Book: Ordinary Grace

 Book: Ordinary Grace

Author: William Kent Kreuger

Pages: 336

This is my 126th read for the year

What Amazon Says:

New Bremen, Minnesota, 1961.  The Twins were playing their debut season, ice-cold root beers were selling out at the soda counter of Halderson's Drugstore, and Hot Stuff comic books were a mainstay on every barbershop magazine rack.  It was a time of innocence and hope for a country with a new, young president.  But for 13 year old Frank Drum it was a grim summer in which death visited frequently and assumed many forms.  Accident.  Nature.  Sucide.  Murder.  Frank begins the season preoccupied with the concerns of any teenage boy, but when tragedy unexpectedly strikes his family - which includes his Methodist minister fathr' his passionate, artistic mother; Julliard-bound older sister; and wise-beyond his years kid brother - he finds himself thrust into an adult world full of secrets, lies, adultery, and betrayal, suddenly called upon to demonstrate a maturity and gumption beyond his years.  Told from Frank's perspective 40 years after that fateful summer.

This was a great book.  He is a great writer.  There is great character development and the story flowed well.  There is a mix of everyday life in a small town and heartbreak that works well together.  The mystery was a little hard to figure out, but as we got nearer to the end, it started to pull together the "who done it".  Loved the epilogue.  I listened to it and it was a good book to listen to - easy to keep engaged.

Stars: 4.5

Book: Never Flinch

 Book: Never Flinch

Author: Stephen King

Pages: 448

This is my 125th book for the year

What Amazon Says:

When the Buckeye City Police Department receives a disturbing letter from a person threatening to "kill thirteen innocents and one guilty in "an act of atonement for the needless death of an innocent man", Detective Izzy Jaynes has no idea what to think.  Are fourteen citizens about to be slaughtered in an unhunged act f retribution?  As the investigation unfolds, Izzy realizes that the letter writer is deadly serious, unhinged acto of retribution?  As the investigation unfolds, Izzy realizes that the letter writer is deadly serious, and she turns to her friend Holly Gibney for help.  Meanwhile, controversial and outspoken women's rights activist Kate McKay is embarking on a multi-staet lecture tour, drawing packed venues of both fans and detractors.  Someone who vehemently opposes Kate's message of female empowerment is targeting her and disrupting her events.  At first, no one is hurt, but the stalker is growing bolder, and Holly is hired to be Kate's bodyguard - a challenging task with a headstrong employer and a determined adversary driven by wrath and his belief in his own righteousness.  

This was a pretty good book.  It took quite a bit of concentration because there are a lot of story lines in this one.  I was happy to see another Holly Gibney novel - she is such a fun character.  The story had me hooked for the longest time, but near the end it started to get really confusing with all the characters who were getting their turn in the sun.  The worst characters were the Chris/Chrissy story line - that could have been left out.  I would have liked Holly to have been more central.  It isn't scary as much as a long build up to the final blow.  

Stars: 4

Book: The Stolen Marriage

 Book: The Stolen Marriage

Author: Diane Chamberlain

Pages: 416

This is my 124th book for the year

What Amazon Says:

It is 1944.  Pregnant, alone, and riddled with guilt, 23 year old Tess DeMello abruptly gives up her budding career as a nurse and ends her engagement to the love of her life, unable to live a lie.  Instead, she turns to the baby's father for help and agrees to marry him, moving to the small, rural town of Hickory, North Carolina.  Tess's new husband, Henry Kraft, is a secretive man who often stays out all night, hides money from his new wife, and shows her no affection.  Tess quickly realizes she's trapped in a strange and loveless marriage with no way out.  The people of Hickory love and respect Henry but see Tess as an outsider, treating her with suspicion and disdain.  When one of the town's golden girls dies in a terrible accident, everyone holds Tess responsible.  But Henry keeps his secrets even closer now, though it seems that everyone knows something about him that Tess does not.  When a sudden polio epidemic strikes Hickory, the townspeople band together to build a polio hospital.  Tess knows she is needed and defies Henry's wishes to begin working at there.  Through this work, she begins to find purpose and meaning.  Yet at home, Henry's actions grow more alarming by the day.  As Tess works to save the lives of her patients, can she untangle the truth behind her husban'ds mysterious behavior and find the love - and the life - she was meant to have?

This was a pretty good book.  I do like Chamberlain's books.  She is a great writer.  This one fell a little short for me based on her other novels.  Still an interesting story.  I really didn't love the main character.  She was fine, but not great.  I knew what the outcome was going to be - it was a pretty neatly wrapped up story to come out positive for Tess.  Happy ending which I do like, but it wasn't surprising.  Tess worked as a nurse for a bit and I found all of her skills a bit unbelivable as a new nurse.  However - overall, good story, good writing, just wished for stronger characters.

Stars: 4

Book: People of the Book

 Book: People of the Book

Author: Geraldine Brooks

Pages: 372

This is my 123rd read for the year

What Amazon Says:

Inspired by a true story, this is a novel of sweeping historical grandeur and intimate emotional intensity by an acclaimed and beloved author.  Called "a tour de force", this ambitious, electrifying work traces the harrowing journey of the fames Sarajevo Haggadah, a beautifully illuminated Hebrew manuscript created in 15th century Spain.  When it falls to Hanna Heath, an Australian rare-book expert, to conserve this priceless work, the series of tiny artifacts she discovers in its ancient binding - an insect wing fragment, wine stains, salt crystals, a white hair - only begin to unlock its deep mysteries and unexpectedly plunges Hanna into the intrigues of fine art forgers and ultranationalist fanatics.

This was an interesting book.  It jumps around in time -from the 1990s where our main character is working on the story of the book, to back in time to the 1400s-1600s.  I did enjoy the 1990s sections a lot more than the flashbacks - they felt a little unfinished.  Even though those were the longest chapters in the book, we never learned more about the people - (except one) - so it felt like we were missing an ending to a story.  It does jump into the future of the early 2000s with the main character to resolve the mystery of the book, and I liked that.  Overall it is very well written - I just wish I felt like the past and present fit together a bit more.

Stars: 4

Book: Warcross

 Book: Warcross

Author: Marie Lu

Pages: 416

This is my 122nd book of the year

What Amazon Says:

For the millions who log in every day, Warcross isn't just a game - it's a way of life.  The obsession started ten years ago and its fan base now spans the globe, some eager to escape from reality and others hoping to make a profit.  Struggling to make ends meet, teenage hacker Emika Chen works as a bounty hunter, tracking down Warcross players who bet on the game illegally.  But the bounty-hunting world is competitive and survival has not been easy.  To make some quick cash, Emika takes a risk and hacks into the opening game of the international Warcross Championships - only to accidentally glitch herself into the action and become an overnight sensation.  Convinced she's going to be arrested, Emika is shoked when instead she gets a call from the game's creator, the elusive young billionaire Hideo Tanaka, with an irresistible offer.  He needs a spy on the inside of this year's tournament in order to uncover a security problem - and he wants Emika for the job.  With no time to lose, Emika's whisked off to Tokyo and thrust into a world of fame and fortune that she's only dreamed of.  But soon her investigation uncovers a sinister plot, with major consequences for the entire Warcross empire.

This book was okay.  I liked the idea of the book, and most of the writing.  I had mixed feelings about the main character, and didn't care one way or another for the side characters.  Pretty good action scenes with a lot of details.  The romance was subpar. The twist ending wasn't that shocking.  And of course it ends on a cliff hanger because there is a second book.  I won't be continuing.

Stars: 3

Book: The Witcher

 Book: The Witcher

Author: Andrzej Sapkowski

Pages: 352

This is my 121st read for the year

What Amazon Says:

Geralt is a Witcher, a man whose magic powers, enhanced by long training and a mysterious elixir, have made him a brilliant fighter and a merciless hunter.  Yet he is no ordinary killer.  His sole purpose: to destroy the monsters that plague the world.  But not everything monstrous-looking is evil and not everything fair is good - and in every fairy tale there is a grain of truth.

This was a pretty good book.  I didn't watch the show on TV, but found this book for a reading challenge I was participating in.  Interesting story, and I liked the main character.  It is a book of short stories, which isn't my favorite style, but I stuck with it.  The stories are tied together, sothat helped.  There are a lot of books in The Witcher series, but I do not think for now I will continue.

Stars: 4

Book: The Last Emperox

 Book: The Last Emperox

Author: John Scalzi

Pages: 308

This is my 120th read for the year

What Amazon says:

The collapse of The Flow, the interstellar pathway between the planets of the Interdependency, has accelerated.  Entire star systems - and billions of people - are becoming cut off from the rest of human civilization.  This collapse was foretold through scientific prediction - and yet, even as the evidence is obvious and insurmountable, many still try to rationalize, delay and profti from, these final days of one of the greatest empires humanity has even known.  Emperox Grayland II has finally wrested control of her empire from those who oppose her and who deny the reality of this collapse.  But "control" is a slippery thing, and even as Grayland strives to save as many of her people from impoverished isolation, the forces opposing her rule will make a final, desperate push to topple her from herthrone and power, by any means necessary.  Grayland and her thinning list of allies must use every tool at their disposal to save themselves, and all of humanity.  And yet it may not be enough.  Will Grayland become the savior of her civilization - or the last emperox to wear the crown?

This was a good ending to the trilogy.  There were some suprises, and of course a little bit of humor mixed into the tension.  I like most of the characters, and was sad when one of the main characters is killed.  It ended pretty well, but I would have liked a bit more.  However, overall a very good trlogy that I am glad I read.

Stars: 4

Book: The Third Gilmore Girl

 Book: The Third Gilmore Girl

Author: Kelly Bishop

Pages: 256

This is my 119th read for the year

What Amazon Says:

Kelly Birshop's long, storied career has been defined by landmark achievements, from winning a Tony Award for her turn in the original Broadway cast of A Chorus Line to her memorable performance as Jennifer Grey's mother in Dirty Dancing.  But it is probably her iconic role as matriarch Emily in the modern classic Gilmore Girls that cemented her legacy.  Now, Birshop reflects on her remarkable life and looks towards the future with The Third Gilmore Girl.  She shares some of her greatest stories and the life lessons she's learned on her journey.  From her early transition from dance to drama, to marrying young to a compulsive gambler, to the losses and achievements she experienced - among them marching for women's rights and losing her second husband to cancer - Bishop offers a rich, genuine celebration of her life.

This was a great book.  I have watched and enjoyed all the shows that Bishop has been a part of, and think she is a fantastic actress.  I enjoyed learning more about her career and what she is up to now.  She was humble and caring about those who she worked with.  She shared her own tragic loss of her husband and how she has moved on without him.  Overall a strong, quick read.

Stars: 4.5

Book: The Staircase in The Woods

 Book: The Staircase in the Woods

Author: Chuck Wendig

Pages: 400

This is my 118th read for the year

What Amazon says:

Five high school friends are bonded by an oath to protect one another no matter what.  Then, on a camping trip in the middle of the forest, they find something extraordinary: a mysterious staircase to nowhere.  One friend walks up- and never comes back down.  Then the staircase disappears.  20 years later, the stiarcase has reappeared.  Now the group returns to find the lost boy - and what lies beyond the staircase in the woods.

I really wanted to like this book.  I have read a few Wendig books in the past and liked them, so when a new one came out, I jumped on it.  It started ou okay, but the book just dragged.  There were some very creepy parts, which kept me reading, but overall, it was a bit mundane.  The characters were doing the same thing over and over again.  Had a hard time connecting to any of the characters.  Ending was just fine.

Stars: 3

Book: Quiet in her Bones

 Book: Quiet In Her Bones

Author: Nalini Singh

Pages: 496

This is my 117th read for the year

What Amazon Says:

My mother vanished 10 years ago.  So did a quarter of a million dollars in cash.  Thief.  Criminal.  Now she's back.  Her bones clothes in scarlet silk.  When socialite Nina Rai disappeared without a trace, everyone wrote it off as another trophy wife tired of her wealthy husband.  But now her bones have turned up in the shadowed green of the forest that surrounds her elite neighborhood, a haven of privilege and secrets that's housed in the same influential families for decades.  The rich live here, along with those whose job it is to make their lives easier.  And somebody knows what happened to Nina one rainy night 10 years ago.  Her son Aarav heard a chiling scream that night, and he's determined to uncover the ugly truth that lives beneath the moneyed elegance - but no one is ready for the murderous secrets about to crawl out of the dark.  Even the dead aren't allowed to break the rules in this cul-de-sac.

This book was fine.  I didn't really care for the main character.  And I did find the book a big slow paced.  Too many suspected.  Felt like main theme got bogged down with unnecessary dialogue.  I finished it, but not sure I will read another of her books.

Stars: 3

Book: Kaiju Preservation Society

 Book: The Kaiju Preservation Society

Author: John Scalzi

Pages: 268

This is my 116th read for the year

What Amazon Says:

When COVID-19 sweeps through NYC, Jamie Gray is stuck as a dead-end driver for food delivery apps.  That is, until Jamie makes a delivery to an old acquaintance, Tom, who works at what he calls "an animal rights organization."  Tom's team needs a last-minute grunt to handle things on their next field visit.  Jamie, eager to do anything, immediately signs on.  What Tom doesn't tell Jamie is that the animals his team cares for are not here on Earth.  Not our Earth, at least.  In an alternate dimension, massive dinosaur-like creatures named Kaiju roam a warm, human-free world.  They're the universe's largest and most dangerous panda and they're in trouble.  It's not just the Kaiju Preservation Society who have found their way to the alternate world.  Others have, too.  And their carelssness could cause millions back on our Earth to die.  

This was a pretty interesting book.  I do enjoy a good Scalzi novel.  His writing is fun and entertaining with good plot movement.  I liked most of the characters.  It is a fast and easy read.  Loved the idea of another world with giant animals that remind you of Godzilla.  Solid read.

Stars: 4

Book: Unsheltered

 Book: Unsheltered

Author: Barbara Kingsolver

Pages: 508

This is my 115th read for the year

What Amazon says:

How could two hardworking people do everything right in life, a woman asks, and end up destitute?  Willa Knox and her husband followed all the rules as responsibleparents and professionals, and have nothing to show for it but debts and an inherited brick house that is falling apart.  The magazine where Willa worked has folded; the college where her husband had tenure has closed.  Te dubious shleter is also the only option for a disabled father-in-law and an exasperating, free-spirited daughter.  When the family's one success story, an Ivy-educated son, is uprooted by tragedy he seems likely to join them, with dark complications of his own.  In another time, a troubled husband and public servant asks,How can a man tell the truth, and be reviled for it?  A science teacher with a passion for honest investigation, Thatcher Greenwood finds himself under siege: his employer forbigs him to speak of the exciting work just published by Charles Darwin.  His young bride and social=climbing mother-in-law bristle at the risk of scandal, and dismiss his worries that their elegant house is unsound.  In a village ostensibly founded as a benevolent Utopia, Thatcher wants only to honor his duties, but his friendships with a woman scientist and a renegade newspaper editor threaten to draw him into a vendetta with the town's powerful men.

This was an okay book.  Not one of my favorite Kingsolver novels.  I found it very slow moving.  I liked the Willa part of the book, but the Thatcher part of the book dragged for me.  The story went basically no where. Just felt underdeveloped.

Stars: 3

Book: The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop

 Book: The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop

Author: Fannie Flagg

Pages: 304

This is my 114th read for the year

What Amazon Says:

Bud Threadgoode grew up in the bustling little railroad town of Whistle Stop with his mother, Ruth, church-going and proper, and his Aunt Idgie, the fun-loving hell riaser.  Together they ran the town's popular Whistle Stop Cafe, known far and wide for its fun and famous friend green tomatoes.  And as Bud often said of his childhood to his daughter Ruthie, "How lucky can you get?"  But sadly, as the railroad yards shut down and Whistle Stop became a ghost town, nothing was left but boarded-up buildings and memories of a happier time.  Then one day, Bud decides to take one last trip, just to see what has become of his beloved Whistle Stop.  In so doing, he discovers new friends, as well as surprises about Idgie's life, about Ninny Threadgoode and other beloved Fannie Flagg characters, and about the town itself.  He also sets off a series of events, both touching and inspiring, which change his life and the lives of his daughter and many others.  Could these events all be just coincidences?  Or something else?  And can you really go home again?

This was not a good book.  I was disappointed because I loved Fried Green Tomatoes (the book and the movie) and this is the follow up story.  I have no idea how this got so many good reviews because the writing is very juvenile.  There is not good flow - it is all over the place as far as timeline.  It is convoluted and just felt tossed together to write another story about beloved characters.  Fell flat.

Stars: 2

Book: Full Throttle

 Book: Full Throttle

Author: Joe Hill

Pages: 496

This is my 113th read for the year

What Amazon Says:

A little door that opens to a world of fairy-tale wonders becomes the blood-drenched stomping ground for a gang of hunters in "Faun" A grief-stricken librarian climbs behind the wheel of an antique Bookmobile to deliver fresh reads to the dead in "Late Returns".  In "By the Silver Water of Lake Champlain" - now an episode on Shudder Tv's Creepshow - two young frinds sumble on the corpse of a plesiosaur at the water's edge, a discovery that forces them to confrton the inescapable truth of their own mortality.  And tension shimmers in the sweltering heat of the Nevada desert as a faceless trucker finds himself caught in a sinister dance with a tribe of motocycle outlaws in "Throttle" cowritten with Stephen King. 

This was a pretty good book.  I liked about half the stories.  The first two were really good.  The next few were just okay, and then the last one was a story - In the Tall Grass - has been made into a Netflix show.  Joe Hill is a great writer - I have enjoyed many of his books in the past.  I am just not a huge fan of short stories.  They always are hit or miss for me.

Stars: 4

Book: All Better Now

 Book: All Better Now

Author: Neal Shusterman

Pages: 528

This is my 112th read for the year

What Amazon Says:

A deadly and unprecendentd virus is spreading.  But those who survive it experience long-term effects no one has ever seen before: utter contentment.  Soon after infection, people find the stress, depression, greed, and other negative feelings that used to weight them down are gone.  More and more people begin to revel in the mass unburdening.  But not everyone.  People in power-who depend on malcontents and prey on the insecure to sell their products, and convince others they need more, new, faster, better everything - know this new state of being is bad for business.  Surely, without anger or jealousy as motivators, productivity will grind to a halt and the world will be thrown into chaos.  Campaigns start up to convince people that being eternally happy is dangerous.  The race to find a vaccine begins.  Meanwhile, a growing movement of Recoverees plans ways to spread the virus as fast as they can, in the name of saving the world.  It's nearly impossible to determine the truth when everyone with a platform is pushing their agenda.  Three teens from very different backgrounds who've had their lives upended in very different ways find themselves at the center of a power play that could change humanity forever.

This was a great book.  I really like Shusterman's books.  He is a write of my favorite genre (dystopian), and he is an excellent writer.  This is his newest book and it didn't disappoint.  I liked the characters.  The story flowed well.  I can see this happening in real life - people on two opposite ends on how they think a virus should play out.  (we did see that actually).  It was fun to see Svalsbard and their seed vault mentioned - we saw that in person 2 summers ago - as well as Basel.  Great book.

Stars: 4.5

Book: The Memory Police

 Book: The Memory Police

Author: Yoko Ogawa

Pages: 288

This is my 111th read for the year

What Amazon Says:

On an unnamed island, objects are disappearing: first hats, then ribbons, birds, roses....most of the inhabitants are oblivious to these changes, while those few able to recall the lost objects live in fear of the draconian Memory Police, who are committed to ensuring that what has disappeared remains forgotten.  When a young writer discovers that her editor is in danger, she concocts a plan to hide him beneath her floorboards, and together they cling to her writing as the last way of preserving the past.  

This was an interesting book.  I liked the idea - seemed kind of familiar in a way with today's political climate.  Government telling people what no longer exists.  In this case it starts with inanimate objects and works up to even body parts.  Behind the memories being whiped and things becoming obsolete is a story of a community trying to hold it together with what it is left.  Interesting book.

Stars: 4

Book: The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O.

 Book: The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O.

Author: Neal Stephenson

Pages: 768

This is my 110th read for the year

What Amazon Says:

When Melisande Stokes, an expert in linguistics and languages, accidently meets military intelligence operator Tristan Lyons in a hallway at Harvard University, it is the beginning of a chain of events that will alter their lives and human history itself.  The young man from a shadowy government entity approaches Mel, a low-level faculty member, with an incredible offer.  The only condition: she must swear herself to secrecy in return for the rather large sum of money.  Tristan needs Mel to translate some very old documents, which, if authentic, are earth-shattering.  They prove that magic actually existed and was practiced for centuries.  But the arrival of the scientific revolution and the age of Enlightenment weakend its power and endangered its practitioners.  Magic stopped working altogether in 1851, at the time of the Great Exhibition at London's Crystal Palace - the world's fair celebrating the rise of industrial technology and commerce.  Something about the modern world "jams" the "frequencies" used by magic, and it's up to Tristan to find out why.  And so the Department of Diachronic Operations - DODO - gets cracking on its real mission: to develop a device that can bring magic back, and send Diachronic Operatives back in time to keep it alive - and meddle with a little history at the same time.  But while Tristan and his expanding operation master the science and build the technology, they overlook the mercurial - and treacherous - nature of the human heart.  

This was a pretty good book.  It is LONG - and I will say that is why I knocked it a star.  At times it just felt a little too drawn out for now reason.  However, the story overall was a good one.  Well written and intriguing.  I liked most of the characters.  It was a neat idea.  I listened to this one and it really passed the time.  Stephenson can get into the weeds with overexplanation of science sometimes, but this one wasn't too bad.  Good read if you are looking for a tome.

Stars: 4

Book: My Friends

 Book: My Friends

Author: Fredrik Backman

Pages: 448

This is my 109th read for the year

What Amazon says:

Most people don't even notice them - three tiny figures sitting at the end of a long pier in the corner of one of the most famous paintings in the world.  Most people think it's just a depiction of the sea.  But Louisa, an aspiring artist herself knows otherwise and she is determined to find out the story of these three enigmatic figures.  25 years earlier, in a distant seaside town, a group of teenagers find refuge from their bruising home lives by spending long summer days on an abandoned pier, telling silly jokes, sharing secrets, and committing small acts of rebellion.  These lost souls find in each other a reason to get up each morning, a reason to dream, a reason to love.  Out of that summer emerges a transcendent work of art, a painting that will unexpectedly be placed into 18 year old Louisa's care.  She embarks on a surprise-filled cross-country journey to learn how the painting came to be and to decide what to do with it.  The closer she gets to the painting's birthplace, the more nervous she becomes about what she'll find.  Louisa is proof that happy endings don't always take the form we expect in this stunning testament to the transformative, timelss power of friendship and art.

I want to start off by saying that I am a Backman fan.  Most of the books he writes are wonderful and I always get excited when he releases a new book.  This one just missed the mark for me.  There were a couple of things.  1) it is overly flowery.  I am not a big fan of these kinds of books.  It felt overdone.  Do I love a sweet story?  Of course.  But this was just so much fluff that I could not get into the underlying story.  And it wasn't really sweet - it was overly depressing.  2) I hated the main character.  Louisa acts more like a 12-13 year old instead of the 19 year old that she is.  I have two 19 year olds.  Are they immature?  Sure.  But not to this level.  Was Backman writing her as if she wasn't wordly because of her background and maybe he felt this is how someone of that age would act without guidance?   Maybe, but it was a big turnoff.

Stars: 3

Book: Four Past Midnight

 Book: Four Past Midnight

Author: Stephen King

Pages: 960

This is my 108th read for the year

What Amazon Says:

One Past Midnight: The Langoliers takes a red-eye flight from Los Angeles to Bostoninto a most unfriendly sky.  Only eleven passengers survive, but landing in an eerily empty world makes them wish they hadn't.

Two Past Midnight: Secret Window, Secret Garden enters the suddenly strange life of writer Mort Rainey, recently divorced, depressed, and alone on the shore of Tashmore Lake - until the mysterious John Shooter arrives, pointing an accusing finger.

Three Past Midnight: The Library Policeman has his terrifying sights set on businessman Sam Peebles, who thinks he may be losing his mind.  But another enemy lurks as well - the truth - and if Sam can find it in time, he might stand a chance.

Four Past Midnight: The Sun Dog comes in the form of a looming supernatural menace, appearing in every picture that young Kevin Delevan takes with his new camera.  Pop Merrill, Castle Rock's sharpest trader, aims to exploti it for profit - but this creature is a very dangerous investment.

This was a pretty good book.  I listened to it because I have had hours and hours of driving and yard work over the last few days - it made the time fly by.  The first two stories were my favorite.  The Langoliers is a mini series I enjoyed years ago and it was nice to finally hear the story.  It followed the mini series very closely.  The last two were a little slower, but only at the end of each story.  Got a bit rambly.  But overall a really good one.

Stars: 4.5

Book: Big Dumb Eyes

 Book: Big Dumb Eyes

Author: Nate Bargatze

Pages: 240

This is my 107th read for the year

What Amazon says:

Nate Bargatze used to be a genius.  That is, until the summer after 7th grade when he slipped, fell off a cliff, hit his head on a rock, and "my skull got, like, dented or something".  Before this accident, he dreamed of being "an electric engineer, or a doctor that does brain stuff, or a math teacher who teaches the hardest math on earth".  Afterwards, all he could do was stand-up comedy.  But the brain stuff industry's loss is everyone else's gain because Nate went on to become on of today's top grossing comedians.  Nate talks about life as a non-genius.  From stories about his car and his travels as a Southerner to tales of his first apartment where he was almost devoured by rats and his many debates with his wife over his chores, his diet, and even his definition of "shopping".  He also reflects on such heady topics as his irrational passion for Vandy football and the mysterious origins of sushi.

This was a great book.  I love Nate.  I have watched all of his standup from when he first started and love to see how popular he has become.  His book was 100% what I expected it to be - down to earth, and written in his cadence.  My favorite chapter was the one about his dad - made me cry!  He is a clean comedian and that comes through in his book as well as hilarious stories and anecdotes.  Check this one out and if you haven't seen Nate perform -I hightly suggest it.

Stars: 5

Book: What You Are Looking For is In The Library

 Book: What You Are Looking For Is In The Library

Author:Mickiko Aoyama

Pages: 304

This is my 106th read for the year

What Amazon says:

What are you looking for?  So asks Tokyo's most enigmatic librarian.  For Sayuri Komachi is able to sense exactly what each visitor to her library is searching for an provide just the book recommendation to help them find it.  A restless retail assistant looks to gain new skills, a mother triest to overcome demotion at work after maternity leave, a conscientious accountant yearns to open an antique store, a recently retired salaryman searches for newfound purpose.  This book is about the magic of libraries and the discovery of connection.

This was a good book.  The story is interesting and I like how the characters made life changes based on just being asked a simple question "What are you looking for?".  The story moves along nicely - with several characters becoming intertwined.  I will say it unraveled a bit at the end - got a bit rambly - but overall a cut and sweet novel.

Stars: 4

Book: Flight Behavior

 Book: Flight Behavior

Author: Barbara Kingsolver

Pages: 448

This is my 105th read for the year

What Amazon says:

Set in present day Appalachia, this parable of catastrophe and denial explores how the complexities we inevitably encounter in life lead us to believe in our particular chosen truths.  Kingsolver's riveting story concerns a young wife and mother on a failing farm in rural Tennessee who experiences something she cannot explain, and how her discovery energizes various competing factions - religious leaders, climate scientists, environmentalists, politicians - trapping her in the center of the conflict and ultimately opening up her world.

This was a great book.  After reading a book with my daughter about the monarch butterflies (non-fiction - "Bicycling With Butterflies) I was pleased that this book captured the story in partially fictional form.  I liked the characters and how the story develops bringing this town together because of the Monarchs and the scientist trying to figure out why they ended up there.  The story flows well and I enjoyed it from beginning to end.

Stars: 4.5

Book: Bloodsucking Fiends

 Book: Blooksucking Fiends

Author: Christopher Moore

Pages: 304

This is my 104th read for the year

What Amazon Says:

Making the transition from the 9-5 grind to an eternity of nocturnal prowlings is going to take some doing, however, and that's where C. Thomas Flood fits in.  A would-be Kerouac from incontinence, Indiana, Tommy (to his friends) is biding his time night-clerking and frozen-turkey bowling in a San Francisco Safeway.  But all that changes when a beautiful undead reahead walks through the door - and proceeds to rock Tommy's life - and afterlife - in ways he never thought possible.

This was a weird book.  Not bad for say - just weird.  Typical Christopher Moore in my opinion.  It was all over the place.  Silly?  yes.  Confusing?  Yes.  Bizarre?  Yes.  I liked the characters, but the story was just a bit too hard to follow to make it enjoyable for me.

Stars: 3

Book: Heartstopper

 Book: Heartstopper

Author: Alice Oseman

Pages: 288

This is my 103rd read for the year

What amazon says:

Shy and softhearted Charlie Spring sits next to rugby player Nick Nelson in class one morning.  A warm and intimate friendship follows, and that soon develops into something more for Charlie, who doesn't think he has a chance.  But Nick is struggling with feelings of his own, and as the two grow closer and take on the ups and downs of high school, they come to understan the surprising and delightful ways in which love works.

This graphic novel was fine.  There is so little dialogue I was done with it in an hour.  The draws are just okay - maybe a style?  It didn't say much so I don't really have a lot of feelings for it one way or another.  I know there are a lot of books in the series, so maybe you would really need to read them all to get a good feeling.

Stars: 3

Book: Small Wonder

 Book: Small Wonder

Author: Barbara Kingsolver

Pages: 288

This is my 102nd book for the year

What Amazon says:

Whether Barbara Kingsolver is contemplating the Grand Canyon, her vegetable garden, motherhood, genetic engineering, or the future of a nation founded on the best of all human impulses, her writings are grounded in the belief that our largest problems have grown from the earth's remotest corners as well as our own backyards, and that answers may lie in both those places. 

This was a great little book.  I am a Kingsolver fan and have read several of her books this year and last year.  This one is non-fiction and full of stories that actually overlap a bit from her "Animal, Vegatable Miracle" that I read late last year (it was excellent).  Kingsolver is a gifted writer.  She is bright and thoughtful with just a touch of funny.  She seems like someone I would love to hang out with.  Her kids had a pretty amazin childhood growing up learning to live off the land during the summer - very inspiring.  Check this one out.

Stars: 4.5

Book: Nick and Charlie

 Book: Nick and Charlie

Author: Alice Oseman

Pages: 176

This is my 101st read for the year

What Amazon says:

From the mega-bestselling creator of Heartstopper, a must-have novella in which Heartstopper's lead characters, Nick and Charlie, face one of their biggest challenges yet.  Absence makes the heart grow fonder - right?  Everyon knows that Nick and Charlie love their nearly inseparable life together.  But soon Nick will be leaving for university and Charlie, a year younger, will be left behind.  Everyone's asking if they're staying together, which is a stupid question - or at least that's what Nick and Charlie assume at first.  As the time to say goodbye gets inevitably closer, both Nick and Charlie start to question whether their love is strong enough to survive being apart.  Charlie is sure he's holding Nick back - and Nick can't tell what Charlie's thinking.  Things spiral from there.  Everyone knows that first loves rarely last forever.  What will it take for Nick and Charlie to defy the odds?

This was a good little book.  I listened to it which made it fun.  It was less than 2 hours, so I finished it in a day.  It has a good story, and even though I have not read Heartstopper yet (but will this week), I was able to follow it.  Good character development and a cute little story.

Stars: 4

Book: The House of the Spirits

 Book: The House of the Spirits

Author: Isabel Allende

Pages: 504

This is my 100th read for the year

What Amazon says:

The House of the Spirits, which intoduced Isabel Allende as one of the world's most gifted storytellers, brings to life the triumphs and tragedies of three generations of the Trueba family.  The patriarch Esteban is a volatile, proud man whose voracious pursuit of political power is tempered only by his love for his delicate wife Clara, a woman with a mystical connection to the spirit world.  When their daughter Blanca embarks on a forbidden love affair in defiance of her implacable father, the result is an unexpected gift to Esteban: his adored granddaughter Alba, a beautiful and strong-willed child who will lead her family and her country into a revolutionary future.

This book was fine.  I did have a hard time getting into it.  I listened to it, which was probably a mistake - I couldn't quite get my head wrapped around this complicated story in that form.  It started out slow.  It did not like the Esteban character.  Felt very convoluted at times.  She is a good writer, but this book was just a bit of a slog and wordy.

Stars: 3

Book: The Cancer Ladies Running Club

 Book: The Cancer Ladies Running Club

Author: Josie Lloyd

Pages: 400

This is my 99th read for the year

What Amazon Says:

When Keira first receives her breat cancer diagnosis, she doesn't want to have to tell her family, or step back from work.  She doesn't want to sit in a hospital, or be part of a group of fellow cancer patients.  Cancer is not her club.  But as she accepts that her health is no longer something she can rely on, Keira finds herself embracing running.  And running in the company of a group of brillant, funny, women each going through treatment unexpectedly gives Keira the hope she needs.  Because the C-word is not going to define Keira's identity.  And with the Cancer Ladies' Running Club cheering her on, she's going to reclaim her life.  One Step at a time.

This book was just okay.  I really wanted to like it - it had a good premise and I thought it would be a neat read.  But it just isn't well written.  I didn't like many of the characters.  The main character was the worst of all - wishy washy, and a lot of her actions made no sense.  She owned a company yet she let her seconds in charge walk all over her.  The author kept writing about her support at home yet she didn't have it with her husband and children.  It was very fluffy and very surface of a read.  I gave it an extra half a star based on the author's note on the end.  This is her story in fiction form - she was Keira. 

Stars: 3

Book: In A Garden Burning Gold

 Book: In A Garden Burning Gold

Author: Rory Power

Pages: 432

This is my 98th read for the year

What Amazon Says:

Rhea and Lexos were born into a family unlike any other.  Together with their siblings, they control the seasons, the tides, and the stars, and help their father rule their kingdom.  Thanks to their magic, the family has rules for an eternity, and plan to rule for an eternity more.  But Rhea and Lexos are special: They are twins, bonded down to the bone, and for the past hundrew years, that bond has protected them as their father becomes an unpredictable tyrant - and his worsening temper threatens the family's grip on power.  Now, with rival nations ready to attack, and a rebel movement within their own borders, Rhea and Lexos must fight to keep the kingdom - and the family - together, even as treachery, deceit, and drama threaten to strand the twins on opposite sides of the battlefield.  

This was a good book.  I found it just perusing the local used book store and I am glad I decided to pick it up.  The story is well developed and I liked many of the characters.  It takes place in a fictional land that is supposed to rival Greece.  The names of the characters are great.  The story flows well as the children do what they feel they must to keep their family united.  I will admit it got a little off the rails near the end, but did finish up nicely.

Stars: 4 

Book: City of Mist

 Book: City of Mist

Author: Carlos Ruis Zafon

Pages: 176

This is my 97th read for the year

What Amazon Says:

Carlow Ruiz Zafon conceived of this collection of stories as an appreciation to the countless readers who joined him on the extraordinary journey that began with The Shadow of the Wind.  Comprising eleven stories, most of them never before published in English it offers the reader compelling characters, unique situations, and a gothic atmosphere reminiscent of his beloved Cemetery of Forgotten Books quartet. The stories are mysterious, imbued with a sense of menace, and told with the warmth, wit, and humor of Zafron's inimitable voice.  A boy decides to become a writer when he discovers that his creative gifts capture the attentions of an aloof young beauty who has stolen his heart.  A labyrinth maker flees Constantinople to a plague-ridden Barcelona, with plans for building a library impervious to the destruction of time.  A strange gentleman tempts Cervantes to write a book like no other, each page of which could prolong the life of the woman he loves.  And a brilliant Catalan architect named Antoni Gaudi reluctantly agrees to cross the ocean to New York, a voyage that will determine the fate of an unfinished masterpiece. 

This was a great book.  It is no secret I am a fan of Zafon's books - The Shadow of the Wind remains one of my favorite all time books.  I was glad to find this one that was published after his death.  It is well written and I enjoyed all of the short stories.  I wish he was still here to continue to write.

Stars: 4

Book: Ceremonial Time

 Book: Ceremonial Time

Author: John Hanson Mitchell

Pages: 246

This is my 96th read for the year

What Amazon Says:

Ceremonial time occurs when past, present, and future can be perceived simultaneously.  Experieced only rarely, usually during ritual dance, this escape from linear time is the vehicle for John Mitche''s extraordinary writing.  In this, his most magical book, he traces the life of a single square mile in New England, from the last ice age through years of human history, including bear shamans, colonists, witches, local farmers, and encroaching industrial parks.

This was a good book.  I found it when I was researching for a book challenge where I needed a local author.  John is from the town I currently live so I was excited to find this one.  It is well researched

Stars:4

Book: Deadwood

 Book: Deadwood

Author: Peter Dexter

Pages: 365

This is my 95th read for the year

What Amazon says:

Deadwood, Dakota Territories, 1876:  Legendary gunman Wild Bill Hickcock and his friend Charlie Utter have come to the Black Hills town of Deadwood fresh from Cheyenne, fleeing an ungrateful populace.  Bill, aging and sick but still able to best any man in a fiar gunfight, just wants to be left alone to drink and play cards.  But in this town of played-out miners, bounty hunters, upstairs girls, Chinese immigrants, and various other entrepeneurs, and miscreants, he finds himself pursued by a vicious sherriff, a perverse whore man bent on revenge, and a besotted Calamity Jane.  Fueled by liquor, sex, and violence, this is the real wild west, unlike anything portrayed in the dime novels that first told its story.

This was a pretty boring book.  I think part of the problem is that I listened to it and the guy who read it was pretty monotone.  I read this one for two reasons - 1) for a challenge - I needed a book that took place in the Dakotas and 2) Because years ago I watched the Deadwood series on HBO and really enjoyed it.  This was barely like it.  There doesn't seem to be a ton of plot - it seems more like a collection of stories with Wild Bill in the center.  There are a few characters from the TV show in the book, and when I read the reviews, I see that it is pretty unrelated to the story.  Ah well.  There isn't much development, and the writer is long winded on needless details (in my opinion).  

Stars: 2.5

Book: The Hope Chest

 Book: The Hope Chest

Author: Viola Shipman

Pages: 317

This is my 94th read for the year

What Amazon says:

The discovery of one woman's heirloom hope chest unveils precious memories and helps three people who have each lost a part of themselves find joy once again.  Ever since she was diagnosed with ALS, fiercely independent Mattie doesn't feel like herself.  She can't navigate her beloved home, she can't go for a boat ride, and she can barely even feed herself.  Her devoted husband, Don, doesn't want to imagine life without his wife of nearly fifty years, but Mattie isn't likely to make it past their anniversary.  But when Rose, Mattie's new caretaker, and her young daughter, Jeri, enter the couple's life, happiness and the possibility for new memories return.  Together they form a family, and Mattie is finally able to pass on her memories from the hope chest she received from her mother.  With each item - including a favorite doll, family dishes, an embroidered apron, and an antique Christmas ornament - the hope chest connects Mattie, Don and Rose to each other and helps them find hope again in the face of overwhelming life challenges.  A beautiful story about the unconditional love and support of family. 

This book was just okay.  I was originally excited to find it because I enjoyed her more recent book "The Receipe Box" very much.  But this one just wasn't as good.  It was overly frilly and sweet to the point of trite..  Instead of actual dialogue and story developement and character development, we got a lot of "I love yous" and weak chapters that felt disjointed.  Full of plot holes.  Sad because I really did enjoy her most recent book, so I would say she has improved.

Stars: 3

Book: Disappearance of a Scribe

 Book: Disappearance of a Scribe

Author: Dana Stabenow

Pages: 336

This is my 93rd read for the year

What Amazon says:

Alexandria, 47BC.  Cleopatra- seventh of her name, avatar of the goddess Isis, ruler of the Kingdom of Egypt - watches over her city.  The war is over, but Alexandria has suffered in its wake.  Caesar has returned to Rome, and the queen must restore her city and her kingdom to their former greatness.  But now a body has been found floating uprigth at the bottom of the sea, anchored by a weight around its feet.  It's the second corpse to be found this way, and with a city to rebuild and a kingdom to keep in line, Cleopatra cannot allow any more murders to interfere.  So she sets Tetisheri- her Eye and closest confidant - to make things right.  As she delves deeper into the mystery, Tetisheri will discover sercrets, consipracy, and danger far beyond her ken.

When I saw this book at the used books store, and read the inside cover, it sounded like something I would like.  But this book was terrible.  I finished it just because I hate not to finish books, but it was a struggle.  Not at any point would I have thought this book took place in ancient Egypt if it wasn't on the cover.  The writing was juvenile.  There was no character development.  It was written way too modern for what it was supposed to be.  The dialogue was silly and immature.  This one will be donated.

Stars: 1