure

An enjoyable suspense-thriller!  Reminded me of the 2000 file "Memento", and of me some days when my short-term memory is fleeting.  The plot was wrapped up well by the end and the action kept you turning page after page - as long as the nanotechnology in biological warfare stays fictional!!

Quote:  "You only live fully when you bring the past into your life and make it part of you...We have to embrace both past and present. No matter how painful, or how deep the scars."

   Sing You Home  -   Jodi Picoult
                 Guilty Pleasure


Wow!!  Jodi does it again.   Tugs at your heartstrings and makes you think really hard about right and wrong.  Not about laws, but the right and wrong of the treatment of others.

This story is about Zoe, Matt, Vanessa, Paster  Clive, Lucy.  Those are just some of the people you will meet.

You will also learn about in vitro fertilization, gay/ lesbian rights, and what  makes a family.   Zoe is a music therapist and says "Every like has a soundtrack. All you have to do is listen"

I had the privilege  of hearing Jodi speak in Pittsburgh recently and she commented on her research for this book.   When you read the viewpoints from the speakers from the church in this book,  keep in mind that they are verbatim from a group called Focus on Family that Jodi interviewed for this book.   How very closed minded that group is!!!!!

Good read,   Thank you, Jodi

The Last Good Paradise by Tatjana Soli

ARC

I struggled through all 300 pages of this book.  The author had some great ideas, but she needed to focus on only an issue or two and better character development.  There were multiple characters and their stories were drawn out through the book so no one really came to life for me.  Soli had important issues brought up in the book (nuclear testing, mistreatment of island natives, etc.) but without focus the message fell flat.

Quotes: "A biological clock had gone off, but she wasn't sure it was inside her; rather, it seemed outside, in every else"

"Maybe in the far dark past people actually did value the perfect rose blooming unseen on a deserted mountainside, maybe just its existence was enough, but in the modern age every perfection, every event, big or small, significant or not, only counted if others knew of it."

"Not all girls dreamed of the white dress anymore, bu the pressure against them was enormous.  Some girls just wanted to sleep with Prince Charming.  They wanted to go off and slay dragons themselves, not be cooped up in the castle all day, tending little princes and princesses."

Jennifer's Way: My Journey with Celiac Disease -- What Doctors Don't Tell You and How You can Learn to Live Again by Jennifer Esposito

Miscellaneous

I read this book not only because it was recommended to me, but because my colleague suffers from Celiac Disease.  Through her I've learned a great deal, but until I read "Jennifer's Way" I don't think I truly realized how much she suffers and how difficult life can be day to day.  This book has given me a better understanding, more empathy and greater insight to a terribly difficult and misunderstood disease.

Esposito writes it with her heart and emotion, so while she discusses the technical and medical details, the book is captivating because she discusses her struggles since childhood and through today.

A must read for anyone who wants to better understand that gluten-free is not a fad.

  Lucy  -  Laurence Gonzales
         new author

 I fell in love with Lucy and I think you will too!

Jenny rescues Lucy from a war conflict in the Congo where she was born. Lucy's father was a primatologist and had artificially inseminated a female bonobo ( ape) with his own semen.  After several failed attempts,  Lucy is born.

                           Lucy looks like any 14 year old girl but has the strength and athletic abilities of her  
mother.  The reaction to a hybrid human is very diverse.

I enjoy this book and my heart went out to Lucy and Jenny.
                      
            
                    

House Rules by Jodi Picoult

Guilty Pleasure

Told in true Picoult fashion, alternating chapters by each of the main characters and extensive research into the subject matter - Asperger's syndrome.

I was drawn to the entire Hunt family and while the ending was a little disappointing I still thoroughly enjoyed this story and the depiction of the criminal justice system.

It's not my favorite Picoult novel, but a good one, as always.

Quotes:  "When someone dies, it feels like the hole in your gum when a tooth falls out.  You can chew, you can eat, you have plenty of other teeth, but your tongue keeps going back to that empty place, where all the nerves are still a little raw."

"Rest easy, real mothers.  The very fact that you worry about being a good mom means that you already are one."

Cross Fire  -   James Patterson
                 Guilty Pleasure

  This is what James Patterson does best , the Alex Cross series.

Alex is getting married and his nemesis, Kyle Craig is back. If you have read other Alex Cross books,  you will know that Kyle Craig is one sick, twisted bad guy!!!!!

This time Kyle had some major plastic surgery done and looks like an FBI agent and is actually helping Alex solve a series of killings.   Lots of twist and turns in the true Patterson way which makes for an entertaining read. 



                 
    

      

Help for the Haunted   -    John Searles
                  new  author

There was a lot of hype about this book being a terrifying ghost story, an edge-of -your-seat thriller.  A book that you would be afraid to read alone.  Boy, was I disappointed!!!!  I was not disappointed in the book, it was still a good read, but because of what I was expecting so I did not enjoy it as much as I though I would.

                          So the book is really about a young girl who witness the murder of her parents. Parents who help people who feel they are haunted by lost souls. Her mother has a bit of the gift and her father plays the crowds because of that gift.  In her quest to discover who murdered her parents and why they were killed, she discovers a family secret. 

The Circus in Winter  -  Cathy Day
         Debut Novel

Okay, normally I love books with elephants in them but this book was a little depressing.  Yes, there was a lovely elephant names Ceasar but the people were not very nice to him. So that made it hard for me to read.
"                        This story was written in the form of short stories with a common theme of the circus. The author had a wonderful way of piecing them all together which made it seem like a well written novel. I enjoyed the descriptive scenes of the circus and meeting all of the lonely, depressed and sometimes drunk people. One man's epitaph read " May all your days be circus days ".  In my opinion, that is not necessarily all good thing.

I did like the quote from Ollie the Clown who says "I just can't be funny any more, I might as well get married".  Now that is funny!!!!