I could tell you all about the books on my TBR pile. They’ve been waiting while I met my Library Journal deadline. But, here’s the book Josh wanted me to read last night, Really Important Stuff My Cat Has Taught Me by Cynthia L. Copeland.
I don’t remember books like that until Robert Fulghum came out with All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. I loved that book. I used to use it for Readers’ Theater. This book is broken down into chapters of advice with photos of cats providing simple examples of “Be the exception”, “Take it all in”, “Let your mind wonder”. It should be fun.
What are you reading or listening to this week? I hope you’re enjoying it.
I finished three books this week.
ATOMIC CITY GIRLS which I enjoyed and passed on to my Mom
An ARC of WEDDING CAKE CRUMBLE by Jenn McKinlay which was a light read
SUMMER HOURS AT THE ROBBERS LIBRARY by Sue Halpern. I’m still not sure about that one. I liked some parts of it but not others
I just started Summer Hours, Sandy. We'll see.
A SECOND CHANCE. The third Chronicles of St. Mary's book by Jodi Taylor, about time-hopping historians. It's fun.
SIXES AND SEVENS, short stories by O. Henry.
I did finish four books last week, including BRAIN STORM by Elaine Viets, first about Death Investigator Angela Richman, who ends up in the hospital after suffering SIX strokes due to a doctor's misdiagnosis, which had happened to the author in 2007. I have the second in the series.
I finished The Girls in the Picture by Melanie Benjamin. It was good. I found Frances Marion's storyline more interesting than Mary Pickford's.
Now I am reading Summer Hours at the Robber's Library by Sue Halpern as well. It is a little quirky but over all I am enjoying it a lot.
Sandy, I have the non fiction book about the Atomic City Girls up next because I enjoyed the fictional account so much.
Jeff, Someday I need to get back to Jodi Taylor's books. I bought them all because I enjoyed the first so much, but I haven't had time! And, I'm a big O.Henry fan. I can't imagine having the strokes that Elaine Viets did, and then having the guts to create a character with the same problem.
Sharon, It sounds to me as if you and Sandy share some of the same reading interests.
Always love to hear about what everyone is reading. Sorry that I rarely get back to engage in further conversation though. Right now, I'm reading Elly Griffiths new Ruth Galloway book, THE DARK ANGEL – so, so good. Ruth in Italy. I'm longing to pick it back up, but have other things to do today. And our mystery group is having a Sherlock theme month for April – I'm listening to THE SHERLOCKIAN by Graham Moore. Again, so good.
OK, it sounds like several of us are reading Summer Hours at the Robbers Library. Here's my story: I got to page 248 in my library book and . . . the next page was 313 (and it began in the middle of a sentence)! I looked in vain for the missing 65 pages, but they were nowhere to be found. I tried reading on for a page or 2, but it made no sense. There was just too much missing. Fast forward to the following day, when I was at my OTHER library, picking up some holds. I wasn't looking for it, but on the new book shelf, there it was–the same book. I had only just started another book, so I was able to go back and finish that one. My verdict? Meh. It was a fast read and I mildly enjoyed it. But I didn't think there was enough about each of the main characters to make them interesting, especially Kit.
How to Stop Time by Matt Haig, on the other hand, was my "find" of the week. Tom Hazard isn't a time traveler, but he's more than five centuries old and looks like he's in his early forties, thanks to a rare condition shared by a smattering of folks around the globe. For most, their life expectancy (~900 years) has become more of a curse than a blessing, as Tom found out early when his mother was accused of witchcraft. He did, however, have encounters over the years with the likes of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Captain Cook, and even the Bard himself. But a somewhat sinister and altogether secretive Albatross society is devoted to "protecting" people like Tom from the suspicious public by moving them around every 8 years. This may sound like a sensational science fiction story but plays out more as a quietly told, poignant meditation on the vagaries of time and what we do with it. Highly recommended.
Two new books by favorite authors rounded out my week. Jonathan Kellerman's Night Moves, his 28th (!) police-procedural-with consulting-psychologist-Alex-Delaware series is as expected–a complex unraveling of the details surrounding an unknown murdered man found in the home of a seemingly unrelated family. You really have to pay attention to keep up. I enjoyed it but it didn't add anything fresh or unusual to the series.
Closer Than You Know by Brad Parks is not one of his Carter Ross series so there's no wise-cracking and little humor. One story revolves around Melanie, who comes home from work to find that her baby son has been taken by Social Services for her suspected drug dealing. A former foster child herself, Melanie can't stand the thought of baby Alex in the foster care system. The other story follows the hunt for a serial rapist who is strangely polite and soft-spoken with his victims. And yes, the two situations do eventually overlap in interesting ways. The book starts out with a bang and keeps you in suspense throughout, but I think I prefer the Carter Ross stories.
Finished the following:
Brewing Up Murder ( book1) by Neila Young book 2 isn’t out yet.
Case of the Strawberry Cream Stabbing ( book 1) by Jessica Lansberry
Case of the Sugar Cream Shooting ( book 2)by Jessica Lansberry
Case of the Passion Fruit Poisoning ( book 3) by Jessica Lansberry
Murder She Typed ( book 1) by Sylvia Selfman
I am now reading:
Murder By the Book ( book 2) by Sylvia Selfman
Murder is an Art by Bill Crider
Lesa, love the cover of the book today. So adorable.
Trust there are many hours for you to read this week.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚☕️
I read Agent X by Noah Boyd, about mismatched FBI agents trying to find a mole, and maybe have a relationship.
Danced by the Light of the Moon, about a sailing trip to the Caribbean.
Pirate by Ted Bell, an Alex Hawke adventure about an alliance between the French and Red China.
Sharon, I’m waiting for the non-fiction version of Atomic City Girls from the library
Kay, I've never read any of the Ruth Galloway mysteries. I think I have the first one at home, though. I read Griffiths' other series about the magician following WWII, and it didn't excite me as much as I had hoped.
Interesting story about The Robbers Library, Margie. I'm not sure I'm going to get into it since two of you found it so-so. But, I've heard nothing but good things about How to Stop Time.
Charlotte, Did you finish the book you were plodding through?
I thought that was an adorable cover, too.
Glen, I enjoy your comments, "And maybe have a relationship". Maybe.
Lesa, funny you asked about my book that I have been plodding through.
I picked it up today and read a few more chapters.
Into the Water by Paula Hawkins.
I will finish it in this life time.
There are so many other books that are so much interesting so I read them.
For me I don’t know why this book hit the top.
Like I said if it hadn’t been a gift and I said I wanted to read it. I wouldn’t feel like it is a must read book. My son who gave it to me does ask where I am in the book. He has his own copy and has read it.
Charlotte, I think it went to the top because of Girl on a Train. To be honest, the reviews of this one were not great. And, it didn't stay on the lists very long.
I do like your comment that you'll finish it in this life time.
Hugs, Charlotte.
Well, I just finished The English Wife, which I didn’t like very much – too much romance, not enough mystery. But all 690 pages of the new Elizabeth George book just arrived, and that’s my next read even if I need a forklift…
Lynn Kaczmarek, I'm eager to learn how you liked the new Elizabeth George. I used to love that series so much, but some of the books put me off. I'm hoping this is a good one (it's on my list).
Lesa – I like the Elly Griffiths stories much better than the Magician series. The Radium Girls made me cry!
Good luck with renting that forklift, Lynn! Wow! 690 pages. Don't fall asleep with it.
Good to know, Gram. And, you're the second one today to recommend the Elly Griffiths books.