A new sub-genre for me-- YA thriller. Lots of characters and relationships to keep straight, and though I'd figured out the "who" the reason why caughA new sub-genre for me-- YA thriller. Lots of characters and relationships to keep straight, and though I'd figured out the "who" the reason why caught me unawares. ...more
Vignettes centering on a group of friends, the telling of which tie into a novel. Amusing, insightful, and occasionally annoying, (but only because itVignettes centering on a group of friends, the telling of which tie into a novel. Amusing, insightful, and occasionally annoying, (but only because it's so far removed from my world and experience.) I needed a diversionary read from a somewhat pedantic nonfiction book I am reading for review. The title is a definite ear worm, though....more
Three stories; a favorite author, a favorite artist. AS Byatt pulled me in for each one, but let me go too soon, which is why I am not a short story fThree stories; a favorite author, a favorite artist. AS Byatt pulled me in for each one, but let me go too soon, which is why I am not a short story fan. Now I have to go and look at a book of Matisse's paintings to satisfy my longing....more
This was a copy I received from a New Zealand friend courtesy of BookCrossing, and I somehow managed to not write about it. What a powerful story! NotThis was a copy I received from a New Zealand friend courtesy of BookCrossing, and I somehow managed to not write about it. What a powerful story! Not an easy book to read, but it did give me a wider glimpse into the unique elements of New Zealand and its people. the details have blurred over time, but it's one of those books you don't forget. I could kick myself for not journalling sooner, when it was fresh in my mind...more
By the third book in this series, I no longer needed to consult the glossary in the front of the book to interpret the bits of flash in the narrative.By the third book in this series, I no longer needed to consult the glossary in the front of the book to interpret the bits of flash in the narrative. Again, the story is well planned out, well written, but the tension seems to have lessened during the series. I love the main characters, and despite the slower pace in this final of the trilogy, will be sorry to see them go. Will look for more by the author, though, because I like the writing and the research evident in the works. ...more
This moved so slowly that, despite my love of both fantasy and Asian culture, I put it aside several times (hence the long reading time.) It only begaThis moved so slowly that, despite my love of both fantasy and Asian culture, I put it aside several times (hence the long reading time.) It only began to pick up just past the middle, when I'd almost determined to abandon it for good. I must say that there were elements that strongly reminded me of The Wheel of Time: Powerful/magic filled groups of women (Asha here, Ajah in WoT) that have varying abilities depending on the color of their heartstone (minus the stone, the WoT Ajahs divide their talents and label them with colors, too) including black, which is shunned by all and extremely powerful in ways other Asha are not. There's a corresponding male group called the Deathseekers. The Asha have the ability to bond with another so that their minds can interact in thought and subtle ways. There's more, but you can read the book to find out.
The story is told in two parts, a present day interview with a bard and a girl, a black asha banished from the house of her sisters (see, I told you there was more), who is fighting monsters. The other is the back story of this girl, named Tea, as she goes to the town to become an accepted and then a novice in learning to be a Black Asha. When I didn't abandon the book, it was only to see if the two stories matched up (which they almost did-- I suspect the real matchup comes in the next book, though I doubt I'll read it.
My favorite part of the book came in the Acknowledgements: "And also to Tom Hiddleston, just because I've wanted to thank Tom Hiddleston for something. Keep doing what you do, Tom." For that, and the author bio, I have rounded the rating up to a 2.5....more
An intriguing blend of fantasy and history, in a reimagined world of medieval Japan. It awakened the dormant Asian Studies scholar in me (that's legitAn intriguing blend of fantasy and history, in a reimagined world of medieval Japan. It awakened the dormant Asian Studies scholar in me (that's legitimate: BA in history, anthropology, and Asian Studies in 1978 from Washington University.) This, apparently, is one of 4 novels in the series, all of which came out in 2016. While I enjoyed reading it, I'm not committed to seeking out the others, though wouldn't say no to one if it fell into my hands. The characters were interesting, and the politics of historic Japan was filled with intrigue and mystery. This adds magic and fantasy.
Many thanks to my friend Laurali, who passed it on to me. I trust her book recommendations. She has not failed me yet....more
There's something about the seventh son of a seventh son that grabs my attention, which is just what this book did, lying in a huddle (or would that bThere's something about the seventh son of a seventh son that grabs my attention, which is just what this book did, lying in a huddle (or would that be a chapter) of books set out for others to pick up at a recent fantasy con I attended. Apparently this is the start of a series, and had the misfortune to come out during the craze involving another boy wizard, thus got kind of buried. But it's got charm of its own, and some lovely characters. (I admit to being thrown a couple of times when locations/descriptions distinctly our own world slipped in there (Roman, Sargasso Sea, etc) I'd assumed another world, or an alternate one, so it knocked the flow back a peg for me.) I also liked that this was not necessarily a story about a boy, or about a girl, but about several different young folk finding their truths and their paths.
Will pass this on to a friend who has kids in the target age range....more
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a reader in possession of a comfy seat and a cuppa, must be in want of a good book.
This was sent to me bIt is a truth universally acknowledged, that a reader in possession of a comfy seat and a cuppa, must be in want of a good book.
This was sent to me by a friend, who knows my love of books and Austen. It's essentially the Upstairs-Downstairs of Pride and Prejudice. The problem is I like the originals of each so much that this inevitably fell short. It had moments, but overall, didn't engage me. I think if someone was unfamiliar with how the things we now depend on appliances and devices to do were done in days when electricity wasn't around, it might have been a bit more interesting, but I know a little about that, having lived in a third world country for a bit in the days before electricity was around or reliable and a telephone was a new and amazing device. I've heard there's a series on TV now (probably cable or PBS), but I'm not sure I'll watch. I prefer my Austen firsthand....more
I've had this book for ages on my shelf. While it was well written and covered some interesting aspects of love, the multiple levels of sadness presenI've had this book for ages on my shelf. While it was well written and covered some interesting aspects of love, the multiple levels of sadness present in it ultimately overwhelmed everything else for me....more
So now, I have read Jane Austen, Jane Austen with "magic", Jane Austen with zombies, Jane Austen in today's world, Jane Austen wannabes, and now this So now, I have read Jane Austen, Jane Austen with "magic", Jane Austen with zombies, Jane Austen in today's world, Jane Austen wannabes, and now this book: Jane Austen with dragons. All in all, I enjoyed the mannerisms and the story and a revisiting of a favorite author's style....more
Written 1st read March 18, 2016: Found on a book exchange shelf where I was leaving a BookCrossing book. Thought I might like as a light diversion, butWritten 1st read March 18, 2016: Found on a book exchange shelf where I was leaving a BookCrossing book. Thought I might like as a light diversion, but it didn't really speak to me. Even though it centered on the arts in Paris, and has decent reviews, I decided not to keep reading and released my copy via BookCrossing, unfinished.
November 2018 Reread this book on the recommendation of a friend, with no recollection that I had read it before. This time, I finished it. I found the story kind of vanilla, with a somewhat predictable ending. I did, however, enjoy the bits about art and artists in the 1920's. As usual, though, gratuitous cameos by famous folks of the time tended to annoy me rather than enhance the story. Bottom line? Even the upper class can find happiness in Paris after WWI....more
Found on a book exchange shelf where I was leaving a BookCrossing book. A quick tale of the abandoned daughter of an earl, and her plot to reinstate hFound on a book exchange shelf where I was leaving a BookCrossing book. A quick tale of the abandoned daughter of an earl, and her plot to reinstate herself in her father's world....more
Middle of the Jojo Moyes road. A couple a great moments, otherwise, pretty standard. You pretty much could see most of it coming.
Best part of book? WhMiddle of the Jojo Moyes road. A couple a great moments, otherwise, pretty standard. You pretty much could see most of it coming.
Best part of book? When I got to the very last page, there was a sticky-note left by a previous reader that said, "I love you." Nice way to end the final read of 2015. ...more
It's lovely to pick up a book with great expectation, and, within the first few pages, sigh with contentment. It was lovely to be immersed in several It's lovely to pick up a book with great expectation, and, within the first few pages, sigh with contentment. It was lovely to be immersed in several of my favorite things: books, friendship, love, and the French country-side. As none of those things ever flow 100% smoothly, it's only natural that my level of contentment varied at points in the book.
It's been a few days since I finished The Little Paris Bookshop and when I sat down to write my impressions, the first thing that came to mind was one of the characters talking about how best to arrange your bookshelves: not by color or title, but by subject, so that Hemingway's Old Man and the... was with other books about the sea. That notion delighted me and imagined putting my own bookshelf together so that novels and nonfiction nestled together by subject. I quite liked the thought that Chocolat could nestle next to Julia Child.
There are other delightful moments in this book. And some completely mournful, with a French soul. Overall, though, the moments blend together into a well-told tale of love, longing, forgiving, and ultimately, moving on in life.Jean Perdu sells books from La Pharmacie Litteraire (The Literary Apothecary), his barge on the Siene. He begins a journey on the river to help resolve something that has kept his life from moving forward for the past twenty years. The journey, like the novel, is languid at times, tumultuous at others. One of my favorite quotes is “Books are like people, and people are like books, I’ll tell you how I go about it. I ask myself: Is he or she the main character in his or her life? What is her motive? Or is she a secondary character in her own tale? Is she in the process of editing herself out of her story because her husband, her career, her children or her job are consuming her entire text?”. Along with my imaginary rearrangement of my bookshelf, I say now try to place people as characters in the book of their life.
And the idea of secret tango milongas? Makes me want to learn to dance the tango and go travelling again....more
I'd heard lots of wonderful things about this book, from people whose reading sensibilities I trust. I also heard some "fair to partly cloudy" recommeI'd heard lots of wonderful things about this book, from people whose reading sensibilities I trust. I also heard some "fair to partly cloudy" recommendations from others I respect. I didn't know how I would find it, and took it as an omen when the book took to hiding behind other books on the shelf. But it resurfaced, and I read it.
Still trying to figure this out. I think, had I not read Rachel Joyce's two books, I might feel more kindly to poor Etta. As it was, her journey was not only 2,000 miles but a journey through time and memory with the men who helped define her world, as well as a coyote who was a faithful companion. Glad I read it, but still trying to sort it out in my mind....more
I'd not read this author before, so was quite pleased with myself when I figured out well before it was obvious that the setting was Australia. The prI'd not read this author before, so was quite pleased with myself when I figured out well before it was obvious that the setting was Australia. The premise was interesting -- a woman who is a hypnotherapist is dating a man who is being stalked by his ex-lover, who is a patient of said therapist. The story flips between the point of view of the two women. There's nothing mind shattering or cliff-hangerish (no boiled bunnies, that I can recall.) And as the story unfolded, the depth of the characters increased, so that, as in life, no one is wholly good or wholly evil. ...more
Read this back in 2009 and this review sat under another book of the same name but by a different author, until an astute reader noticed it was incorrRead this back in 2009 and this review sat under another book of the same name but by a different author, until an astute reader noticed it was incorrectly filed. Fixing that error now.
This book was sent to me by a BookCrosser. I'm not really much of a chick lit reader, but have read more in the past few years. The thing that I like about the books that are written abroad is how they broaden my vocabulary and give me glimpses into a very different lifestyle and location. My life is richer for knowing the difference between snogging and shagging (just an ironic aside here. There is a famous dance done to beach music, that originated in this area, called, you guessed it, the shag). This book was my maiden voyage into Australian click lit and opened up new avenues to explore.
At first, I was put off by the excessive (to my mind) use of drugs & alcohol and constant parties. It must be exhausting to lead such a life. And when would you find time to read???
But, just about when I decided I'd had enough, I realized I was a little more than halfway through, and that I kind of wanted to see where the author took all this. The second half was much quicker to read. The author has chosen to deal with some pretty heady issues and the book does give you a little tour of Sydney- so for those reasons, and for the description of Tim Tams, I'll bump it up a star....more
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