Book: The Scarlet Pimpernel

 Book: The Scarlet Pimpernel

Author: Baroness Orczy

Pages: 330

This is my 41st read for the year

This is the story of Marguerite Blakeney and trying to figure out who is the daring Scarlet Pimpernel that is rescuing French aristocrats from being hanged.  He gets them out of France and into England safely.  Marguerite is approached by Chauvelin who is trying to capture the Scarlet Pimpernel and bring him to justice.  Chauvelin promises her that no harm with come to her brother - who has been sentenced to die in France - if she helps him.  She agrees until she finds out the true identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel.  Then it is a race to see if Marguerite can save him and her brother in time.

This was a pretty good book.  It isn't a hard read, and the reader can probably figure out who the Scarlet Pimpernel is pretty early in the book (before Marguerite does).  However - if you go on Amazon you will know before you even read the book, so you are warned.  The writing is not bad but the ending could have been better.  

Stars: 3

Book: The Twelve

 Book: The Twelve

Author: Justin Cronin

Pages: 608

This is my 40th read for the year

This is the second book in the Passage Trilogy.  The story opens in the past when the infection was just starting to spread.  Lila, a doctor, has seen something horrible at the hospital and now has locked herself in her house, refusing to believe what is happening outside her walls and going about her life as nothing has changed.  As other survivors find each other and start to trek to safety, they all hope that whatever is happening is over quick.

Years in the future (and 5 years after the timeline of book one), we meet our crew from the first group struggling to hold things together.  Amy is on her own mission.  The crew are mourning the loss of some of their own. Amy is changing, even though at 103 years old and one of the original 12, she shouldn't be.  She has powers that come in handy.  The other virals are discovering that they can die if they cannot feed, an so the original 12 make a plan for world domination and control their numbers.  Meanwhile the insurgents have infiltrated a prison that has been built by the 12 and have plans to pic them off one by one.

This was a great book. I think I liked it even better than the first.  I really liked that Cronin backtracked in the beginning of this book to the beginning of the infection and told the story from other points of view.  I like how he used that as kind of a "recap" but also a prelude of what was to come with some of those characters in the "here and now" of the characters we became aquainted with in book one.  He is a superb writer.  This is a slow burning story, but like The Stand it has the perfect pace.  He doesn't have a ton of characters so we get in be heavily involved in their lives in these books which makes it wonderful.

Great series.  Cannot wait to read the third and see how he finishes the story.

Stars: 5

Book: Loki

 Book: Loki

Author: Melvin Burgess

Pages: 272

This is my 39th read for the year

I am borrowing from Amazon for the synopsis (I am on vacation and don't want to paraphrase)

"Starting with the Norse creation myths, the trickster god Loki takes the reader on a wild ride through Norse mythology, from the era when the gods—the founders of Asgard—defeated a race of monsters, and then hurtles through legendary stories, including Odin hanging himself on the World Tree, the theft of the corrupting gold ring, and the murder of Baldr, the god of love and the sun.

Born within the heart of a fire in the hollow of a tree-trunk, Loki arrives in Asgard as an outsider. He is a trickster, an unreliable narrator, the god of intelligence and politics. In spite of his cleverness and sparkling wit (or, perhaps, because of this), Loki struggles to find his place among the old patriarchal gods of supernatural power and is constantly at odds with the god of thunder—Thor.

Alongside the politics of Asgard, the novel charts the course of Loki's many loves and families, from his mothering of Odin's famous horse to his intense, turbulent, and, eventually fatal relationship with Baldr the Beautiful—a tender and moving story of a love that goes wrong.

This is a retelling that is contemporary in tone, at once amusing and relatable. It is a heartfelt plea to overthrow the old gods of power and authority and instigate a new era ruled by love and intelligence"

My husband got me this book for my birthday.  I do love Norse Mythology, and I was interested in the story of Loki.  There are so many twist in turns in myths, and with this world, and I thought the author did a nice job with Loki's story.  I have read about him and Thor in the past, but this Loki view book was interesting.  The story is short and doesn't get into the weeds like Norse Mythology can do with all of its "cast of characters" which I appreciated.  Fun read.

Stars: 4

Book: I Feel Bad About My Neck

 Book: I Feel Bad About About My Neck

Author: Nora Ephron

Pages: 137

This is my 38th read for the year

This is Nora's own story.  She uses humor to talk about purses, cooking, books, and of course - her neck.  In her 60s at the time of her writing this book, she talks about what it is like to be an older woman.

I read this book for a challenge and it was so fun.  Ephron was quirky and funny and I enjoyed this novella very much.  She discussed her time in New York, her three marriages, and raising kids in the city.   I am glad I read it.

Stars: 4

Book: Swamp Story

 Book: Swamp Story

Author: Dave Barry

Pages: 306

This is my 37th read for the year

This is the story of a rag tag gang in Florida.  Jessie - the only level headed one of the group - is stuck with her baby and her boyfriend who is a wanna be reality star.  Jessie left her family for her boyfriend and he squandered her trust fund.  Broke and desperate, she finds some gold on a walk and now is wondering if it is her ticket out of town.  

There is also Ken Bortle and his brother Ben.  Ken has big dreams to make money for their soon to be closed store by making up a Everglades Melon Monster to rake in some money and some fame.  What happens is beyond anyone mixesd up in this sceme dreams of.  Nothing goes the way they planned, but as Dave Barry always says "This is, afterall, Florida"

This waa silly book.  I always enjoy Dave Barry's books - they are hysterical and after living in Florida myself - "so Florida".  It is a well written, quick easy read that I am glad I read.

Stars: 4

Book: Ethan Frome

 Book: Ethan Frome

Author: Edith Wharton

Pages: 77

This is my 36th read for the year

This is the story of Ethan Frome  A poor farmer who lives with his ailing wife in New England.  When his wife, Zeena's, family member Mattie comes to live with them, Ethan starts to fall for her.  Ethan knows he is in a loveless marriage to a wife 7 years older than he is and he wants more.  Whtn Zeena's realizes that Ethan has feelings from Mattie, she makes arrangements to have her sent away and another servant brought to the house to care for her.  When tragedy strikes, Ethan spends the rest of his life paying for it.

This was a great book.  I have actually visited Edith Wharton's home here in Massachusetts and learned of her history.  This apparently is her most famous book, so when it showed up on the Rory Reading Challenge, I was happy to give it a read.  This is a novella and a quick read, but very well written.  The story of Ethan and his terrible wife (who you will love to hate) keeps you enthralled in the story to the very end.  I am anxious to read a few more of her works.

Stars: 4.5

Book: The Only Good Indians

 Book: The Only Good Indians

Author: Stephen Graham Jones

Pages: 336

This is my 35th read for the year

This story follows the lives of 4 Native American men and their families - all disturb by an disturbing event from their past.  Now they are being haunted by the entity from their past which leads to several tragedies among their friends and families.

This book was odd.  If found getting through it a big of a chore.  This wasn't scary. - just weird.  I found it quite confusing at times - a lot of dialogue that didn't move the story along.  The writing wasn't that great and it was not easy to follow the story because of it.  This one wasn't for me.

Stars: 2.5

Book: Cyrano de Bergerac

 Book: Cyrano de Bergerac

Author: Edmond Rostand

Pages: 256

This is my 34th read for the year

This is the story of Hercule Cyrano de Bergerac.  He is a decorated soldier and a master of words.  His downfall is his large nose that seems to keep him from getting the woman that he want - the beautiful Roxanne.  When Roxanne falls for Chistian, Hercule offers to be the words behind Christians face.  Hercule feels that this is the only way that Roxanne will know how he truly feels.  Roxanne falls for Christian through his words, eventually telling him that even if he was ugly, his words are what she loves more than anything. When tragedy strikes, Hercule decides he needs to be there for Roxanne in any capacity that she desires.

This was a great book.  It is short, but very enjoyable.  We all know the story of Cyrano - we have all seen the various movies made about this man over the years.  But I have never read th original story.  I also looked up the man which was also just an interesting.  This is a well written book and an intriguing story of a man who just wanted love like anyone else.

Stars: 4.5

Book: Atonement

 Book: Atonement

Author: Ian McEwan

Pages: 351

This is my 33rd read for the year

In 1935 a young Briony Tallis saw an exchange between her older sister Cecilia and a boy Robbie that she misjudged.  When Robbie writes a letter to Cecilia and Briony, instead of giving it to her sister, reads the letter and starts to weave together a lie that will hurt so many around her and cannot be undone.  When Robbie is accused of something he doesn't do and is sent to prison and then to the War.  In the meantime, Briony grows up.  Cecilia cuts herself off from her family and Briony due to the accusation.  Briony realizes her mistake years later and wants to make ammends but she isn't sure it will ever make any difference, or make her sister forgive her.

This was a weird book.  I struggled with the writing style.  There were parts where the story was interesting but many where it just droned on.  And Briony is horrible.  Even in the end I had no warm feelings for her and what she did.  She was a brat from beginning to end.  The ending is not satisfying.

Stars: 3

Book: Contact

 Book: Contact

Author: Carl Sagan

Pages: 432

This is my 32nd read for the year

This is the story of Ellie Arroway.  They year is 1999 and she is in charge of Project Argus which searches for extraterrestial life.  While working a signal comes in that seems to be from the Vega System 26 light years away.  Plans are made to build a machine that will transport 5 people to Vega to find out if there really is life out there.  The crew heads out, and upon return realize that no time at all has passed on earth. They are then accused of conspiracy.

This was a very convoluted book in my opinion.  I enjoyed some parts of it - but trying to work throuhg the basic story through all the side information that really didn't propel the story forward made this a tough read for me.  I could not get fully invested.  It is very different than the movie and in some parts it just drags.

Stars: 3

Book: The Ferryman

 Book: The Ferryman

Author: Justin Cronin

Pages: 538

This is my 31st read for the year

This is the story of Proctor Bennett.  Proctor is the Director of Social Contracts in a Utopia called Prospera.  The lucky citizens of this world live long lives that are constantly monitored.  Once their monitors fall below 10 percent, the citizens are retired, and sent to have their memories wiped and to start over anew.  Proctor is the Ferryman that helps these citizens get to the "Nursery" so that the people can be reborn.  Citizens of this world are not every born - they are made.  However, there is another island -the Annex.  The people here care for the Citizens of Prospera, are born into the world and die without the chance to be reborn.  When Proctor is sent to retire his own father, and his father leaves him with a cryptic message, he isn't sure what to do next.

In the meantime, the Support Staff of the Annex are starting to rebel against their place in society.  Proctor, who has been having trouble himself finds himself twisted into their world and discovers that someone very important to him from his past is part of the Annex rebelion.  As the world unravels, Proctor discovers that his world isn't all that it seems.

This is my second Cronin book.  There is no doubt that he is a talented writer.  I enjoyed his book "The Passage" very much, and was hopping for the same level out of this book.  The first half drew me in.  I loved the world building of Prospera and trying to figure out where the story was going.  The second half of the book lost me a little bit.  I KIND of saw where it was going, but it got quite convoluted in the second half almost to the point that I thought I was missing something.  This is a long book, but honestly, I could have seen him drawing out the first half of this book to a full novel and then writing a duology to proceed with the second half.  It might have given him the opportunity to develop what truly felt like two separate stories into a better picture in my opinion.

This author is talented.  No doubt.  And I am glad I read it.  I just wanted a bit more.

Stars: 4

Book: How To Breathe Underwater

 Book: How To Breathe Underwater

Author: Julie Orringer

Pages: 226

This is my 30th read for the year

This is a book of short stories.  Among the tales is a story of a young girl who, after a car crash where she had to escape drowning, she takes scuba lessons to concur her fear of water.  Another is a girl whose mother is very sick and they spend a day at a healing commune when tragedy strikes.  Another is a young Jewish girl who befriends a Christian girl and wonders what she is missing by being Jewish.  And yet another where a young girl spends the day in Disney world with her sick mother and a family friend as she contemplates life after her mother is gone.

This was an interesting book.  I have mentioned several times before that I am not a fan of short story books.  I read this one for a reading challenge and honestly it wasn't terrible.  The writing is very good and the stories interesting....until the ends.  Not one story has a satisfying ending. Each one left on a cliff hanger which, I know was the author's intention, but that isn't for me.  It drove me crazy.  

Stars: 3.5

Book: Cilka's Journey

 Book: Cilka's Journey

Author: Heather Morris

Pages: 384

This is my 29th read for the year

This is the story of Cilka who in 1942 is sent to Auschwitz.  She is separated from the rest of the women in the camp and is forced to do unimaginable things just to stay alive.  When the war ends, and the Jews are released, Cilka is told that she will be going to Siberia to serve a 15 year sentence for collaborating with the enemy.  Even thought Cilka knows this wasn't the case, she cannot do anything about it.

While serving her sentence Cilka has the chance to train as a nurse and help in the local hospital.  As she becomes a favorite among the doctors and nurses, the years are ticking by.  She sees other prisoners come and go.  She even gives up a chance to be released early to help a young woman stay with her child.  And when it is finally Cilka's turn to go, she is able to start the life she deserves.

This was a pretty good book.  I read the Tottooist of Auschwitz, and when I saw this follow up, I knew I wanted to read it.  Cilka is a real person - just like the Tattooist was.  However, this author chooses to tell her stories as Historical Fiction - filling in the gaps of truth with fiction where she didn't have enough information.  She ends this book with information on Cilka and her family and the facts that she does know about her and her life which was a great way to end the book.  The writing is just so-so, but the story was one I am glad I read.

Stars. 4

Book: One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

 Book: One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

Author: Ken Kesey

Pages: 272

This is my 28th read for the year

This is the story of Randle McMurphy who is sent to a state mental institution from the jail to be evaluated.  He takes over his area of the hospital and encouraged the other patients to challenge the head nurse - Nurse Ratched.  Openly defying the rules and even leaving the hospital with a group of patients on a day outing fishing trip, he battles Nurse Ratched and the doctors on a daily basis for control.  

This was a weird book.  And it was okay.  I ended up watching the movie after I finished it just to kind of piece it all together, and that helped.  At first I thought the Native American patient was the main character because he has so many lines in the book.  But in the movie - that isn't true.  Probably because McMurphy is played by Jack Nicholson.  It is a bit of a disjointed book and the first half was slow.  It does pick up in the second half as the "battle" between Nurse Ratched and McMurphy comes to a head.  The rambling and dark undertones are what decreased the rating for me.

Stars: 3

Book: The Lottery

 Book: The Lottery

Author: Shirley Jackson

Pages: 160

This is my 27th read of the year

This graphic novel is the telling of Shirley Jackson's short story - "The Lottery".  This is a story of a town who on the outside seems like a quiet peaceful place until it is time for the Lottery.  All the towns people's names are put into a box and one is drawn.  Then the children's names are entered and another drawn.  And what happens to those who are drawn is something the whole town must live with after.

This was an interesting book.  There were not enough words or information for me to really piece it together in this fashion.  I have decided to check out the actual short story just to get the feeling that I understood exactly what drives the people for the Lottery.  Although, what I might find is that it is never spelled out - like it was here.  It was clear what happened, but not why.  We shall see.

Stars: 3

Book: Consider The Lobster and Other Essays

 Book: Consider The Lobster and Other Essays

Author: David Foster Wallace

Pages: 343

This is my 26th read for the year

In this collection of essays, Wallacs asks several questions:  Do Lobsters feel pain, Is Kafka actually funny?  What happens when adult film stars meet fans in person?  What was John McCain really like?  These are just some of the topics that are covered between pages of footnotes, side annotations, and provoking thoughts.

This was a pretty good book.  There is no doubt that Wallace is a talented writer.  I enjoyed the majority of the essays in this book - only a few I felt were just so so.  The essay about McCain is the longest in this book because Wallace was asked to follow him during his campaign.

I read this one for the Rory Gilmore challenge, and glad I did.  I might check out a few more of his works.

Stars: 4

Book: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court

 Book: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court

Author: Mark Twain

Pages: 584

This is my 25th read for this year

This is the story of Hank Morgan.  He receives a blow to the head and wakes up in Medival England at the time of King Arthur.  He is an engineer and his uses that, and all of his knowledge of the upcoming centuries, to convince the people he is a wizard.  He uses his powers to modernize those around him - "inventing" things very far ahead of the time.  This attracts attention and problems start for Arthur and Hank.

This was an interesting book.  A little dry at times, but overall pretty good.  I found it entertaining that Merlin is outshined by Hank and his technology (that he passes off as magic) and that Hank becomes Arthur's personal sorcerer.  It was an interesting look at what would happen if an engineer improved the lives of people in the 6th century with said technology and how the future would look if that happened.

Stars: 3

Book: A Girl From Yamhill

 Book: A Girl From Yamhill

Author: Beverly Cleary

Pages: 352

This is my 24th read for the year

This is Beverly's own chilhood story.  She was born in a small town in Oregon, called Yamhill, but at the age of 6, her family had enough for hard farm life and moved to Portland where she spent most of her young life.  Through this book she talks about what it is like to grow up an only child in the early 1900s, through the depression and with a mother she felt never really understood her.  This book follows her through her graduation of high school and acceptance to junior college.

This was an interesting book.  I didn't know anything about Beverly Cleary's upbringing, and the anecdotes she shares throughout this book gave a good picture of what it was like for her growing up.  She didn't seem to have a lot of fond memories of her mother - but she did seem to adre her father.  I am glad I found this one through a book challenge.

Stars: 4

Book: Code of the Woosters

 Book: Code of the Woosters

Author: P Wodehouse

Pages: 263

This is my 23rd read for the year

This is the story of Bertie Wooster.  Bertie's man, Jeeves, is trying to get him to go on vacation.  But instead, Bertie's aunt talks him into going to a local antique shop to try and drive down a price of a cow coffee creamer that her husband really wants.  However - another person - Sir Watkyn Bassett got the creamer first.  Bertie's aunt sends him to steal it back.  This sets in motion an encouter with several other people, a missing notebook, an engagement, and getting that coffee creamer after all.  All while trying to uphold the "Code of the Woosters" to never let a pal down.

This was a silly book.  I decided to listen to it when I found a recording of it as a stage play.  It made this a fun story to get through.  It is a comedy of errors in this short novella.

Stars: 4