I needed a mystery and found this in my book case - a Christmas gift form 2017! I had read the first in this series and I liked this installment even I needed a mystery and found this in my book case - a Christmas gift form 2017! I had read the first in this series and I liked this installment even more. Detective Galileo is actually a physicist and is friends with a detective on the Tokyo police department. This story takes place in a seaside village where a guest of a small inn is found dead. Local police think it was suicide or murder, but the guest was a retired detective from the Tokyo police department; one of his former colleagues realizes it may be murder. These books are procedurals, but with very dark psychological underpinnings. I cannot recommend them enough!...more
This part of the Neapolitan Quartet is early adulthood through to around 40. Marriages, children, affairs and the effect all that can have on a careerThis part of the Neapolitan Quartet is early adulthood through to around 40. Marriages, children, affairs and the effect all that can have on a career. In Book 2, Lila had left her husband and that throughline continues. Lenu, the narrator, marries and has two daughters, all the while trying to continue her career as author. Her husband, despite his feminist upbringing cannot understand that she is not completely satisfied in the roles of wife and mother. She then reunites with Nino, her first love. Elena Ferrante writes so well of all the feelings, thoughts and doubts that women are still subjected to when trying to negotiate their needs as well as those of their families and careers....more
As I continue to read my shelves, I have found several hidden gems. This was one of my 2022 selections from the Just the Right Book subscription that As I continue to read my shelves, I have found several hidden gems. This was one of my 2022 selections from the Just the Right Book subscription that I am gifted by generous family. Translated from Korean, this is the story of 65 year old Hornclaw (who seems much older), a professional assassin. She lives with her dog, Deadweight who she barely cares for, but is the only real attachment she has to a living thing. She continues to work, although not as often, but she has the sense that she is being pushed out of her agency. Bullfight, a younger disease control specialist, is bigger, faster and stronger and has been showing up at her job, rattling her confidence. 65 seems very old in Korea, but it may be the job. This is the first time this author has been translated into English and this was a great afternoon read....more
Found this in a cabinet and totally forgot this was a Christmas present 3 years ago. Stanley Tucci is a great actor and this memoir is his life througFound this in a cabinet and totally forgot this was a Christmas present 3 years ago. Stanley Tucci is a great actor and this memoir is his life through food starting with growing up with Italian immigrant parents whose mother is an excellent cook. It continues through his favorite restaurants, worst food on movie sets (explained by country) through his current life in London with his wife Felicity Blunt. There are recipes for food and drink as well as ruminations on specific ingredients. But, there is a LOT of name dropping ( I know someone in show business mostly has show biz friends), with a lot of "I'll tell you this later" which became annoying. As a food memoir, it was interesting, but in general, memoirs are not my genre....more
Reading from my shelves, I picked this for my book club's July suggestion. A finalist for the National Book award, Angela Flournoy's debut is the storReading from my shelves, I picked this for my book club's July suggestion. A finalist for the National Book award, Angela Flournoy's debut is the story of the Turner family trying to survive and grow in Detroit in the 2000s. Viola and Francis Turner moved from Arkansas to Detroit at the end of World War II looking for a better life. They eventually found it, while having 13 children and buying the big house on Yarrow Street. Francis has passed away, Viola is in poor health and the house on Yarrow Street is one of the few still standing, but with an upside down mortgage. Only worth $4000, the mortgage is $52,000. Cha-Cha, the eldest has his own beautiful home, is currently taking care of his mother (well his wife is doing all the caretaking) and tries to manage his siblings as best he can; his sense of responsibility comes off as controlling and bossy. So much to talk about, this is a new favorite; I love a good family saga....more
Pulled this off my shelf as I had started and stopped several others. This is a story of mothers and daughters, set in the Florida panhandle. Told froPulled this off my shelf as I had started and stopped several others. This is a story of mothers and daughters, set in the Florida panhandle. Told from several points of view, the main character is Ann, a granddaughter who had a special relationship with her grandmother. Men are scarce in this novel and generally behave badly. The grandmother and mother had emigrated from Vietnam near the end of the war in 1974, before the fall of Saigon. The actual mother-daughter relationships are fraught, jealous of each other and unrelenting in criticism. Ann and her grandmother are gentler with each other. This is also the story of the Banyan house and the large tree in the yard. It was a Read with Jenna pick and would be a great book club selection with lots of talking points. 3 1/2 stars for gettinge me out of my slump....more
I have had this book since Russell of Ink and Paper Blog had listed it as one of his top 10 picks of 2021, but I never got around to it. I was lookingI have had this book since Russell of Ink and Paper Blog had listed it as one of his top 10 picks of 2021, but I never got around to it. I was looking for a quiet novel and this was perfect. Zorrie is an orphan who lives with her aunt in Indiana. When she finishes school, she moves to Illinois to find a job, and finally finds work in a clock factory, painting glow in the dark dials with radium paint. Homesick for Indiana, she moves back and begins her life as a farmer's wife. This is a serious novel, but there is comfort in Zorrie's life as she navigates life in farm country with its dependence on the changing seasons and weather. A hard worker, with a steady temperament, Zorrie is able to navigate life's highs and lows and helps her friends do the same. Laird Hunt has written a beautiful novel, descriptive of Indiana farm country and the people who live in small towns. Thanks to Russel and The Book Cougars, Chris and Emily for putting this novel into my hands....more
Picked this off my shelf for my book club to read and was annoyed I had not read it sooner. Pat Conroy was such a gift from the South; he wrote so welPicked this off my shelf for my book club to read and was annoyed I had not read it sooner. Pat Conroy was such a gift from the South; he wrote so well and told such good stories. This autobiographical novel about Marine Corps fighter pilot Bull Meecham and his relationship with his high school senior son, Ben is by turns brutal and sensitive. Bull is larger than life, ruling his family and squadron exactly in the same manner. He is well aware of his faults, although they don't seem to push him to ever change his behavior or attitude, feeling that would be an admission of weakness. Ben has such mixed feelings about his parents, always wishing his mother would just leave his father so they could have a peaceful life, but understanding the mores of the early 1960s which proscribed that Lillian needed to stand by her man. Ben's senior year of high school is much more tumultuous than expected, but in Conroy's hands, the reader is left hopeful for his future....more
Loved this novel recommended by Jean Hanff Korelitz. Nevil Shute writes so well, telling the story of his heroine, Jean Paget through her solicitor, NLoved this novel recommended by Jean Hanff Korelitz. Nevil Shute writes so well, telling the story of his heroine, Jean Paget through her solicitor, Noel Strachan. The initial third was a little slow going, but I think it was more me, as I read pretty fast and more recently written novels tend to be more propulsive. Slowing down was worth it, as the novel spans 6 years and many miles, as Jean travels from England to Malaya (now Malaysia) and Australia. Shute's descriptions of the land, rivers, streams, flora and fauna of everywhere she travels is so interesting, but his writing a strong female character in the 1940s makes this the best way for me to spend the first weeks of January....more
I had picked this up after it won the Pulitzer Prize, but it sat on the shelf for over a year. This is an odd, but interesting campus novel based on BI had picked this up after it won the Pulitzer Prize, but it sat on the shelf for over a year. This is an odd, but interesting campus novel based on Bibi Netanyahu's father's quest to teach in the US. Ruben Blum is the only Jewish faculty member at Corbin College located in not quite upstate New York, when he is recruited to review an application of Benzion Netanyahu, an Israeli specializing in the Spanish Inquisition. Joshua Cohen made me laugh while trying to explain the nuances of Jewish identity through the ages. Dense at times, Cohen's descriptions of the Blum family hosting the Netansyahus lighten the novel to give it a much broader appeal....more
Cleaning off my shelves and trying to read books I already own. Picked this up for a trans Atlantic flight to read in between naps. This was a perfectCleaning off my shelves and trying to read books I already own. Picked this up for a trans Atlantic flight to read in between naps. This was a perfect choice as the premise sucked me right in. Malcolm Kershaw is the managing partner of a mystery book shop and years ago he wrote a blog post about eight perfect murders in literature, plays and films. An FBI agent shows up in the shop as she believes someone is murdering people based on these murders. A sense of dread permeated the book and we gradually learn that for a meek bookstore owner, Malcolm's life has been touched by more than a few deaths. A satisfactory mystery/thriller, great for a vacation....more
Liked, but didn't love this memoir about the author's time post graduate school where she worked at an old school literary agency. Her boss was J.D. SLiked, but didn't love this memoir about the author's time post graduate school where she worked at an old school literary agency. Her boss was J.D. Salinger's agent and the author spent her year trying not to talk to Salinger and answering some of his fan mail. During this year, she moved in with a narcissistic Socialist and in the way of many 20 somethings, did not listen to her inner voice telling her he was a loser, especially compared to her last boyfriend whose heart she broke. Well-written, it kept me turning the pages and the inside workings of an esteemed pre-digital literary agency, with all the characters interested me the most....more
I enjoyed reading this dual narration about Chicago in the early 1890s. The leaders of the city have bid on and won the rights to a World Fair, outbidI enjoyed reading this dual narration about Chicago in the early 1890s. The leaders of the city have bid on and won the rights to a World Fair, outbidding cities on the East Coast, including New York and Washington. This fair is the next after the Parisian World Fair which saw the successful erection of the Eiffel Tower. This was the White City and was a story of urban planning and grandiosity. The Devil is H.H.Holmes who has a very different type of excitement in mind. The fair coincided with the first time that young women left home in large numbers looking for work and husbands and Holmes was able to take advantage of women with freedom. This was okay for me, I always think longish stories can be edited. There were a lot of men involved in the World's Fair and at times, I lost track of their importance to the overall narrative....more
I am trying to read my shelves and I picked this up after reading another of the author's novels, Mrs. Caliban. In this novel, a childless couple travI am trying to read my shelves and I picked this up after reading another of the author's novels, Mrs. Caliban. In this novel, a childless couple travel to London on the way to a work Safari for the husband, a college professor. The marriage seemed to be lifeless, but Millie, left on her own to explore London and shop, comes to life and transforms into the exciting life of the party. Her husband, Stan is mystified by her changes and shocked when she rejects him. This is the portrait of a marriage as well as the story of a middle aged man trying to revive his career. The Africa parts were a little dull, as was Stan, so 3 stars from me....more
4 1/2 stars. This had sat on my shelf staring at me and decided this was the summer. Luckily, I did a read along with The Book Cougars and I cannot wa4 1/2 stars. This had sat on my shelf staring at me and decided this was the summer. Luckily, I did a read along with The Book Cougars and I cannot wait to discuss. This is a perfect summer read: long, set in Maine, long term best girlfriends, descriptions of nature and white wine before dinner. Alice Elliott Dark has written a saga, set between Philadelphia and Fellowship Point, Maine that just makes you turn the pages. Agnes and Polly, best friends since childhood have lived such different lives, but have always agreed on the important things. Now in their early 80s, Agnes an author is having trouble completing her final novel and Polly, devoted wife to Dick and mother of three grown sons is navigating so much change in her family. Having spent every summer on Fellowship Point, Agnes and Polly are threatened by the loss of their beloved property, long before they are ready to let it go. How this all plays out makes it a perfect vacation book, at the beach, lake or on a porch with a cold beverage....more
Finally picked this up from the TBR pile in anticipation of meeting the author at a pop-up book group. This is historical fiction, set right after theFinally picked this up from the TBR pile in anticipation of meeting the author at a pop-up book group. This is historical fiction, set right after the Civil War, and based on the life of a black female physician who had a practice in Kings County, New York. She raised her daughter as her husband died fighting in the Civil War, but her daughter did not follow her mother into medicine, instead marrying young and perhaps foolishly. Not only a mother-daughter story, LIBERTIE shows how Blacks were trying to make their way and obtain the freedom and rights which were still being fought for despite the abolition of slavery. The relevance of this novel continues to echo today as Blacks are still working for the rights and freedoms that are rightfully belong to them....more
I had never read P and P or seen an adaptation of it on the screen. I knew there was some story between Elizabeth and Darcy, but that was it. What a wI had never read P and P or seen an adaptation of it on the screen. I knew there was some story between Elizabeth and Darcy, but that was it. What a wonderful read. Totally dated, as it was published in 1813 and takes place in England. Ostensibly a romance, the themes of class, money, status, virtue, and societal expectations for each sex are all found in this novel. The Benets and their 5 daughters reside at Longbourn and they learn Mr. Bingley, an eligible, wealthy young man is coming to stay nearby at Netherfeld. Not much activity takes place in these houses, but activity outside is described. The 2 eldest Benet sisters seem to be wiser than the 2 youngest and the story is told mostly through Elizabeth, the second oldest and most level headed of her sisters who is much wiser and stronger than her mother. Easy to read, it deserves its place among the best loved novels published. ...more
Rounded up to 3 1/2 stars, this is a story of finding solace and wisdom through books and connecting to those around us. Aleisha, age 17 and her brothRounded up to 3 1/2 stars, this is a story of finding solace and wisdom through books and connecting to those around us. Aleisha, age 17 and her brother Aidan age 25 are responsible for their artist mother who has suffered a breakdown after her husband has left her for a new life. A huge responsibility, the siblings handle it differently. Aleisha takes a summer job at the library, though she does not read, and finds a reading list and recommends the books one by one to an older gentlemen. In between her job and her mother, Aleisha starts to read the books and finds some peace among her stress. This is great book for book lovers who know what a positive effect books have on our lives....more
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