I was excited when I got the email from library stating that Dark Places was in for me. I loved Sharp Objects so much and had been thinking about it, so I was anxious to start reading Ms. Flynn's newest. This was another winner, and I give it another A.
Inside cover:
Libby Day was seven when her mother and two sisters were murdered in "The Satan Sacrifice of Kinnakee, Kansas". As her family lay dying, little Libby fled their tiny farmhouse into the freezing January snow. She lost some fingers and toes, but she survived- and famously testified that her fifteen-year-old brother, Ben, was the killer. Twenty-five years later, Ben sits in prison, and troubled Libby lives off the dregs of a trust created by well-wishers who've long forgotten her.
The Kill Club is a macabre secret society obsessed with notorious crimes. When they locate Libby and pump her for details- proof they hope may free Ben- Libby hatches a plan to profit off her tragic history. For a fee, she'll reconnect the players from that night and report her findings to the club... and maybe she'll admit her testimony wasn't so solid after all.
As Libby's search takes her from shabby Missouri strip clubs to abandoned Oklahoma tourist towns, the narrative flashes back to January 2, 1985. The events of that day are relayed through Libby's doomed family members- including Ben, a loner who's rage over his shiftless father and their failing farm have driven him into a disturbing friendship with the new girl in town. Piece by piece, the unimaginable truth emerges, and Libby finds herself right back where she started from-on the run from a killer.
I love the way Ms. Flynn creates dark characters who you find yourself rooting for. She expertly drops hints and clues that helps you try to solve the mystery, but you really need to be paying close attention. I admit, though I thought I knew some of it, I was surprised. Once I was reflecting back on it, I realized that I had missed some clues, but it was a pleasant surprise. I really came to love Libby and felt her pain, though I couldn't even begin to imagine how someone would survive all that happened to her. There were some tough parts to read in the story, but I really enjoyed it, and again, they were part of the story not meant to shock or disgust, but to add value to the story. I only have two wishes; one, I wish I would know a bit more of what happens in the future, and two, that Ms. Flynn would write faster. I need to read more of her books! Ms Flynn, if you happen to come across this, please get working and work fast... I LOVE YOUR BOOKS! (OK, I am more composed now... I just had to get that off of my chest!)
I am not sure what I am going to read next. I have four more books checked out from the library, so I will get to those first. Today we finished a project on the house and now that everything is clean and organized and back to normal, I plan on spending the evening relaxing, doing laundry and reading. I hope everyone is having a safe and enjoyable Memorial Weekend and Happy Reading!
Showing posts with label library. Show all posts
Showing posts with label library. Show all posts
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Saturday, May 9, 2009
The 37th Hour by Jodi Compton
I can't remember where I heard about The 37th Hour, though I suspect it may have been through a book blog or perhaps The Mystery Scene magazine. The premise grabbed me, though, and I found it at my local library. It was a quick read, and a good one, and I give it a B+.
From Amazon:
On a chilly Minnesota morning, Sarah comes home to the house she shares with her husband and fellow cop, Michael Shiloh. Shiloh was supposed to be in Virginia, starting his training with the FBI. A seasoned missing-persons investigator, Sarah is used to anxious calls from wives and parents. She used to innocent explanations that resolve so many of her cases. But from the moment she learns that he never arrived in Quantico, she feels a terrible foreboding. Now, beneath the bed in which they make love, Sarah finds Shiloh's neatly packed bag. And in that instant the cop in her knows: Her husband has disappeared.
Suddenly Sarah finds herself at the beginning of the kind of investigation she has made so often. The kind that she and her ex-partner, Genevive, solved routinely-- until a brutal crime stole Genevieve's daughter and ended her career. The kind that pries open family secrets and hidden lives. For Sarah this investigation will mean going back to the beginning, to Shiloh's religion-steeped childhood in Utah, the rift that separated him from his family-- and the one horrifying case that struck too close to home for them both. As Sarah turns over more and more unknown ground in her husband's past, she sees her lover and friend change before her eyes. And as she moves further down a trail of shocking surprises and bitter revelations, Sarah is about to discover that her worst fear---that Shiloh is dead--- maybe less painful than what she is going to learn next...
There were a lot of different storylines running through the book and at first, I was a bit confused and thought that maybe I was missing something. However, as the story continued to develop, you can see how all of the pieces begin to fit together. I really enjoyed Sarah and was rooting for her. She was a good character who, despite her faults, was likeable and easy to relate to. The mystery was a good one and it kept me turning the pages. The reason why I marked the book down a bit was because the ending really, really left me hanging. I assume there will be a follow up to this book and I am now going to have to be on the lookout for it. I should warn you, though, that this book is dark and doesn't have many laughs, but it is still a great read.
I am not sure what I am going to read next, though I know it will probably be another library book. I have a stack to choose from but I do plan on jumping right back in to another one. I have all of my weekend cleaning and errands finished so tonight is going to be some reading time! Brunch with my mom tomorrow and then the Red Wings at 5:00! I hope everyone is enjoying what they are reading and Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
On a chilly Minnesota morning, Sarah comes home to the house she shares with her husband and fellow cop, Michael Shiloh. Shiloh was supposed to be in Virginia, starting his training with the FBI. A seasoned missing-persons investigator, Sarah is used to anxious calls from wives and parents. She used to innocent explanations that resolve so many of her cases. But from the moment she learns that he never arrived in Quantico, she feels a terrible foreboding. Now, beneath the bed in which they make love, Sarah finds Shiloh's neatly packed bag. And in that instant the cop in her knows: Her husband has disappeared.
Suddenly Sarah finds herself at the beginning of the kind of investigation she has made so often. The kind that she and her ex-partner, Genevive, solved routinely-- until a brutal crime stole Genevieve's daughter and ended her career. The kind that pries open family secrets and hidden lives. For Sarah this investigation will mean going back to the beginning, to Shiloh's religion-steeped childhood in Utah, the rift that separated him from his family-- and the one horrifying case that struck too close to home for them both. As Sarah turns over more and more unknown ground in her husband's past, she sees her lover and friend change before her eyes. And as she moves further down a trail of shocking surprises and bitter revelations, Sarah is about to discover that her worst fear---that Shiloh is dead--- maybe less painful than what she is going to learn next...
There were a lot of different storylines running through the book and at first, I was a bit confused and thought that maybe I was missing something. However, as the story continued to develop, you can see how all of the pieces begin to fit together. I really enjoyed Sarah and was rooting for her. She was a good character who, despite her faults, was likeable and easy to relate to. The mystery was a good one and it kept me turning the pages. The reason why I marked the book down a bit was because the ending really, really left me hanging. I assume there will be a follow up to this book and I am now going to have to be on the lookout for it. I should warn you, though, that this book is dark and doesn't have many laughs, but it is still a great read.
I am not sure what I am going to read next, though I know it will probably be another library book. I have a stack to choose from but I do plan on jumping right back in to another one. I have all of my weekend cleaning and errands finished so tonight is going to be some reading time! Brunch with my mom tomorrow and then the Red Wings at 5:00! I hope everyone is enjoying what they are reading and Happy Reading!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Shake Down by Joel Goodman
I picked up Shake Down by Mr. Goldman last time I was at the library. I will admit, the reason why I picked it up was because the book was published by Pinnacle Books. I really enjoy Pinnacle Books, as I have mentioned in the past. The back cover grabbed my attention and it was the first book I pulled out of my "book holder" late Monday night when I decided to start something new. While the back cover blurb was somewhat misleading, I really enjoyed the book and give it a B+.
Back cover:
The lives of three people collide over mass murder at a Kansas City residence that Special Agent Jack Davis has carefully staked out for weeks. Kate Scranton, whose job is spotting lies for high-priced courtroom lawyers, is convinced that mild-mannered Latrell Kelly knows something about the crime. But Latrell is hiding far more than Kate can guess. And with Jack half-blinded by an imploding personal life, and someone on his own side leaking crucial information, they're headed straight for the ultimate danger zone...
First off, Kate Scranton plays a very minor role in this book, though the role she plays is fascinating. Kate is able to spot mini facial movements that helps her decide if someone is lying. This is something that I have never heard of, and I assume is something that has some truth to it. I would have loved if Mr. Goldman had fleshed this idea out a bit more. Also, Jack is going through a terrible health crisis throughout the book that has him fearing the worst... Parkinsons or Lou Gherig's diasese. My father suffers from Parkinsons and has since I was about 16. I remember when his shaking first started and it was a very terrifying time in all of our lives. I get tremors sometimes and everyone is very cautious of this. I thought Mr. Goldman did a fantastic job dealing with this and adding it in to the suspense. There were quite a few twists and turns in the story and I finally had it figured out just as Jack was. I will definitely be checking out more books by Joel Goldman in the future.
This is my favorite time in the year... spring is finally arriving, baseball season has started, and hockey playoffs start! My beloved Wings start tomorrow and I will be screaming my head off at the tv at 7:00 and attending the game on Saturday! In between there, I will be enjoying my precious few days left off and hopefully getting a few more good books in. I am not sure what I am going to read next, but I want to finish off my library books. I hope everyone else is enjoying some good books and Happy Reading!
Back cover:
The lives of three people collide over mass murder at a Kansas City residence that Special Agent Jack Davis has carefully staked out for weeks. Kate Scranton, whose job is spotting lies for high-priced courtroom lawyers, is convinced that mild-mannered Latrell Kelly knows something about the crime. But Latrell is hiding far more than Kate can guess. And with Jack half-blinded by an imploding personal life, and someone on his own side leaking crucial information, they're headed straight for the ultimate danger zone...
First off, Kate Scranton plays a very minor role in this book, though the role she plays is fascinating. Kate is able to spot mini facial movements that helps her decide if someone is lying. This is something that I have never heard of, and I assume is something that has some truth to it. I would have loved if Mr. Goldman had fleshed this idea out a bit more. Also, Jack is going through a terrible health crisis throughout the book that has him fearing the worst... Parkinsons or Lou Gherig's diasese. My father suffers from Parkinsons and has since I was about 16. I remember when his shaking first started and it was a very terrifying time in all of our lives. I get tremors sometimes and everyone is very cautious of this. I thought Mr. Goldman did a fantastic job dealing with this and adding it in to the suspense. There were quite a few twists and turns in the story and I finally had it figured out just as Jack was. I will definitely be checking out more books by Joel Goldman in the future.
This is my favorite time in the year... spring is finally arriving, baseball season has started, and hockey playoffs start! My beloved Wings start tomorrow and I will be screaming my head off at the tv at 7:00 and attending the game on Saturday! In between there, I will be enjoying my precious few days left off and hopefully getting a few more good books in. I am not sure what I am going to read next, but I want to finish off my library books. I hope everyone else is enjoying some good books and Happy Reading!
Monday, April 13, 2009
Fetish by Tara Moss
I got Fetish by Tara Moss last week when I was browsing at the library. It sounded interesting and since the book was set in Australia I figured it would be good to expand my reading locations and settings. Even though I have had so much extra time lately, I haven't done much reading so today I decided to put on the Tiger's game, shut down the computer and read. It worked and I finished Fetish, giving it a B+.
Back cover:
Mak is young, beautiful- and in grave danger. An international fashion model, she arrived in Australia on assignment, only to find her best friend brutally murdered, the latest victim of a serial killer with a very deadly fetish. Before she knows it, Mak herself is caught up in a twisted game of cat-and-mouse. Who can you trust and where can you turn when you are the dark obsession of a sadistic psychopath.
I really liked the main character, Mak. Though she is a model, she is old for the industry (25... that is so not old!!!!) and is taking jobs to put herself through school to become a forsenic psychologist. The youngest daughter of a homicide detective from Canada, Mak is thrown into the hunt for this horrible killer and is soon finds herself stalked. The mystery was done well and there was even a little bit of romance thrown in. The killer was definitely a bad guy who was very twisted though I did feel that there weren't a lot of clues to help the reader detect who he was. I loved reading about Australia and the language/slang was just a little difficult to understand. It seems that Mak is a main character in a mystery series and Fetish is either the first or second book in the series. I plan on looking for more in this series if I can find them through my library.
I am not sure what I am going to read next. I know I have several books from the library to read, including a Lisa Jackson book that is due back this week. Perhaps I will pick that one up or maybe another library book or one of my own. I am off to take a shower and then I will decide. I know I want to take as much as my free time possible for reading. I hope everyone else is reading some great books and Happy Reading!
Back cover:
Mak is young, beautiful- and in grave danger. An international fashion model, she arrived in Australia on assignment, only to find her best friend brutally murdered, the latest victim of a serial killer with a very deadly fetish. Before she knows it, Mak herself is caught up in a twisted game of cat-and-mouse. Who can you trust and where can you turn when you are the dark obsession of a sadistic psychopath.
I really liked the main character, Mak. Though she is a model, she is old for the industry (25... that is so not old!!!!) and is taking jobs to put herself through school to become a forsenic psychologist. The youngest daughter of a homicide detective from Canada, Mak is thrown into the hunt for this horrible killer and is soon finds herself stalked. The mystery was done well and there was even a little bit of romance thrown in. The killer was definitely a bad guy who was very twisted though I did feel that there weren't a lot of clues to help the reader detect who he was. I loved reading about Australia and the language/slang was just a little difficult to understand. It seems that Mak is a main character in a mystery series and Fetish is either the first or second book in the series. I plan on looking for more in this series if I can find them through my library.
I am not sure what I am going to read next. I know I have several books from the library to read, including a Lisa Jackson book that is due back this week. Perhaps I will pick that one up or maybe another library book or one of my own. I am off to take a shower and then I will decide. I know I want to take as much as my free time possible for reading. I hope everyone else is reading some great books and Happy Reading!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Never Tell a Lie by Hallie Ephron
I read so much about this book and all of the great reviews, so I had really high hopes for this book. I was expecting this out of this world thriller, and maybe my expectations were just too high, but I was disappointed. I give Never Tell a Lie a B-.
From Amazon:
It all started with the yard sale. Ivy was eight months and one week pregnant when she insisted that she and her husband, David, clean out the junk they'd inherited with the old Victorian house they'd bought three years before. Call it nesting, call it nerves—she just wanted it all gone: the old electrical fixtures, the boxes of National Geographics from the 1960s, the four black wool greatcoats.
Neither she nor David recognized the woman at first. But it turned out that the customer asking about the lime-green glass swan dish—the woman who looks just about as pregnant as Ivy—was none other than Melinda White, a former high school classmate of David and Ivy's. When Melinda was a child she used to play in their new house, she explained. It looked like they'd been doing some work. Would it be all right if she took a look around? David took Melinda inside. And she never came out.
Now David's under police suspicion, and Ivy finds herself digging deep into the past to clear his name. But David's history, she begins to discover, is not necessarily the history she remembers, and before long Ivy has uncovered a twisted web of deceit, betrayal, and lies, both the ones we tell those we love and the ones we tell ourselves. . . .
I had the mystery figured out about halfway through the book, so of course that is always a disappointment. I felt there were not enough red herrings thrown in to really confuse the reader or add suspense at that kind of bummed me out. I also felt like the writing was a little to weak and it seemed like the book almost jumped from first to third person writing. I have previously read books by G.H. Ephron, which Ms. Ephron is one part of the two part writing team and loved those books, so I was a bit let down. With all of that being said, it was a good book and I would recommend this to those who enjoy a good suburban mystery. I always enjoy that subgenre of thrillers... when bad things happen to those who live nice, clean, safe lives.
This is the last of my big influx of library books, but wouldn't you know when I dropped off books I picked up one other one. I did end up picking on of my own off of my shelves to start reading today though, because I need to start reading more of my own. I think I am going to try and at least alternate between one of mine and then a library book, reading more of my own when I don't have a huge stack from the library. I am not going to say I am going to stop going to the library because I am not buying new books and browsing really does satisfy my need to buy new books. Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
It all started with the yard sale. Ivy was eight months and one week pregnant when she insisted that she and her husband, David, clean out the junk they'd inherited with the old Victorian house they'd bought three years before. Call it nesting, call it nerves—she just wanted it all gone: the old electrical fixtures, the boxes of National Geographics from the 1960s, the four black wool greatcoats.
Neither she nor David recognized the woman at first. But it turned out that the customer asking about the lime-green glass swan dish—the woman who looks just about as pregnant as Ivy—was none other than Melinda White, a former high school classmate of David and Ivy's. When Melinda was a child she used to play in their new house, she explained. It looked like they'd been doing some work. Would it be all right if she took a look around? David took Melinda inside. And she never came out.
Now David's under police suspicion, and Ivy finds herself digging deep into the past to clear his name. But David's history, she begins to discover, is not necessarily the history she remembers, and before long Ivy has uncovered a twisted web of deceit, betrayal, and lies, both the ones we tell those we love and the ones we tell ourselves. . . .
I had the mystery figured out about halfway through the book, so of course that is always a disappointment. I felt there were not enough red herrings thrown in to really confuse the reader or add suspense at that kind of bummed me out. I also felt like the writing was a little to weak and it seemed like the book almost jumped from first to third person writing. I have previously read books by G.H. Ephron, which Ms. Ephron is one part of the two part writing team and loved those books, so I was a bit let down. With all of that being said, it was a good book and I would recommend this to those who enjoy a good suburban mystery. I always enjoy that subgenre of thrillers... when bad things happen to those who live nice, clean, safe lives.
This is the last of my big influx of library books, but wouldn't you know when I dropped off books I picked up one other one. I did end up picking on of my own off of my shelves to start reading today though, because I need to start reading more of my own. I think I am going to try and at least alternate between one of mine and then a library book, reading more of my own when I don't have a huge stack from the library. I am not going to say I am going to stop going to the library because I am not buying new books and browsing really does satisfy my need to buy new books. Happy Reading!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Bust by Ken Bruen and Jason Starr
I got Bust from the library and it was one of those rare cases where the cover drew me to grab the book. Bust is part of the Hard Case Crime series, which is supposed to be like the old hard pulp crime novels of the 1950s. I ended up loving this book and give it an A-.
Back cover:
Five important lessons you can learn from Bust:
1. When you hire a hit man to kill your wife, don't pick a psychopath.
2. Drano is not the best tool for getting rid of a dead body.
3. Those locks on hotel room doors? Not very secure.
4. A curly blond wig isn't much of a disguse.
5. Secrets can kill.
This book was a pleasant change from the heavy suspense and thriller books I have been reading lately. There was a ton of humor mixed in that had me smiling and chuckling to myself quite a bit. It was a very short book, only 254 pages, and a very quick read.Bust fits in for two of my challenges as well, the Library challenge and the Suspense challenge in the category of crime. It is the type of book that you can pick up and read a couple of pages here and there when you have time, though it was hard to put down. I love old movies and have always wanted to read some of the old crime novels, so I thought this was a nice way to kind of ease myself in. There are several different characters in this book that are definitely classified as a bad guy, but as the reader you almost feel like cheering for some of them. It was all around a great read and a lot of fun. I already picked up another book in this line from the library today.
Speaking of the library, I really need to stop checking out so many books. I have so many of my own to read, but lately I have been in the mood to buy more. Since I have been taking a hard look at my budget and where I spending money I have banned myself from the bookstore and have found going the library is the perfect replacement. I can go to several different cities and check out books so I always get a good variety. Today I went to one of the bigger libraries and had a great time browsing. I guess January and the early part of February will be my months to focus on the library challenge and then I will focus on the RYOB challenge. My next book will be another library one, though I am not sure which one. I am off to bed... a full day of subbing tomorrow and then 5 hours of tutoring at night. I am fighting a migraine so hopefully sleep will come quickly. Happy Reading!
Back cover:
Five important lessons you can learn from Bust:
1. When you hire a hit man to kill your wife, don't pick a psychopath.
2. Drano is not the best tool for getting rid of a dead body.
3. Those locks on hotel room doors? Not very secure.
4. A curly blond wig isn't much of a disguse.
5. Secrets can kill.
This book was a pleasant change from the heavy suspense and thriller books I have been reading lately. There was a ton of humor mixed in that had me smiling and chuckling to myself quite a bit. It was a very short book, only 254 pages, and a very quick read.Bust fits in for two of my challenges as well, the Library challenge and the Suspense challenge in the category of crime. It is the type of book that you can pick up and read a couple of pages here and there when you have time, though it was hard to put down. I love old movies and have always wanted to read some of the old crime novels, so I thought this was a nice way to kind of ease myself in. There are several different characters in this book that are definitely classified as a bad guy, but as the reader you almost feel like cheering for some of them. It was all around a great read and a lot of fun. I already picked up another book in this line from the library today.
Speaking of the library, I really need to stop checking out so many books. I have so many of my own to read, but lately I have been in the mood to buy more. Since I have been taking a hard look at my budget and where I spending money I have banned myself from the bookstore and have found going the library is the perfect replacement. I can go to several different cities and check out books so I always get a good variety. Today I went to one of the bigger libraries and had a great time browsing. I guess January and the early part of February will be my months to focus on the library challenge and then I will focus on the RYOB challenge. My next book will be another library one, though I am not sure which one. I am off to bed... a full day of subbing tomorrow and then 5 hours of tutoring at night. I am fighting a migraine so hopefully sleep will come quickly. Happy Reading!
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Close To You by Mary Jane Clark
As I mentioned before, I got Close To You from my local library. I thought it would be a perfect fit for two of my challenges and I had previously read a book by Ms. Clark that I really enjoyed. I had high hopes for this book, though I was left feeling a bit disappointed. I give it a B-.
From Amazon:
In front of the camera, as anchorwoman for KEY Evening Headlines, she's savvy, sexy, and sophisticated. But when she steps out of the spotlight, Eliza Blake is far more vulnerable than her devoted viewers would ever imagine. Single-handedly raising a young daughter, she's finally found a safe haven: a dream house in the suburbs, where nothing can ever threaten her again....It begins with a venomous letter. No stranger to the occasional hate mail that mingles with glowing correspondence from adoring fans, Eliza is at first unaware that this time, the writer isn't a harmless nutcase. Then come the menacing phone calls. Now, that her serene suburban life is shattered by fear, Eliza must face the chilling realization that the stalker is closer, and more lethal, than anyone ever suspected-perhaps even concealed behind a trusted, familiar face...
The first thing that disappointed me about this book was the fact that it was part of a series, which I didn't know. That doesn't take away from the book, but I was kind of disappointed because I have the book before this and now I feel like I can't read it since this book explains a bit of what happens. The second thing that disappointed me was the lack of the suspense. I pretty much figured out who the bad stalker was as soon as the character was introduced. There wasn't even a whole lot about the stalker or even some real threats made on Eliza. I felt like I was reading a fiction story about a single mom who is a famous tv anchor that had a bit of mystery thrown in to spice the book up. That isn't necessiarly a bad thing, it's just that I was expecting more thrill and less mundane. There was also a lot of unanswered questions that weren't even discussed so that kinda threw me off. Again it wasn't a bad book, just not my favorite.
I am not sure what I am going to read next, but it will be something off of my shelves. School starts tomorrow and I probably won't have to work because teachers can't call in the day after a break which is fine by me. I am working a lot on my online job-which I love- and I don't feel ready to pull out work clothes again. I swear being off of work for two weeks makes it very hard to go back in. Oh well, we got to do it! I hope everyone had a relaxing weekend and Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
In front of the camera, as anchorwoman for KEY Evening Headlines, she's savvy, sexy, and sophisticated. But when she steps out of the spotlight, Eliza Blake is far more vulnerable than her devoted viewers would ever imagine. Single-handedly raising a young daughter, she's finally found a safe haven: a dream house in the suburbs, where nothing can ever threaten her again....It begins with a venomous letter. No stranger to the occasional hate mail that mingles with glowing correspondence from adoring fans, Eliza is at first unaware that this time, the writer isn't a harmless nutcase. Then come the menacing phone calls. Now, that her serene suburban life is shattered by fear, Eliza must face the chilling realization that the stalker is closer, and more lethal, than anyone ever suspected-perhaps even concealed behind a trusted, familiar face...
The first thing that disappointed me about this book was the fact that it was part of a series, which I didn't know. That doesn't take away from the book, but I was kind of disappointed because I have the book before this and now I feel like I can't read it since this book explains a bit of what happens. The second thing that disappointed me was the lack of the suspense. I pretty much figured out who the bad stalker was as soon as the character was introduced. There wasn't even a whole lot about the stalker or even some real threats made on Eliza. I felt like I was reading a fiction story about a single mom who is a famous tv anchor that had a bit of mystery thrown in to spice the book up. That isn't necessiarly a bad thing, it's just that I was expecting more thrill and less mundane. There was also a lot of unanswered questions that weren't even discussed so that kinda threw me off. Again it wasn't a bad book, just not my favorite.
I am not sure what I am going to read next, but it will be something off of my shelves. School starts tomorrow and I probably won't have to work because teachers can't call in the day after a break which is fine by me. I am working a lot on my online job-which I love- and I don't feel ready to pull out work clothes again. I swear being off of work for two weeks makes it very hard to go back in. Oh well, we got to do it! I hope everyone had a relaxing weekend and Happy Reading!
Friday, January 2, 2009
Innocence by Karen Novak
I got Innocence by Karen Novak from the library. I had heard nothing about this book, but it just caught my eye and the premise sounded interesting. It also fit into the Suspense and Thriller Challenge as a private investagor thriller. As I read the book, I thought that it may not fit well but it did. It was a wonderfully written book and I really enjoyed it. I give it an A-.
From Amazon:
When private investigator Leslie Stone's own thirteen-year-old daughter, Molly, attempts to hire her to find a vanished friend, the case stirs memories of one from Leslie's own troubled childhood: a series of abductions of girls who became known as the Nightingales. Five eighth-grade boys are being charged with assaulting Molly's friend. But even as their small town erupts in anger and calls for justice, Molly insists that the boys are innocent, and takes the stand to testify on their behalf. Leslie's investigations show that although Molly may be right, someone is guilty. As the case draws her own secret knowledge of the Nightingales' history toward the light, she is left uncertain of every instinct except the one that demands she protect her child- even if she has to betray her own childhood by telling everything.
This book has so much going on, yet the reader is never overwhelmed. The reader gets two stories for one, including old kidnapping and child assults that happened when Leslie was a child. The author does a fantastic job of telling the second story and in such an interesting way as well... by inserting seperate chapters counting backwards. For example, the book opens up with Chapter 19 telling one part of the old story and then counts down after breaking in spots for the current story. This book touches on so many aspects of life today and at times is hard to read. I was still surprised when things came out in the final pages and it didn't bother me. There are a lot of emotions dealing with family that touched me as well and I have a feeling this book will stay with me for a bit. It is part of a series, but I believe it is the last of the series. If this is so, I say it is a perfect ending.
Up next is another library book that will also fit the Thriller Challenge. The book is Close To You by Mary Jane Clark and fits the stalker thriller book. I have previously read one Mary Jane Clark and have several on my shelves, so I hope it is another great one.In 2008 I read 130 books, and this year I would like to beat it by 5. I definitely need to make more time for reading. I get such a great pleasure for it and need to make more time. Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
When private investigator Leslie Stone's own thirteen-year-old daughter, Molly, attempts to hire her to find a vanished friend, the case stirs memories of one from Leslie's own troubled childhood: a series of abductions of girls who became known as the Nightingales. Five eighth-grade boys are being charged with assaulting Molly's friend. But even as their small town erupts in anger and calls for justice, Molly insists that the boys are innocent, and takes the stand to testify on their behalf. Leslie's investigations show that although Molly may be right, someone is guilty. As the case draws her own secret knowledge of the Nightingales' history toward the light, she is left uncertain of every instinct except the one that demands she protect her child- even if she has to betray her own childhood by telling everything.
This book has so much going on, yet the reader is never overwhelmed. The reader gets two stories for one, including old kidnapping and child assults that happened when Leslie was a child. The author does a fantastic job of telling the second story and in such an interesting way as well... by inserting seperate chapters counting backwards. For example, the book opens up with Chapter 19 telling one part of the old story and then counts down after breaking in spots for the current story. This book touches on so many aspects of life today and at times is hard to read. I was still surprised when things came out in the final pages and it didn't bother me. There are a lot of emotions dealing with family that touched me as well and I have a feeling this book will stay with me for a bit. It is part of a series, but I believe it is the last of the series. If this is so, I say it is a perfect ending.
Up next is another library book that will also fit the Thriller Challenge. The book is Close To You by Mary Jane Clark and fits the stalker thriller book. I have previously read one Mary Jane Clark and have several on my shelves, so I hope it is another great one.In 2008 I read 130 books, and this year I would like to beat it by 5. I definitely need to make more time for reading. I get such a great pleasure for it and need to make more time. Happy Reading!
Monday, November 24, 2008
Too Close To Home by Linwood Barclay and Another Challenge
I became a fan of Mr. Barclay when I began reading his series featuring a stay-at-home dad and the mysteries he gets thrown into. His books always seemed to have a honest, down-to-earth, and slightly humorous side to them and Too Close To Home was no exception. It was a great read and I give it an A-.
From Amazon:
“The night they killed our neighbors, we never heard a thing.” In a quiet suburban neighborhood, in a house only one door away, a family is brutally murdered for no apparent reason. And you think to yourself: It could have been us. And you start to wonder: What if we’re next?Linwood Barclay, critically acclaimed author of No Time for Goodbye, brings terror closer than ever before in a thriller where murder strikes in the place we feel safest of all. Promise Falls isn’t the kind of community where a family is shot to death in their own home. But that is exactly what happened to the Langleys one sweltering summer night, and no one in this small upstate New York town is more shocked than their next-door neighbors, Jim and Ellen Cutter. They visited for the occasional barbecue and their son, Derek, was friends with the Langleys’ boy, Adam; but how well did they really know their neighbors? That’s the question Jim Cutter is asking, and the answers he’s getting aren’t reassuring. Albert Langley was a successful, well-respected criminal lawyer, but was he so good at getting criminals off that he was the victim of revenge—a debt his innocent family also paid in blood? From the town’s criminally corrupt mayor to the tragic suicide of a talented student a decade before, Promise Falls has more than its share of secrets. And Jim Cutter, failed artist turned landscaper, need look no further than his own home and his wife Ellen’s past to know that things aren’t always what they seem. But not even Jim and Ellen are ready to know that their son was in the Langley house the night the family was murdered.Suddenly the Cutters must face the unthinkable: that a murderer isn’t just stalking too close to home but is inside it already. For the Langleys weren’t the first to die and they won’t be the last.
Mr. Barclay is an excellent writter. He allows the reader to really place themselves into the middle of the story and really understand where everyone is coming from. For example, the author never describes what the inside of the Cutter home looks like, but through his honest descriptions and feelings of the characters, I began to imagine a house decorated in the way I thought the Cutters would do so. All of the characters are flawed but not so much that it is unbelievable. I also love that Mr. Barclay always tells the story through the dad's point of view and I appreciate that. I can't think of another book that is like that and it is interesting to read about. The mystery was also well written and there were a lot of twists and turns that keep you on your toes trying to figure everything out. I did figure out some of it but it was only with about 30 pages left. I will continue to be on the lookout for more of Mr. Barclay's books, but am disappointed I have to wait a year for another one.
I have three more library books to get through and the next one up is Blood Lies by Daniel Kalla. I read one of his other books and I really, really enjoyed it so I am hoping this one is just as good. Discussing library books brings me to the next challenge I am going to sign up for. It is called 2009 Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge. The rules are the following:
** The first is to read 12 books from your local library in 2009.
** The second is to read 25 books from your local library in 2009.
** The third is to read 50 books from your local library in 2009.
You decide which one of the three challenges is best for you. Here are the guidelines:
1) You can join anytime as long as you don’t start reading your books prior to 2009.
2) This challenge is for 2009 only. The last day to have all your books read is December 31, 2009.
3) You can join anytime between now and December 31, 2009.
4) When you sign up under Mr. Linky, list the direct link to your post where your library books will be listed. If you list just your blog’s URL, it will be removed. If you don’t have a blog, leave the URL blank.
6) Our goal is to read 12, 25, or 50 books checkout from our local library in 2009. Please decide which when you sign up and don’t change it
.7) These can be audios, downloads, children’s, YA. As long as it’s a book, format and target age group does not matter.
8) Feel free to post a link to your reviews in the comment section below. That way, we can visit your blog and read your review.
9) If you have any questions, feel free to ask below or email me at jkayeoldner@yahoo.com. Comments usually get a quicker response.
Because I am trying to read more of my own books for another challenge, I am only going to pledge 25 books for this challenge. I am sure I will read more, but I am not sure which ones they will be yet. Probably more of the newest releases that come out in hardcover. I am a huge lover of my library, and I encourage everyone else to do the same!
From Amazon:
“The night they killed our neighbors, we never heard a thing.” In a quiet suburban neighborhood, in a house only one door away, a family is brutally murdered for no apparent reason. And you think to yourself: It could have been us. And you start to wonder: What if we’re next?Linwood Barclay, critically acclaimed author of No Time for Goodbye, brings terror closer than ever before in a thriller where murder strikes in the place we feel safest of all. Promise Falls isn’t the kind of community where a family is shot to death in their own home. But that is exactly what happened to the Langleys one sweltering summer night, and no one in this small upstate New York town is more shocked than their next-door neighbors, Jim and Ellen Cutter. They visited for the occasional barbecue and their son, Derek, was friends with the Langleys’ boy, Adam; but how well did they really know their neighbors? That’s the question Jim Cutter is asking, and the answers he’s getting aren’t reassuring. Albert Langley was a successful, well-respected criminal lawyer, but was he so good at getting criminals off that he was the victim of revenge—a debt his innocent family also paid in blood? From the town’s criminally corrupt mayor to the tragic suicide of a talented student a decade before, Promise Falls has more than its share of secrets. And Jim Cutter, failed artist turned landscaper, need look no further than his own home and his wife Ellen’s past to know that things aren’t always what they seem. But not even Jim and Ellen are ready to know that their son was in the Langley house the night the family was murdered.Suddenly the Cutters must face the unthinkable: that a murderer isn’t just stalking too close to home but is inside it already. For the Langleys weren’t the first to die and they won’t be the last.
Mr. Barclay is an excellent writter. He allows the reader to really place themselves into the middle of the story and really understand where everyone is coming from. For example, the author never describes what the inside of the Cutter home looks like, but through his honest descriptions and feelings of the characters, I began to imagine a house decorated in the way I thought the Cutters would do so. All of the characters are flawed but not so much that it is unbelievable. I also love that Mr. Barclay always tells the story through the dad's point of view and I appreciate that. I can't think of another book that is like that and it is interesting to read about. The mystery was also well written and there were a lot of twists and turns that keep you on your toes trying to figure everything out. I did figure out some of it but it was only with about 30 pages left. I will continue to be on the lookout for more of Mr. Barclay's books, but am disappointed I have to wait a year for another one.
I have three more library books to get through and the next one up is Blood Lies by Daniel Kalla. I read one of his other books and I really, really enjoyed it so I am hoping this one is just as good. Discussing library books brings me to the next challenge I am going to sign up for. It is called 2009 Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge. The rules are the following:
** The first is to read 12 books from your local library in 2009.
** The second is to read 25 books from your local library in 2009.
** The third is to read 50 books from your local library in 2009.
You decide which one of the three challenges is best for you. Here are the guidelines:
1) You can join anytime as long as you don’t start reading your books prior to 2009.
2) This challenge is for 2009 only. The last day to have all your books read is December 31, 2009.
3) You can join anytime between now and December 31, 2009.
4) When you sign up under Mr. Linky, list the direct link to your post where your library books will be listed. If you list just your blog’s URL, it will be removed. If you don’t have a blog, leave the URL blank.
6) Our goal is to read 12, 25, or 50 books checkout from our local library in 2009. Please decide which when you sign up and don’t change it
.7) These can be audios, downloads, children’s, YA. As long as it’s a book, format and target age group does not matter.
8) Feel free to post a link to your reviews in the comment section below. That way, we can visit your blog and read your review.
9) If you have any questions, feel free to ask below or email me at jkayeoldner@yahoo.com. Comments usually get a quicker response.
Because I am trying to read more of my own books for another challenge, I am only going to pledge 25 books for this challenge. I am sure I will read more, but I am not sure which ones they will be yet. Probably more of the newest releases that come out in hardcover. I am a huge lover of my library, and I encourage everyone else to do the same!
Friday, October 31, 2008
The Anniversary by Amy Gutman
The Anniversary is another book I got a recommendation from my library. It took me forever to read it, though I think it was more me than the book. I don't know why my reading has slowed so much, but once I put my mind to it, I finished it pretty quickly. I give it a B.
From Amazon:
Laura Seton has put her past behind her. Several years earlier, her former boyfriend was put to death after being linked to the murder of more than 100 young women. On the fifth anniversary of his death, a chilling note is left at her door-a note that might have come from her dead lover. Unbeknownst to her, two other women receive identical notes-someone is forcing them all to confront a past they've tried to forget. Steven Gage was a charming and elusive psychopathic serial killer. Five years after his capture and execution, his ex-girlfriend, the lawyer who defended him on Death Row, and the writer who turned his story into a bestselling true crime book reach the edge of terror as they are hunted by a shape-shifting shadow from the past. The anniversary is an edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller that will keep hearts pounding until the last shocking twist.
The book was an interesting and a good mystery. There were quite a few red herrings that threw me a bit, but about 75% through the book I had it figured out. I had a hard time sympathizing with the main character. The way she dealt with her daughter got on my nerves and it really irked me. I am not sure why this seems to be bother me so much lately, but I think it has to do with the students I come in contact with on a daily basis and the fact that me and my husband are starting to think about having a baby soon. Our 4 year anniversary is on Wednesday so I think it is getting close to time. Anyways, the book was good but nothing really special that made me go WOW!
Up next is another book by Stephen Cannell. This one is called Final Victim and does sound a little bit different. I plan on doing a lot of reading this weekend, so hopefully I can get through this one quickly. I have been sick for the past couple of days and normally when I am sick I love to read, but this week I have been so tired that I can't concentrate. I feel a bit better today so hopefully I am turning the corner. Happy Halloween and Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
Laura Seton has put her past behind her. Several years earlier, her former boyfriend was put to death after being linked to the murder of more than 100 young women. On the fifth anniversary of his death, a chilling note is left at her door-a note that might have come from her dead lover. Unbeknownst to her, two other women receive identical notes-someone is forcing them all to confront a past they've tried to forget. Steven Gage was a charming and elusive psychopathic serial killer. Five years after his capture and execution, his ex-girlfriend, the lawyer who defended him on Death Row, and the writer who turned his story into a bestselling true crime book reach the edge of terror as they are hunted by a shape-shifting shadow from the past. The anniversary is an edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller that will keep hearts pounding until the last shocking twist.
The book was an interesting and a good mystery. There were quite a few red herrings that threw me a bit, but about 75% through the book I had it figured out. I had a hard time sympathizing with the main character. The way she dealt with her daughter got on my nerves and it really irked me. I am not sure why this seems to be bother me so much lately, but I think it has to do with the students I come in contact with on a daily basis and the fact that me and my husband are starting to think about having a baby soon. Our 4 year anniversary is on Wednesday so I think it is getting close to time. Anyways, the book was good but nothing really special that made me go WOW!
Up next is another book by Stephen Cannell. This one is called Final Victim and does sound a little bit different. I plan on doing a lot of reading this weekend, so hopefully I can get through this one quickly. I have been sick for the past couple of days and normally when I am sick I love to read, but this week I have been so tired that I can't concentrate. I feel a bit better today so hopefully I am turning the corner. Happy Halloween and Happy Reading!
Sunday, October 19, 2008
18 Seconds by George Shuman
I got this recommendation from Barbara on Heidi's Books after reading her review on the second book in this series. She is being kind enough to send it to me but said I had to get the first one in the series and read it first. I grabbed it from the library and checked it out and am so happy I did. It was a really great book, and I give it a B+.
From Amazon:
Thirty years after a deadly traffic accident landed Earl Sykes in prison, he is back on the streets of Wildwood, New Jersey -- and back for revenge. He is also feeding his perverse appetite for abducting young female victims -- the same crimes he committed years ago for which he was never caught.
Police lieutenant Kelly O'Shaughnessy is bewildered by the disappearance of several young women from the boardwalk -- crimes horrifyingly reminiscent of unsolved cases from the seventies. Reluctant to ask for help but desperate to stem the bloodshed, Kelly enlists investigative consultant Sherry Moore. Blind and beautiful, Sherry has the extraordinary ability to "see" the deceased's last eighteen seconds of memory by touching the corpse. As they join forces to discover the killer's identity, the women unwittingly become the hunted -- each step drawing them closer to the deadly clutches of a homicidal monster.
I was expecting this book to be more about Sherry Moore, but it was much more than that. Sherry is a really likeable character and seems like someone I would love to be friends with. The story was really well written and I will admit that I was a little weary about reading about psyhics since most of the time I don't like paranormals. However, the author does an excellent job of incorporating police work along with the visions that Sherry sees. I also liked that we got inside the mind of a killer, even though it meant all along that the reader knows who committed the crime. The only thing that kind of disappointed me was the fact that at the end of the book there was a big hurricane coming. Sometimes I feel that an author takes an easy way out with a storm and making things difficult at the end. I am probably just nitpicking here, but it did bother me.
I am not sure what I am going to read next, but I do know that it will be something off of my TBR shelves. No more library books for awhile as I have so many to read and my husband has kept asking me why I feel the need to check books out from the library when I have my own mini-library downstairs. I think I may use a random number generator to decide what I am going to grab, however my books aren't in alphabetical order right now and sometimes it is hard to find that book. I hope everyone had a great weekend and Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
Thirty years after a deadly traffic accident landed Earl Sykes in prison, he is back on the streets of Wildwood, New Jersey -- and back for revenge. He is also feeding his perverse appetite for abducting young female victims -- the same crimes he committed years ago for which he was never caught.
Police lieutenant Kelly O'Shaughnessy is bewildered by the disappearance of several young women from the boardwalk -- crimes horrifyingly reminiscent of unsolved cases from the seventies. Reluctant to ask for help but desperate to stem the bloodshed, Kelly enlists investigative consultant Sherry Moore. Blind and beautiful, Sherry has the extraordinary ability to "see" the deceased's last eighteen seconds of memory by touching the corpse. As they join forces to discover the killer's identity, the women unwittingly become the hunted -- each step drawing them closer to the deadly clutches of a homicidal monster.
I was expecting this book to be more about Sherry Moore, but it was much more than that. Sherry is a really likeable character and seems like someone I would love to be friends with. The story was really well written and I will admit that I was a little weary about reading about psyhics since most of the time I don't like paranormals. However, the author does an excellent job of incorporating police work along with the visions that Sherry sees. I also liked that we got inside the mind of a killer, even though it meant all along that the reader knows who committed the crime. The only thing that kind of disappointed me was the fact that at the end of the book there was a big hurricane coming. Sometimes I feel that an author takes an easy way out with a storm and making things difficult at the end. I am probably just nitpicking here, but it did bother me.
I am not sure what I am going to read next, but I do know that it will be something off of my TBR shelves. No more library books for awhile as I have so many to read and my husband has kept asking me why I feel the need to check books out from the library when I have my own mini-library downstairs. I think I may use a random number generator to decide what I am going to grab, however my books aren't in alphabetical order right now and sometimes it is hard to find that book. I hope everyone had a great weekend and Happy Reading!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
The Beach House by James Patterson
I picked up this book at last week's used book sale and decided to grab it off of the shelves since I always read Mr. Patterson's book so fast. I have to admit I was a bit disappointed with this book and felt like a lot more could have been done with the book. I give it a B.
Back cover:
Jack Mullen is a driven student of the law. His brother Peter is a servant of the rich, parking the cars of the Hamptons elite- and perhaps satisfying their more intimate needs as well. Then Peter's body is found on the beach. Jack knows the drowning was no accident, but someone's unlimited power and money have bought the cops, the judges, the system. Now Jack is learning a lesson in justice he never got in law school... and his astonishing plan to beat the billionaires will have you reeling- and cheering- to the very last page.
I just thought that some of this book was really far-fetching, though the more I think about it, maybe I am just being naive. The pure fact that the elite and rich can get away with anything they want is terrifying and definitely not what one wants to believe is true. However, the book was engaging and was a brainless read, which sometimes is necessary. I started reading this Thursday but didn't really get into it until last night when finally my eyes gave out. I was so eager to finish it though, so I woke up way too early to finish reading it. I love how Mr. Patterson always uses short paragraphs as there is always a place to end reading and I don't feel like I will forget a ton if I just read a page here and there.
Another local library had another used book sale and I went there today for the bag sale. I got a ton of books for $5.00 and some of them are in brand new condition! I couldn't believe it. Tomorrow is their free day and I may just go back and see what they have left. My bag was overflowing, but the ladies just chuckled at me and said they were glad to see younger people take such an interest in reading. That comment made me feel real nice, as I am constantly reminded of how old I am getting. While at that library, I also checked out two books so I will be reading those first. One is the newest Jackie Collins book, Married Lovers, and I only have a week for it so I will be reading that first. I plan on getting a lot of reading in today but I took some cold medicine that is making me real drowsy right now and I have some cleaning to do. I think I am going to lay down right now with the book and maybe take a little nap. I hope everyone has a great weekend and Happy Reading!
Back cover:
Jack Mullen is a driven student of the law. His brother Peter is a servant of the rich, parking the cars of the Hamptons elite- and perhaps satisfying their more intimate needs as well. Then Peter's body is found on the beach. Jack knows the drowning was no accident, but someone's unlimited power and money have bought the cops, the judges, the system. Now Jack is learning a lesson in justice he never got in law school... and his astonishing plan to beat the billionaires will have you reeling- and cheering- to the very last page.
I just thought that some of this book was really far-fetching, though the more I think about it, maybe I am just being naive. The pure fact that the elite and rich can get away with anything they want is terrifying and definitely not what one wants to believe is true. However, the book was engaging and was a brainless read, which sometimes is necessary. I started reading this Thursday but didn't really get into it until last night when finally my eyes gave out. I was so eager to finish it though, so I woke up way too early to finish reading it. I love how Mr. Patterson always uses short paragraphs as there is always a place to end reading and I don't feel like I will forget a ton if I just read a page here and there.
Another local library had another used book sale and I went there today for the bag sale. I got a ton of books for $5.00 and some of them are in brand new condition! I couldn't believe it. Tomorrow is their free day and I may just go back and see what they have left. My bag was overflowing, but the ladies just chuckled at me and said they were glad to see younger people take such an interest in reading. That comment made me feel real nice, as I am constantly reminded of how old I am getting. While at that library, I also checked out two books so I will be reading those first. One is the newest Jackie Collins book, Married Lovers, and I only have a week for it so I will be reading that first. I plan on getting a lot of reading in today but I took some cold medicine that is making me real drowsy right now and I have some cleaning to do. I think I am going to lay down right now with the book and maybe take a little nap. I hope everyone has a great weekend and Happy Reading!
Monday, October 6, 2008
One Fifth Avenue by Candace Bushnell
I wasn't a huge fan of Ms. Bushnell's previous books, including Sex and the City. While I liked the tv show, I didn't love the book (which is rare for me... I normally like the book better). However, I saw this book while I was in New York and it sounded like something I really enjoy, and it was. I give it an A-.
From Amazon:
One Fifth Avenue, the Art Deco beauty towering over one of Manhattan's oldest and most historically hip neighborhoods, is a one-of-a-kind address, the sort of building you have to earn your way into--one way or another. For the women in Candace Bushnell's new novel, One Fifth Avenue, this edifice is essential to the lives they've carefully established--or hope to establish. From the hedge fund king's wife to the aging gossip columnist to the free-spirited actress (a recent refugee from L.A.), each person's game plan for a rich life comes together under the soaring roof of this landmark building. Acutely observed and mercilessly witty, One Fifth Avenue is a modern-day story of old and new money, that same combustible mix that Edith Wharton mastered in her novels about New York's Gilded Age and F. Scott Fitzgerald illuminated in his Jazz Age tales. Many decades later, Bushnell's New Yorkers suffer the same passions as those fictional Manhattanites from eras past: They thirst for power, for social prominence, and for marriages that are successful--at least to the public eye. But Bushnell is an original, and One Fifth Avenue is so fresh that it reads as if sexual politics, real estate theft, and fortunes lost in a day have never happened before. From Sex and the City through four successive novels, Bushnell has revealed a gift for tapping into the zeitgeist of any New York minute and, as one critic put it, staying uncannily "just the slightest bit ahead of the curve." And with each book, she has deepened her range, but with a light touch that makes her complex literary accomplishments look easy. Her stories progress so nimbly and ring so true that it can seem as if anyone might write them--when, in fact, no one writes novels quite like Candace Bushnell. Fortunately for us, with One Fifth Avenue, she has done it again.
I love reading about New York society, and seeing how the "other half" lives. I find it quite humorous in what some of these people think are real problems that are worthy of worrying and being all stressed out about. What $8,000 pair of shoes they should wear to the next event, for example. However I will admit that I do fantasize about what it would be like to live like that. I loved the characters in this book, and while there were quite a few, they were easy to keep straight. Ms. Bushnell delves into each character enough that the reader gets the oppourtinity to know what is going on in their heads. I also love New York, so reading about it is a great pleasure. The only negative thing I can say about the book is that the ending felt rushed. I read some other reviews on Ms. Bushnell's books and those reviewers all said the same thing. That being said, it was a good read and much better than I expected.
Up next is my last library book I have. I feel like I haven't read one of my own books in forever, so I am looking forward to getting through it. I don't have the book in front of me, but I know it is by Jennifer MacMahon, I believe. I hope to get into it right now. Our fridge broke sometime yesterday and we had to throw away everything. This is putting a damper on my mood and as I wait for the repairman to give me a call, I hope a good book will be able to booster my mood. Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
One Fifth Avenue, the Art Deco beauty towering over one of Manhattan's oldest and most historically hip neighborhoods, is a one-of-a-kind address, the sort of building you have to earn your way into--one way or another. For the women in Candace Bushnell's new novel, One Fifth Avenue, this edifice is essential to the lives they've carefully established--or hope to establish. From the hedge fund king's wife to the aging gossip columnist to the free-spirited actress (a recent refugee from L.A.), each person's game plan for a rich life comes together under the soaring roof of this landmark building. Acutely observed and mercilessly witty, One Fifth Avenue is a modern-day story of old and new money, that same combustible mix that Edith Wharton mastered in her novels about New York's Gilded Age and F. Scott Fitzgerald illuminated in his Jazz Age tales. Many decades later, Bushnell's New Yorkers suffer the same passions as those fictional Manhattanites from eras past: They thirst for power, for social prominence, and for marriages that are successful--at least to the public eye. But Bushnell is an original, and One Fifth Avenue is so fresh that it reads as if sexual politics, real estate theft, and fortunes lost in a day have never happened before. From Sex and the City through four successive novels, Bushnell has revealed a gift for tapping into the zeitgeist of any New York minute and, as one critic put it, staying uncannily "just the slightest bit ahead of the curve." And with each book, she has deepened her range, but with a light touch that makes her complex literary accomplishments look easy. Her stories progress so nimbly and ring so true that it can seem as if anyone might write them--when, in fact, no one writes novels quite like Candace Bushnell. Fortunately for us, with One Fifth Avenue, she has done it again.
I love reading about New York society, and seeing how the "other half" lives. I find it quite humorous in what some of these people think are real problems that are worthy of worrying and being all stressed out about. What $8,000 pair of shoes they should wear to the next event, for example. However I will admit that I do fantasize about what it would be like to live like that. I loved the characters in this book, and while there were quite a few, they were easy to keep straight. Ms. Bushnell delves into each character enough that the reader gets the oppourtinity to know what is going on in their heads. I also love New York, so reading about it is a great pleasure. The only negative thing I can say about the book is that the ending felt rushed. I read some other reviews on Ms. Bushnell's books and those reviewers all said the same thing. That being said, it was a good read and much better than I expected.
Up next is my last library book I have. I feel like I haven't read one of my own books in forever, so I am looking forward to getting through it. I don't have the book in front of me, but I know it is by Jennifer MacMahon, I believe. I hope to get into it right now. Our fridge broke sometime yesterday and we had to throw away everything. This is putting a damper on my mood and as I wait for the repairman to give me a call, I hope a good book will be able to booster my mood. Happy Reading!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Such a Pretty Fat by Jen Lancaster
I absolutely love Ms. Lancaster's snarky attitude and her outlook on life. She says and does a lot of things that I only think about it, and she always makes me laugh. I was stalking my library waiting for this book to be released and it was worth the wait. While I didn't enjoy this book as much as her others, it was still a fun read. I give it a B+.
From Amazon:
"To whom the fat rolls…I'm tired of books where a self-loathing heroine is teased to the point where she starves herself skinny in hopes of a fabulous new life. And I hate the message that women can't possibly be happy until we all fit into our skinny jeans. I don't find these stories uplifting; they make me want to hug these women and take them out for fizzy champagne drinks and cheesecake and explain to them that until they figure out their insides, their outsides don't matter. Unfortunately, being overweight isn't simply a societal issue that can be fixed with a dose healthy of positive self-esteem. It’s a health matter, and here on the eve of my fortieth year, I've learned I have to make changes so I don't, you know, die. Because what good if finally being able to afford a pedicure if I lose a foot to adult onset diabetes?"
This book tracks Jen as she decides to take on her weight issues and get healthy. She discusses her various ways of attempting to lose weight and become healthy, the reader does get a good idea on what the main thing to do is... eat less and move more (also said by one of my favorite radio hosts). As I don't have weight problems some of it I couldn't relate to but it does allow me to see some of the struggles people go through with dieting. There is also some of daily life sprinkled in and the things that happen to her. It is really inspiring to see how well she has done and the struggles that she has overcome, so I would recommend this to anyone who would like to lose weight or just find motivation to do anything.
Up next is a library book. I went today and picked up two and also went the thrift store and bought books. I believe I got 8 books for $5.00, with three of them hardcovers. I successful trip, I believe. Happy Reading everyone!
From Amazon:
"To whom the fat rolls…I'm tired of books where a self-loathing heroine is teased to the point where she starves herself skinny in hopes of a fabulous new life. And I hate the message that women can't possibly be happy until we all fit into our skinny jeans. I don't find these stories uplifting; they make me want to hug these women and take them out for fizzy champagne drinks and cheesecake and explain to them that until they figure out their insides, their outsides don't matter. Unfortunately, being overweight isn't simply a societal issue that can be fixed with a dose healthy of positive self-esteem. It’s a health matter, and here on the eve of my fortieth year, I've learned I have to make changes so I don't, you know, die. Because what good if finally being able to afford a pedicure if I lose a foot to adult onset diabetes?"
This book tracks Jen as she decides to take on her weight issues and get healthy. She discusses her various ways of attempting to lose weight and become healthy, the reader does get a good idea on what the main thing to do is... eat less and move more (also said by one of my favorite radio hosts). As I don't have weight problems some of it I couldn't relate to but it does allow me to see some of the struggles people go through with dieting. There is also some of daily life sprinkled in and the things that happen to her. It is really inspiring to see how well she has done and the struggles that she has overcome, so I would recommend this to anyone who would like to lose weight or just find motivation to do anything.
Up next is a library book. I went today and picked up two and also went the thrift store and bought books. I believe I got 8 books for $5.00, with three of them hardcovers. I successful trip, I believe. Happy Reading everyone!
Monday, August 18, 2008
Lucky by Jackie Collins
Oh, do I love me a Jackie Collins' novel, especially in the summer. To me, her novels are always considered the perfect beach read and Lucky was no different. I started it last night and finished it today, which just goes to show how much I loved this book as it was 600 pages long. I solid A read.
From Amazon:
With the sensual grace of a panther, Lucky Santangelo prowled her Las Vegas casino, restless, ready, eager for action. That night began a dazzling odyssey, filled with dangerous passion and sun-drenched sex, sadistic vengeance and breathless suspense. From the decadent luxury of California, to Paris, New York and a private Greek island, Lucky fought for her father's honor, for ruthless triumph, for the wild card of a fabulous love. Her rivals; an ice-cold Hollywood wife...a much-married heiress strung out on cocaine...a jaded magnate hooked on power...a crazed hoodlum lusting for murder. But Lucky was a gambIer and a lover, a woman who ruled her empire and pursued her man with the potent Santangelo strength ... her way, on her terms, whatever the odds.
I think the thing I love best about Ms. Collins' books are all of the well-written characters. Because her books tend to be so long, we get to really know all of the characters and get an inside view into their minds. She just writes such believable characters, normally those who are rich, and they are all connected in some way and I love to get an inside look. I know a lot of people think her stories are just sex, sex, and more sex, and while there is sex, it is not what the whole book is focused on. This book has it all, murder, kidnapping, love, humor, and friendship. It is truly alarming how though this book was written in 1984, I still see a lot of the current "celebrities" in her characters. The book is not dated much and I just love to soak them up. Another great thrift store find.
Up next is a memoir that I got from the library by one of my favorites, Jen Lancaster. It is her newest book and I feel like I have had it on hold forever. There were a couple of times I almost broke down and bought it, but because I read them so fast and it is a trade paperback, I just didn't feel like spending $15.00. I will probably start it tonight before bed. I started my vacation off with a kick and am enjoying it!!! Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
With the sensual grace of a panther, Lucky Santangelo prowled her Las Vegas casino, restless, ready, eager for action. That night began a dazzling odyssey, filled with dangerous passion and sun-drenched sex, sadistic vengeance and breathless suspense. From the decadent luxury of California, to Paris, New York and a private Greek island, Lucky fought for her father's honor, for ruthless triumph, for the wild card of a fabulous love. Her rivals; an ice-cold Hollywood wife...a much-married heiress strung out on cocaine...a jaded magnate hooked on power...a crazed hoodlum lusting for murder. But Lucky was a gambIer and a lover, a woman who ruled her empire and pursued her man with the potent Santangelo strength ... her way, on her terms, whatever the odds.
I think the thing I love best about Ms. Collins' books are all of the well-written characters. Because her books tend to be so long, we get to really know all of the characters and get an inside view into their minds. She just writes such believable characters, normally those who are rich, and they are all connected in some way and I love to get an inside look. I know a lot of people think her stories are just sex, sex, and more sex, and while there is sex, it is not what the whole book is focused on. This book has it all, murder, kidnapping, love, humor, and friendship. It is truly alarming how though this book was written in 1984, I still see a lot of the current "celebrities" in her characters. The book is not dated much and I just love to soak them up. Another great thrift store find.
Up next is a memoir that I got from the library by one of my favorites, Jen Lancaster. It is her newest book and I feel like I have had it on hold forever. There were a couple of times I almost broke down and bought it, but because I read them so fast and it is a trade paperback, I just didn't feel like spending $15.00. I will probably start it tonight before bed. I started my vacation off with a kick and am enjoying it!!! Happy Reading!
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Queen of Babble Gets Hitched by Meg Cabot
I have read this series since it began and am always looking forward to the newest addition. I know what to expect from the series, a light-hearted, easy read. I wasn't disappointed this time and it was a pleasant, B read.
From Amazon:
Big mouth. Big heart.
Big wedding. Big problems.
It's the wedding of the century!
Things are looking up at last for Lizzie Nichols. She has a career she loves in the field of her choice (wedding gown restoration), and the love of her life, Jean-Luc, has finally proposed. Life's become a dizzying whirl of wedding gown fittings—not necessarily her own—as Lizzie prepares for her dream wedding at her fiancé's château in the south of France.
But the dream soon becomes a nightmare as the best man—whom Lizzie might once have accidentally slept with . . . no, really, just slept—announces his total lack of support for the couple, a sentiment the maid of honor happens to second; Lizzie's Midwestern family can't understand why she doesn't want to have her wedding in the family backyard; her future, oh-so-proper French in-laws seem to be slowly trying to lure the groom away from medical school and back into investment banking; and Lizzie finds herself wondering if her Prince Charming really is as charming as she once believed.
Is Lizzie really ready to embrace her new role as wife and mistress of Château Mirac? Or is she destined to fall into another man's arms . . . and into the trap of becoming a Bad Girl instead?
This book wasn't anything special or spectacular and will not stick with me for very long, I am sure. But it was a nice read and a good distraction from some of the things going on in my life. I could relate to how Lizzie was feeling and all that was going on in her life. When reading one of Meg Cabot's books, the only expectations I have is something cute and that is exactly what I got. I probably would have enjoyed this book a bit more a few years ago when I was really into chick lit, but now I really don't read this genre. I do think that Ms. Cabot has a wonderful voice and really shows how people feel and their motivations for their actions, which is always refreshing.
Yesterday I went to the library to pick up a book for my mom and ended up grabbing two more for myself. It is a sickness, I tell you. So I will be reading another library book next, Good Intentions by Patricia O'Brien, another new to me author. I hope it is good. It is really hot out right now and I think I will just jump right back in to the next book. Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
Big mouth. Big heart.
Big wedding. Big problems.
It's the wedding of the century!
Things are looking up at last for Lizzie Nichols. She has a career she loves in the field of her choice (wedding gown restoration), and the love of her life, Jean-Luc, has finally proposed. Life's become a dizzying whirl of wedding gown fittings—not necessarily her own—as Lizzie prepares for her dream wedding at her fiancé's château in the south of France.
But the dream soon becomes a nightmare as the best man—whom Lizzie might once have accidentally slept with . . . no, really, just slept—announces his total lack of support for the couple, a sentiment the maid of honor happens to second; Lizzie's Midwestern family can't understand why she doesn't want to have her wedding in the family backyard; her future, oh-so-proper French in-laws seem to be slowly trying to lure the groom away from medical school and back into investment banking; and Lizzie finds herself wondering if her Prince Charming really is as charming as she once believed.
Is Lizzie really ready to embrace her new role as wife and mistress of Château Mirac? Or is she destined to fall into another man's arms . . . and into the trap of becoming a Bad Girl instead?
This book wasn't anything special or spectacular and will not stick with me for very long, I am sure. But it was a nice read and a good distraction from some of the things going on in my life. I could relate to how Lizzie was feeling and all that was going on in her life. When reading one of Meg Cabot's books, the only expectations I have is something cute and that is exactly what I got. I probably would have enjoyed this book a bit more a few years ago when I was really into chick lit, but now I really don't read this genre. I do think that Ms. Cabot has a wonderful voice and really shows how people feel and their motivations for their actions, which is always refreshing.
Yesterday I went to the library to pick up a book for my mom and ended up grabbing two more for myself. It is a sickness, I tell you. So I will be reading another library book next, Good Intentions by Patricia O'Brien, another new to me author. I hope it is good. It is really hot out right now and I think I will just jump right back in to the next book. Happy Reading!
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Phantom Prey by John Sanford
This was my first book by John Sanford, and it probably will not be my last. This book was pretty good, though the suspense was somewhat weak. I will give it a B+.
From Amazon:
A widow comes home to her large house in a wealthy, exclusive suburb to find blood everywhere, no body—and her collegeaged daughter missing. She’s always known that her daughter ran with a bad bunch. What did she call them—Goths? Freaks is more like it, running around with all that makeup and black clothing, listening to that awful music, so attracted to death. And now this.But the police can’t find the girl, alive or dead, and when a second Goth is found slashed to death in Minneapolis, the widow truly panics. There’s someone she knows, a surgeon named Weather Davenport, whose husband is a big deal with the police, and she implores Weather to get him directly involved. Lucas begins to investigate only reluctantly—but then when a third Goth is slashed in what is now looking like a Jackthe- Ripper series of killings, he starts working it hard. The clues don’t seem to add up, though. And then there’s the young Goth who keeps appearing and disappearing: Who is she? Where does she come from and, more important, where does she vanish to? And why does Lucas keep getting the sneaking suspicion that there is something else going on here . . . something very, very bad indeed?
As I mentioned earlier, the suspense was somewhat weak because about halfway through the book, the reader learns about who the killer was. That really stunned me though, and I looked back and reread those pages a couple of times to make sure what I read was right. I was somewhat confused about the backstory of the main character, Lucas, but I assume that it is because this book was part of a series. I do wish that Mr. Sanford did explain some of the things that were kind of glossed over, but it wasn't that big of a deal. The topic of goths was interesting though, because I always associated goths with those kids who wear all black and are very, very pale and want to be different (though just look like each other) and Mr. Sanford explained some of their lifestyles and what being a goth is all about. I will be checking out more of Mr. Sanford's books in the future.
All in all, this weekend was a successful one reading wise. I finished two books and am planning on starting Meg Cabot's The Queen of Babble Gets Hitched. I got all of my cleaning done and lesson plans done, so I do plan on getting some reading done. I tend to speed through this series, so I anticipate having it finished it soon. It is my last library book and I am getting interested in some of the books on my TBR piles. I hope everyone had a great weekend and Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
A widow comes home to her large house in a wealthy, exclusive suburb to find blood everywhere, no body—and her collegeaged daughter missing. She’s always known that her daughter ran with a bad bunch. What did she call them—Goths? Freaks is more like it, running around with all that makeup and black clothing, listening to that awful music, so attracted to death. And now this.But the police can’t find the girl, alive or dead, and when a second Goth is found slashed to death in Minneapolis, the widow truly panics. There’s someone she knows, a surgeon named Weather Davenport, whose husband is a big deal with the police, and she implores Weather to get him directly involved. Lucas begins to investigate only reluctantly—but then when a third Goth is slashed in what is now looking like a Jackthe- Ripper series of killings, he starts working it hard. The clues don’t seem to add up, though. And then there’s the young Goth who keeps appearing and disappearing: Who is she? Where does she come from and, more important, where does she vanish to? And why does Lucas keep getting the sneaking suspicion that there is something else going on here . . . something very, very bad indeed?
As I mentioned earlier, the suspense was somewhat weak because about halfway through the book, the reader learns about who the killer was. That really stunned me though, and I looked back and reread those pages a couple of times to make sure what I read was right. I was somewhat confused about the backstory of the main character, Lucas, but I assume that it is because this book was part of a series. I do wish that Mr. Sanford did explain some of the things that were kind of glossed over, but it wasn't that big of a deal. The topic of goths was interesting though, because I always associated goths with those kids who wear all black and are very, very pale and want to be different (though just look like each other) and Mr. Sanford explained some of their lifestyles and what being a goth is all about. I will be checking out more of Mr. Sanford's books in the future.
All in all, this weekend was a successful one reading wise. I finished two books and am planning on starting Meg Cabot's The Queen of Babble Gets Hitched. I got all of my cleaning done and lesson plans done, so I do plan on getting some reading done. I tend to speed through this series, so I anticipate having it finished it soon. It is my last library book and I am getting interested in some of the books on my TBR piles. I hope everyone had a great weekend and Happy Reading!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Obedience by Will Lavender
I read a lot of hype about Obedience by Will Lavender on a lot of blogs and had to place this book on hold from the library. It finally came in and I got around to it, and boy, it was nothing like I have ever read before. I don't know what to think about it, as it really threw me through a loop. I guess I will give it a B+.
From Amazon:
When the students in Winchester University’s Logic and Reasoning 204 arrive for their first day of class, they are greeted not with a syllabus or texts, but with a startling assignment from Professor Williams: Find a hypothetical missing girl named Polly. If after being given a series of clues and details the class has not found her before the end of the term in six weeks, she will be murdered.At first the students are as intrigued by the premise of their puzzle as they are wary of the strange and slightly creepy Professor Williams. But as they delve deeper into the mystery, they begin to wonder: Is the Polly story simply a logic exercise, designed to teach them rational thinking skills, or could it be something more sinister and dangerous?The mystery soon takes over the lives of three students as they find disturbing connections between Polly and themselves. Characters that were supposedly fictitious begin to emerge in reality. Soon, the boundary between the classroom assignment and the real world becomes blurred—and the students wonder if it is their own lives they are being asked to save.
This book was so incredibly different from anything that I have ever read before. There were so many twists and turns and I didn't know what to think. I am still somewhat confused at certain aspects of it but it was really well-written. I did find some parts of the book unbelieveable, but just seemed to go with the book. I don't think I can really write a very good review of it right now because so many things are going through my mind about it right now.
Up next is Easy Innocence by Libby Fischer Hellmann, another book I have heard a lot about on the blogosphere. It is also my second to last book I have from the library, so soon I will have to start tackling my Mt. TBR. I haven't bought any books lately, so that is good. School is also keeping me very busy, but I will always find time to read!
I did a good amount of reading this month, especially considering I was working two jobs. I finished 13 books this month, bringing this year's total so far to 69 books. The lowest rating I gave a book this month was a B-, so I also read a lot of good books. All together, a great month of reading. Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
When the students in Winchester University’s Logic and Reasoning 204 arrive for their first day of class, they are greeted not with a syllabus or texts, but with a startling assignment from Professor Williams: Find a hypothetical missing girl named Polly. If after being given a series of clues and details the class has not found her before the end of the term in six weeks, she will be murdered.At first the students are as intrigued by the premise of their puzzle as they are wary of the strange and slightly creepy Professor Williams. But as they delve deeper into the mystery, they begin to wonder: Is the Polly story simply a logic exercise, designed to teach them rational thinking skills, or could it be something more sinister and dangerous?The mystery soon takes over the lives of three students as they find disturbing connections between Polly and themselves. Characters that were supposedly fictitious begin to emerge in reality. Soon, the boundary between the classroom assignment and the real world becomes blurred—and the students wonder if it is their own lives they are being asked to save.
This book was so incredibly different from anything that I have ever read before. There were so many twists and turns and I didn't know what to think. I am still somewhat confused at certain aspects of it but it was really well-written. I did find some parts of the book unbelieveable, but just seemed to go with the book. I don't think I can really write a very good review of it right now because so many things are going through my mind about it right now.
Up next is Easy Innocence by Libby Fischer Hellmann, another book I have heard a lot about on the blogosphere. It is also my second to last book I have from the library, so soon I will have to start tackling my Mt. TBR. I haven't bought any books lately, so that is good. School is also keeping me very busy, but I will always find time to read!
I did a good amount of reading this month, especially considering I was working two jobs. I finished 13 books this month, bringing this year's total so far to 69 books. The lowest rating I gave a book this month was a B-, so I also read a lot of good books. All together, a great month of reading. Happy Reading!
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Addiction by G.H. Ephron
I enjoyed the earlier book I read by G.H. Ephron and had one other checked out from the library, so I decided to read this one next. It was a quick, suspenseful read and I enjoyed it. I rate Addiction a B+.
From Amazon:
Amnesia, G.H. Ephron's acclaimed debut, introduced forensic neuropsychologist and expert defense witness Dr. Peter Zak. Returning in Addiction, Peter is back in the thick of things at the Pearce Psychiatric Center, coping with patients as well as everyday average administrative nightmares at the hospital, like budgetary concerns, construction, and colleagues' drug trials. And then the worst nightmare of all-the murder of a colleague.Such an event, if it weren't devastating enough, rekindles Peter's memories of the murder of his wife, which left Peter emotionally shattered and isolated; he's only recently begun to emerge. But he can't retreat this time; he must use his expertise to help reconstruct this baffling and intensely personal killing.Peter discovers his friend and former lover, Pearce psychiatrist Channing Temple, dead from a gunshot wound on hospital grounds. Her 16-year-old daughter Olivia is standing over the body, holding a gun. Did Olivia, who has been abusing Ritalin and other drugs, kill her mother? Peter thinks not, but she is quickly arraigned for murder, and he has only two weeks to find the killer before Olivia is sent to prison. In this tense and compelling second installment in a highly lauded series, the talented writing team known as G.H. Ephron tackles the dangers and misconceptions surrounding addiction...and the chaos of murder.
I really like Dr. Zak and there is good character development and we understand why he acts the way he is. I also love books centered around psychologists because it is a topic that really interests me. I always think that if I wasn't going to be a teacher, I would love to be counselor or psychologist. I guess in some senses, the two jobs are not really that far apart. There are a lot of medical terms used in the book but did not make it difficult to understand. I really felt for the teenager, Olivia, and I think that a reader could really relate to what she was going through and feeling. This series is definitely one that I will continue to check out.
Up next is Obedience by Will Lavender. I have heard a lot of buzz about this book around the blogosphere and I have to admit the premise definitely seems very interesting. I can't remember reading anything else that has the same premise and I hope it holds up to the promise. I hope to get through it quickly, though, because I have two more books that I picked up Friday from the library and they need to be returned in two weeks. I know I won't be able to renew them because there is a hold on them for other patrons. I always like to quickly return books that people are waiting for because I hate waiting! I hope everyone else had a good weekend and a good start to a new week! Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
Amnesia, G.H. Ephron's acclaimed debut, introduced forensic neuropsychologist and expert defense witness Dr. Peter Zak. Returning in Addiction, Peter is back in the thick of things at the Pearce Psychiatric Center, coping with patients as well as everyday average administrative nightmares at the hospital, like budgetary concerns, construction, and colleagues' drug trials. And then the worst nightmare of all-the murder of a colleague.Such an event, if it weren't devastating enough, rekindles Peter's memories of the murder of his wife, which left Peter emotionally shattered and isolated; he's only recently begun to emerge. But he can't retreat this time; he must use his expertise to help reconstruct this baffling and intensely personal killing.Peter discovers his friend and former lover, Pearce psychiatrist Channing Temple, dead from a gunshot wound on hospital grounds. Her 16-year-old daughter Olivia is standing over the body, holding a gun. Did Olivia, who has been abusing Ritalin and other drugs, kill her mother? Peter thinks not, but she is quickly arraigned for murder, and he has only two weeks to find the killer before Olivia is sent to prison. In this tense and compelling second installment in a highly lauded series, the talented writing team known as G.H. Ephron tackles the dangers and misconceptions surrounding addiction...and the chaos of murder.
I really like Dr. Zak and there is good character development and we understand why he acts the way he is. I also love books centered around psychologists because it is a topic that really interests me. I always think that if I wasn't going to be a teacher, I would love to be counselor or psychologist. I guess in some senses, the two jobs are not really that far apart. There are a lot of medical terms used in the book but did not make it difficult to understand. I really felt for the teenager, Olivia, and I think that a reader could really relate to what she was going through and feeling. This series is definitely one that I will continue to check out.
Up next is Obedience by Will Lavender. I have heard a lot of buzz about this book around the blogosphere and I have to admit the premise definitely seems very interesting. I can't remember reading anything else that has the same premise and I hope it holds up to the promise. I hope to get through it quickly, though, because I have two more books that I picked up Friday from the library and they need to be returned in two weeks. I know I won't be able to renew them because there is a hold on them for other patrons. I always like to quickly return books that people are waiting for because I hate waiting! I hope everyone else had a good weekend and a good start to a new week! Happy Reading!
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Fear the Night by John Lutz
Another John Lutz book, and another happy reader. I liked this book and it kept me hanging and wanting to read more, so I will rate it a B+.
From the back of the book:
He comes out when the sun goes down. He delivers death from the barrel of a rifle. He's made New York City his shooting gallery. Men and women, natives and tourists, young and old, have all been his victims. The press has named him the Night Sniper. He taunts those who would try to stop him, threatening to increase the body count unless legendary retired homicide detective Vin Repetto is will to engage him in a lethal game of cat and mouse.
Repetto paid his dues. Over twenty years on the force, obtaining a captain's rank, and injured in the line of duty, he's earned his retirement. Yet he can't help feeling responsible for the lives The Night Sniper has taken, and will continue to take if his challenge remains unanswered. The decision is snatched from his hands when the next victim is murdered right before Repetto's eyes. Now, the game is truly set to begin, but the Night Sniper doesn't realize they are playing by Repetto's rules...
I am sure the idea of this book came from the Beltway Snipers a couple of years back in Washington D.C. I recall watching the news and just being dumbfounded that someone would actually do something like that and I think that actually living through the news accounts really made this book a little bit spookier. One of the things I love about John Lutz is he lets on the identity of the villian midway through the book and gives an inside look to what causes someone to snap and became a psycho. The book had me hooked and I enjoyed it. The reason why I gave it a B+ though is because Mr. Lutz seems to have a formula and sticks with it. It works, but sometimes I would like to see a little bit of variety. All of the books I have read center around a detective who is retired and teamed up with two other detectives that are kind of on the outside fringes, possibly about to be demoted. It works, but I would like to see a different setup. I am not sure if that is how all of his books are, but it probably will not stop me from reading more of his. I do have two more of his books on my bookshelf to read anyways.
Up next is another library book I picked up today. I have noticed this book reviewed on several blogs and decided to place it on hold through my library. It is different from what I usually read, though I was intrigued. It is Candy Girl, A Year in the Life of an Unlikely Stripper by Diablo Cody. I want to see the movie Juno and thought to start off reading the screenwriter's memoir. I hope it is interesting.
Happy Reading everyone!
From the back of the book:
He comes out when the sun goes down. He delivers death from the barrel of a rifle. He's made New York City his shooting gallery. Men and women, natives and tourists, young and old, have all been his victims. The press has named him the Night Sniper. He taunts those who would try to stop him, threatening to increase the body count unless legendary retired homicide detective Vin Repetto is will to engage him in a lethal game of cat and mouse.
Repetto paid his dues. Over twenty years on the force, obtaining a captain's rank, and injured in the line of duty, he's earned his retirement. Yet he can't help feeling responsible for the lives The Night Sniper has taken, and will continue to take if his challenge remains unanswered. The decision is snatched from his hands when the next victim is murdered right before Repetto's eyes. Now, the game is truly set to begin, but the Night Sniper doesn't realize they are playing by Repetto's rules...
I am sure the idea of this book came from the Beltway Snipers a couple of years back in Washington D.C. I recall watching the news and just being dumbfounded that someone would actually do something like that and I think that actually living through the news accounts really made this book a little bit spookier. One of the things I love about John Lutz is he lets on the identity of the villian midway through the book and gives an inside look to what causes someone to snap and became a psycho. The book had me hooked and I enjoyed it. The reason why I gave it a B+ though is because Mr. Lutz seems to have a formula and sticks with it. It works, but sometimes I would like to see a little bit of variety. All of the books I have read center around a detective who is retired and teamed up with two other detectives that are kind of on the outside fringes, possibly about to be demoted. It works, but I would like to see a different setup. I am not sure if that is how all of his books are, but it probably will not stop me from reading more of his. I do have two more of his books on my bookshelf to read anyways.
Up next is another library book I picked up today. I have noticed this book reviewed on several blogs and decided to place it on hold through my library. It is different from what I usually read, though I was intrigued. It is Candy Girl, A Year in the Life of an Unlikely Stripper by Diablo Cody. I want to see the movie Juno and thought to start off reading the screenwriter's memoir. I hope it is interesting.
Happy Reading everyone!
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