The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

New Author

2018 A to Z Challenge - O

What a neat quirky book!  Reminiscent of fairy tales and Greek myths.  A mystical tale told through the eyes of a young boy trying his best to get through childhood and its nightmares with the help of his much loved books and a strange girl named Lettie.

Quotes:  "That's the trouble with living things.  Don't last very long.  Kittens one day, old cats the net.  And then just memories. And the memories fade and blend and smudge together..."

"Monsters come in all shapes and sizes. Some of them are things people are scared of.  Some of them are things that look like things people used to be scared of a long time ago  Sometimes monsters are things people should be scared of, but they aren't."

"I do not miss childhood, but I miss the way I took pleasure in small things, even as greater things crumbled.  I could not control the world I was in, could not walk away from things or people or moments that hurt, but I found joy in the things that made me happy."

Pomegranate Soup by Marsha Mehran

"M" Author

2018 A to Z Challenge - P

Another book that languished on my shelves despite how curious I was to read it.  I thoroughly enjoyed this immigrant tale of Iranian sisters living in Ireland.  The story told in the midst of a brand new cafe, describing the traditional Iranian dishes had my mouth watering.  While we do not have a specific Iranian restaurant in Pittsburgh, we do have a variety of Middle Eastern eateries and I will definitely be stopping in to partake in a lunch of falafel, tabbouleh and a piece of baklava to go!

Mehran writes beautifully, lyrically; the reading was bittersweet knowing that she died in 2014 at the young age of 36.

While the book did not make an overt political statement, it is hard not to read it under the current (2018) ugly battle of immigration policies in the US.  This book (as others with an immigration theme) showed how those seeking refuge do not hate their country of birth, far from it - they love the beauty, customs, history and foods of their homelands, but are often forced to leave due to unspeakable violence and complete lack of civil rights.  Their adopted homeland can benefit from the sharing of new foods and differing views, making the citizens and the land richer.

Quote:  "The Cat spent a good three hours on the rectory's roof, lamenting lost loves and wailing into an unmarked bottle of misery,..."

#2018AtoZChallenge

XO by Jeffery Deaver

Guilty Pleasure

2018 A to Z Challenge - X

Can't say this was my favorite Jeffery Deaver.  Sure there were red herrings, some "leave you hanging" chapter endings, but much was predictable and much more was unrealistic.  A country singer is stalked, but who is perpetrating the killings based on her song lyrics??  Some items were taken right out of mainstream media, which seems a poor fallback for a creative mind like Deaver.

I basically only read this because I needed an "X" title for my challenge and those are hard to come by.  So, I doubt I'll pick up anymore in the Kathryn Dance series.  I've enjoyed the Lincoln Rhyme books and his stand alone novels much better.

#2018atozchallenge

Keeping Watch  -  Laurie R. King

      "K" author

Allen Carmichael rescues children and mothers from abusive fathers and husbands.  He relies on skills he learn as a soldier in Vietnam to do this.   We learn of his time in Vietnam at the beginning of this story and that gave me a better feeling of what our service men went through during that time.

Allen turns to the rescuing of children to help quiet the beast that began to grow inside of him during the time in Vietnam. For 26 years he lives on the outskirts of the law and saves many lives.  Now he wants to retire,  but has been asked to help one more child,  Jamie.   Jamie believes his father is going to kill him so of course, Allen must help him.

Jamie's father's plane crashes but no body is found.  Then somehow, someone, discovers where Jamie is and is hunting him down.  Allen must save Jamie again, or are they really after Allen.??

As always, Laurie King's writing puts you right into the thick of things and makes for a very riveting read. 

  #2018atozchallenge

Julie and Julia:  365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen:  How One Girl Risked her Marriage, Her Job, and Her Sanity to Master the Art of Living by Julie Powell

2018 A to Z Challenge - J

Another much anticipated book that languished on my shelves for far too long. This alphabet challenge gave me a reason to advance it to the top of my TBR.

Yet, I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would.  I wasn't expecting Julie to be as sardonic (she's a New Yorker, but via Texas) or whiny (usually in interactions with her husband).  I do think this is her style of humor - a sarcastic, biting humor, but it didn't work for me.

And while I appreciate the carnivore way of using the whole animal - if I wasn't a vegetarian before, I would certainly be after reading detailed preparations about bone marrow, calf liver, brains, kidneys and LIVE lobster killing.

Isaac's Storm by Erik Larson

2018 A to Z Challenge - I

For a weather buff like me, this was a fascinating book!  Got a little technical at times, but weather/nature is such a complex force that I don't know if you can tell this tale of early weather reporting/forecasting without getting into some of the technicalities.  And admittedly the beginning and the end dragged a bit, but the narration of the storm as it hit Galveston - wow!

While I am often critical of today's weather forecasting (with all the technology they still get it wrong!), they truly have come a long way.  Though we will always endure nature's fury and with climate change this will continue to intensify, but with advances in technology we should be able to build better/stronger buildings and warn people far enough in advance that we can minimize the cost of property and lives lost.  Sadly, Hurricane Marie that struck Puerto Rico in 2017 is now the 2nd deadliest natural disaster to hit the US with deaths estimated to be between 4,000 and 8,000.

The biggest things standing in our way then and now are the greed and pride of men.

Quotes:  "It [anemometer] was capable of measuring velocities as high as one hundred miles an hour, but conditions had never come close to testing this capacity, nor did any rational soul believe they ever would."

"...forecasting, a black and dangerous art that only a few men...were allowed to practice."

"Once again, they tailored fact to suit their expectations."

#2018AtoZChallenge

                    Between Earth and Sky by Amanda Skenandore

                                        Historical Fiction

It has been quite awhile since I have read a book that has made my heart ache.  This story has done just that.

What a terrible time in America's history.!  What an injustice that was done to the Native Americans!!!

The story of Alma and Asku is told in two time periods,  In the 1880's when the white man forced the Native American Indian children into schools to assimilate them into the white man's world and making them leave behind their native languages, traditions, and families. Many called these schools "savage taming" schools. 

Then in the early 1900's when Alma hears of Asku being accused of murder and she and her lawyer husband go back to her home town to try to find evidence of his innocence.  Alma must also face many ghosts of her past and face her hidden knowledge of how the Indians were mistreated and lied to over and over. 

      The Ninth Life of Louis Drax   by Liz Jensen

                             "J" Author
                      "N" - 2018atozchallenge 

What a weird little story,  but I was intrigued to keep reading it.

Louis is 8 years old and appears to be very accident prone. Each year of his life, he has had many near death accidents and his mother always saves him.  Until his 9th birthday when he falls off of a cliff into a river. His mother is beside herself, his father has vanished and Louis is in a coma.  But was it really an accident?  How did Louis fall off of the cliff??  Where is his father??   And will he come out of his coma so the truth will be told?? 

#2018atozchallenge



 

The Woman in the Photo by Mary Hogan

Historical Fiction

2018 A to Z Challenge - W

A well-written fictional account of the true devastation that greed and privilege created in Johnstown, PA.  Living in Pittsburgh, I have been aware of the horrific history of the Johnstown Flood, but admittedly I have not been there beyond passing through.  After reading this book I plan to take a trip to Johnstown to pay homage to those that lost their lives.

Hogan crafts a story within a story all while creating empathy for the hard working people of Johnstown.  Told in alternating time periods (a favorite writing style of mine), she also touches on the challenges of being adopted and the questions of who is family.  We also learn about the rise of Clara Barton and the Red Cross.

The reading of all books, fiction, non-fiction, historical fiction, etc. opens a world for readers that they may have not been aware of or may never be able to experience, but with a skilled pen an author can provide a window into a world in which we can learn from the past, learn from others mistakes and to see the humanity of the world we share.

Quotes: "Human kindness.  The simple understanding that we are not alone on this earth.  Ours is a journey of a million hearts, beating as one."

"What woman could be more interested in a man who thought more of himself than her?"

"A woman born at a time when doctors believed that being scholar damaged a woman's uterus."

"I am humbled to view myself through the lens of reality instead of the blurred vision of privilege."

"'It's been my experience that presence and silence are most helpful....Be there without judgment or advice to listen when he is ready to talk.'"

"Maybe DNA wasn't destiny after all."

#2018AtoZChallenge

2018 A to Z Challenge

Bookworm is FINishing books left and right in this Alphabet Challenge!  She has achieved Dolphin status!!!

And Couscous finally caught up!  20 books done!

Girl Last Seen by Nina Laurin

Debut Novel

2018 A to Z Challenge - G

"Two Missing Girls.  Thirteen Years Apart."   Hmmm.... We learn early on the connection between these 2 girls, but Laurin doesn't give away any other secrets until the end.  It wasn't the most gripping "thriller" I have ever read, but it had its moments. At times I felt the story was a little drawn out, but the protagonist is such a troubled character that you can't help root for her (even though I was often frustrated by her self-destructive behavior).  Nonetheless, it is a quick easy read.

Quote:  "That veneer of normalcy may be tissue-paper thin, but you'll soon find out that no one is in any hurry to scratch the surface, let alone test if for weak spots."

#2018AtoZChallenge

                  Educated  -  Tara Westover
                    "E" - 2018atozchallenge

     
    Tara was raised by a fundamentalist Mormon family living off the grid.   The family was poorly home schooled and any injuries were treated by Tara's mother, a midwife and herbalist.  Her father was paranoid about the government and was constantly preparing his family for The End of Days.  He worked a junkyard and made most of his children work in the junkyard scrapping metal, sometimes a dangerous job.

At 17, Tara takes the ACT and is accepted into BYU, against her parent's wishes.  She hides the fact that she has no education, her family life, or any of the abuse that she has suffered.

She faced many challenges along the way to get her education. She  learned that many ideals her father had lectured her on were false and  she had to balance between those lies and the real facts.

This is an interesting read, a difficult read, and a disturbing read.
                                   
                                                     #2018atozchallenge



.                                             

Hotel on Shadow Lake by Daniela Tully

PageHabit Subscription - April 2018 - Historical Fiction

2018 A to Z Challenge - "H"

An enticing story made all the more fascinating by the actual story its based on!

Yet, beyond that it is an engaging read that has surprises, deceit, heartbreak and betrayal.  One finds empathy for the terribly conflicting times at the rise of the Nazi Regime.  Hindsight gives us the clarity so many did not have.

And I SO want to check out the hotel that inspired the Montgomery Hotel!

     Rosemary,  the Hidden Kennedy Daughter
                by Kate Clifford Larson

"R" - 2018atozchallenge

I am not sure how I feel about this book.  First off , Rosemary was born in a time when little was known or understood about"special needs" children.  They were either institutionalized or they were kept hidden. So it was a sad read for that reason.

Secondly,  Rosemary was either born into the wrong family or the right family...  The wrong family because she was expected to keep up with her siblings, all very smart and competitive, and there was a certain public persona that all Kennedys had to present. Rosemary was always watched to make sure she did not embarrass the family.  Joe and Rose Kennedy were always trying to find ways that would 'cure' Rosemary.

Or the right family because in later life, Rosemary got excellent care and the Kennedys had the money and the political power to make improvements in the health industry and the care of people with physical and intellectual disabilities.

The writing style was a little dry for me.  Filled with dates and names that I don't know  were relevant to Rosemary's story.  The Kennedy's story yes,  but not sure if it belongs to Rosemary's

The Dog Who Knew Too Much by Spencer Quinn

Series

I am bound and determined to get through this series (mainly b/c we already bought all 8 books)!  Now, I'm 1/2 way there!!   I'm trying not to let Chet annoy me TOO much with his constant repetition and just focus on the "cozy" mystery.  There's little to say, there's a who done it - this time in the woods at a camp and near an old mine, the mystery gets wrapped up nicely at the end, Chet repeats himself ad nauseam.  And on we go to Book 5!