I had an off week for reading this week, just couldn’t get into anything new. I’m still reading Helen Rappaport’s The Race to Save the Romanovs, which is good, just slow-paced. I have a new box of mysteries to read for review though, and there are some good-looking ones in that box. It will keep me reading.
So, what are you reading or listening to this week? I hope you didn’t get bogged down as I did.
No. I raced through SHE RIDES SHOTGUN by Jordan Harper in less than a day. This exciting thriller deservedly (IMHO) won the Edgar for Best First Mystery this year. Thief Nate McCluskey is released from prison early, but with a death sentence on him, his ex-wife, and their 11 year old daughter Polly after killing the brother of the head of Aryan Steel in self defense. The ex is already dead when he picks Polly up at school and goes on a wild ride, determined to protect her until he can get her "sentence" rescinded. Polly (and her stuffed bear) is a great character and the book is a wild ride. Highly recommended, but not for the squeamish.
I also read the convincing TEN ARGUMENTS FOR DELETING YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS RIGHT NOW by Jaron Lanier, a Silicon Valley veteran himself, and if I had any, I would. He makes a convincing case why the President's "addiction" (his word) to Twitter is so damaging.
Elizabeth McCracken's THUNDERBOLT & Other Stories was not my usual fare (it was recommended in the Lorrie Moore book I read last week), but I particularly liked the title novella. Currently back reading O. Henry stories.
The other book I read this week was GIVE ME YOUR HAND by Megan Abbott, another outstanding book by a very talented writer. I'm currently read Deon Meyer's FEVER, a post-Apocalyptic "end of the world" book somewhat in the manner of THE STAND, but set in his native South Africa. Interesting so far.
I'm about to start reading The Night Olivia Fell by Christina McDonald. And I'm about 1/3 of the way through listening to In Good Faith by Scott Pratt.
The three books I read this week were all different but I liked all of them.
I read one of John Grisham’s sports books, PLAYING FOR PIZZA. It’s about a not very good NFL quarterback who winds up playing football in Italy.
PORTRAIT OF A SISTER by Laura Bradford was a book about Amish twin sisters and life’s choices.
And I also finished DEAD FIREFLY, Victoria Houston’s latest Loon Lake mystery.
First, Lesa and Sandy this was the reply from my library system:
You only need to wait 6 months to place a hold on new books if the books weren't purchased by your local library system. Every library system in PINES purchases their own books, so their patrons get first borrowing privileges before they are shared with other library systems. This restriction only applies to holds – if you visit another library system in person, you may check out any new items they have on their shelves without the 6-month restriction.
It appears that my library doesn’t buy many of the new books that I want. I have to wait the six months to get them from other libraries.
I finished:
Desert Shadows by Betty Webb
Reading now:
Desert Run by Betty Webb
Bitter Bones (book 3) by N C Lewis
Another day for reading a book.
📚📚📚☕️
First of all, the 'hold' rules in Charlotte's library system sound very convoluted. Ha! And frustrating for her.
I'm reading my first Sophie Hannah book, A Game For All the Family. It's quite odd and yet, I like it. It's been out for a couple of years and the reviews were mixed, but I had a copy and also am using an audio of it from my library. Not even sure what to say except I keep being reminded of books like Miss Perrigrine and other quasi-fantasy books. And there's also a mystery. As I said, a little odd.
My daughter and grandsons are visiting this week so not much reading time for me. I finished ALICE AND THE ASSASSIN by RJ Koreto. I liked book 2 better which is a little odd as the book I just finished was the first in the series.
Now I am reading THE ART OF INHERITING SECRETS by Barbara O'Neal. So far it is very good.
Jeff, I'm glad you had a good reading week. Sounds as if you tore through those books.
Ah, Lori. Another person who reads a couple books at a time.
Sandy, I'm glad you enjoyed all the books. Read Playing for Pizza. Quite a change from Grisham's other books. And, I look both of the mystery authors' books.
I agree. I'm sorry about that system, Charlotte. Moving on to books, though – Desert Run was one of my favorites in the series. I'm fascinated by that plot to escape that didn't work. Betty Webb says it really happened that way, too. I won't say any more. I don't want to spoil anything for you.
Totally agree, Kay. That sounds convoluted to me, too. I've never read an Sophie Hannah.
Sharon, I'm glad you are liking the new Barbara O'Neal book. I can't find it yet in either of my libraries, but I loved two of her previous books and borrowed another as an ebook from the library.
I finished Louise Miller's The Late Bloomers Club and found it interesting that it really has nothing to do with a "club" but is about people struggling for self-realization and meaningful relationships in a picturesque Vermont town. The breathtaking description of unexpected and unique artwork in the forest is worth the price of admission by itself. Characters are lovingly drawn and the plot contains many surprises. I'm sure you can tell I loved it.
The Fens is third (and IMHO the best) in Pamela Wechsler's series about Boston's Chief Homicide Prosecutor Abby Endicott, whose wealthy parents have disowned her until she gives up what they consider an unacceptably dangerous career. Although she misses the perks of having money, she is driven to succeed in her career and in her sometimes troubled love life with live-in black musician Ty. The catcher for the Red Sox baseball team goes missing on the first day of the new season, and another team member is murdered soon thereafter, ultimately resulting in an investigation and court case that again endangers Abby and culminates in tense, fascinating courtroom action. These books are quick, fun reads, and I definitely recommend them.
I was disappointed to discover, after all the hype, that Helen Hoang's The Kiss Quotient had way too many sex scenes and way too little plot for my taste. Stella is autistic and wealthy–both from her trust fund and her high-paying job. She is awkward around men and hires escort Michael as a "practice boyfriend." Of course, he becomes much more. Neither character seems authentic, and the plot is predictable, so I had to speed read to make myself finish it. Of course, I'm not the target demographic, so you might like it more than I did.
Oh, Barbara O'Neal! I have that book sitting on my kitchen table, Sharon, but I haven't started it. I really like her books.
Margie, I'm "familiar" with all the books you mentioned. I haven't read the Barbara O'Neal yet, although I like her. I read the second in Pamela Wechsler's series, but, because it didn't excite me much, I didn't pick up the third. I'm happy to know it's the best so far. I still haven't started my copy of The Late Bloomer's Club. And, I paged through The Kiss Quotient. I had the same impression you did. It didn't catch my attention.
I'm working on Room for Doubt by Nancy Cole Silverman, and the audio of City of Bones by Michael Connelly.
Mark, I think I saw something about Nancy Cole Silverman just yesterday. How is the narrator of the Connelly audio?
Calway Jones by Blair Howard; Harry Starke has an international assassin after him. He's in real trouble this time.
Bookmarked for Death by Lorna Barrett; The owner of a bookstore has a famous author come to the store. Writer's kakked, The bookstore is closed, because the owner solved a case last book and the sheriff is mad at her. This forces the owner to solve this mystery.
Bloody Sunday by Ben Coes; Dewey Andreas has a simple mission: inject a NoKo general with poison. Of course, with Dewey, nothing is simple, so he winds up getting injected too, and has to infiltrate North Korea for the antidote.
Trial and Error by Anthony Berkeley; A man is dying of an incurable illness, so he decides to murder an obnoxious person. The wrong person is blamed for the death, so he has to prove himself guilty. Rather too self satisfied.
Monster Problems by RL Ullman; A kid finds out he's the last vampire, and of course finds a special school just for his kind, where he can train to battle the coming darkness.
The narrator of this book is good. There have been many over just the books I listened to. The narrator of the first three Bosch novels was horrible, going out of his way to over dramatize things in an extremely distracting way. Fortunately, the man I'm listening to now is much better.
I am the straggler again!Still reading Patriot Number One by Lauren Hildgers. It is a true story about a Chinese dissident seeks asylum in United States. So far, I am liking his wife better then him. He seems so bullheaded and she automatically knows what to do to survive.
Just finished Unpunished Murder by Lawrence Gladstone, It is super depressing. Civil Rights taking two steps forward and four backwards.
Will be starting Night of Miracles by Elizabeth Berg. Got to get my optimism back!
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