tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39019210592354802052024-03-17T17:53:27.461+01:00Breathe to ReadReading for fun and challenging myself to read outside my comfort zone. PletcherFamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01045190951686129822noreply@blogger.comBlogger1029125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901921059235480205.post-23617428657677232162024-03-16T22:02:00.001+01:002024-03-17T17:52:55.562+01:00Book: The God Of Small Things<p> Book: The God Of Small Things</p><p>Author: Arundhati Roy</p><p>Pages: 333</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjahUNkqp0zQCf7C4bqSAPy5o8_z1zDb-UVt9AU9is685DFtz8kXIY-s6zqOmgRuRCUw0NOELuzUVCoZXJc2v1xeWU7J-j6rWRFNW3tjBeCCzm0YZsr8nD2FpP8k0V_LqkoaiMnUucrDVrYkixjwgR5irBTCufwzhttzpa4Gf8x17TecHp9xcKeK1Q0mzo/s466/61ACfrLK0EL._SY466_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="302" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjahUNkqp0zQCf7C4bqSAPy5o8_z1zDb-UVt9AU9is685DFtz8kXIY-s6zqOmgRuRCUw0NOELuzUVCoZXJc2v1xeWU7J-j6rWRFNW3tjBeCCzm0YZsr8nD2FpP8k0V_LqkoaiMnUucrDVrYkixjwgR5irBTCufwzhttzpa4Gf8x17TecHp9xcKeK1Q0mzo/w259-h400/61ACfrLK0EL._SY466_.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is my 53rd read for the year</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is the story of twins Estha and Rahel who live in India. At 7 years old their world is trned upside down with a tragedy concerning their young cousin, Sophie. At the same time, their mother has also in the midst of a scandal that will change them all forever.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was an interesting book. I can see why it won a prize. It is crafted literature, and as one reviewer said "too brilliant". The story got lost in the language style she uses for this book. I had a hard time caring about the characters. Or keeping up with her constant change in nicknames for different characters. Overall it is an interesting story that you need to really be in the mood for and can read without distraction.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stars: 3</div><br /><p><br /></p>PletcherFamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01045190951686129822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901921059235480205.post-51956537656983934022024-03-14T18:01:00.000+01:002024-03-14T18:01:33.926+01:00Book: Under A White Sky: The Nature Of The Future<p> Book: Under A White Sky: The Nature Of The Future</p><p>Author: Elizabeth Kolbert</p><p>Pages: 272</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0CnsMxunCq09ruLNWmyz5xj5LQoQ4fLN-kgRxbZDyFk-TTJA551tR8ZTfcDioyUQGpI7-yTm3SIEJx9QY6achHN0ypOL5pQBvd1s4pcue9Bh8yGVJ7Hp5M2CyAGVnZCRvegcHaMmrwgKfjRcWZFDwVlm3Vc4eE8_xYhz1O-pfsJe2a5axMf-XnfvcxE/s466/81G0RFOe33L._SY466_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="302" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0CnsMxunCq09ruLNWmyz5xj5LQoQ4fLN-kgRxbZDyFk-TTJA551tR8ZTfcDioyUQGpI7-yTm3SIEJx9QY6achHN0ypOL5pQBvd1s4pcue9Bh8yGVJ7Hp5M2CyAGVnZCRvegcHaMmrwgKfjRcWZFDwVlm3Vc4eE8_xYhz1O-pfsJe2a5axMf-XnfvcxE/w259-h400/81G0RFOe33L._SY466_.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is my 52nd read for the year</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In this non-fiction novel, the author explores the world we are creating.She interviews biologist, climatologist, engineers and researchers who are all trying to figure out what we are going to do as the globe gets hotter. The interventions that are being explored are what are our hopes for salvation.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was a pretty good book. Unless you have your head in the sand, you are aware of the changes to our earth that are happening with climate change. What is being done to address is a race against the clock. As scientist explore ideas, the population of the earth continues to grow and along with it - a lot of problems. Overall it is an interesting read - maybe a little dry from time to time, but I am glad I read it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stars: 4</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>PletcherFamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01045190951686129822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901921059235480205.post-54745388808589330462024-03-12T18:33:00.000+01:002024-03-12T18:33:49.765+01:00Book: Kitchen Confidential<p> Book: Kitchen Confidential</p><p>Author: Anthony Bourdain</p><p>Pages: 312</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOPJ33-oVb2SzhF5VRiqBnClzs5wLxwBYfSBh4VJV_rTvu3zCSHu1iUfQL5iRmQrGN4e3pIS2cDKBDRGyFj3K6JFcCS2ZNBuRthTJR5MfxG2G78Vo9iLE1MIJZMjwwFnyyaFbp6qaI8XglK-BwxK73vgWbbx0TICsO8PQHV3fYSeGQkSr_5CW7nyNqfc/s445/Kithen%20Confidential.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="290" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOPJ33-oVb2SzhF5VRiqBnClzs5wLxwBYfSBh4VJV_rTvu3zCSHu1iUfQL5iRmQrGN4e3pIS2cDKBDRGyFj3K6JFcCS2ZNBuRthTJR5MfxG2G78Vo9iLE1MIJZMjwwFnyyaFbp6qaI8XglK-BwxK73vgWbbx0TICsO8PQHV3fYSeGQkSr_5CW7nyNqfc/w261-h400/Kithen%20Confidential.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is my 51st read for the year</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is Anthony's own story about his start in the restaurant business up until the publishing date of this book in 2000. Anthony delves deep into the underbelly that is the kitchens in famous and not so famous kitchens. He talks about who he learned from, and how that shaped him as a chef and a person. What you read about his culinary world (sex drugs and bad behavior) may or not surprise you.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was a pretty good book. I really liked watching Bourdain's "Parts Unknown" on TV and that is how I came to know him. He died not far from where we were living abroad in 2019, and since there I have continued to look into his culinary career. This was the first book of his I have read (believe it or not he wrote a few fiction books as well) and I enjoyed it. What I read about him didn't really surprise me. He lived rough, loose, and on his own terms. He is more humble in this book that I would have expected, but I think all people feel a bit "aw shucks" when talking about themselves. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Overall a good book that will make you hungry for the delicious food he talks about.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stars: 4</div><br /><p><br /></p>PletcherFamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01045190951686129822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901921059235480205.post-74907512021908766102024-03-12T18:15:00.000+01:002024-03-12T18:15:56.036+01:00Book: Babel<p> Book: Babel</p><p>Author: R.F. Kuang</p><p>Pages: 560</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxRO5OBCo2XPXFCQg4BSu-Bw6d6B9EYlEZd_p9zlvGpJ4RiZY4d86fSyNGiPkYX_2Vc5N6kmsFWsodcfhAE7ogaS4YHZoMPjCHkefIjh62Zi866y_5ZAHlrgZASZ7kbKauFtjtm-AmPeoMlcT2C6Sh6KZIUy9s0Aym2abjNNz_OYE9Lz_gcttpMTvGJcI/s445/Babel.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="295" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxRO5OBCo2XPXFCQg4BSu-Bw6d6B9EYlEZd_p9zlvGpJ4RiZY4d86fSyNGiPkYX_2Vc5N6kmsFWsodcfhAE7ogaS4YHZoMPjCHkefIjh62Zi866y_5ZAHlrgZASZ7kbKauFtjtm-AmPeoMlcT2C6Sh6KZIUy9s0Aym2abjNNz_OYE9Lz_gcttpMTvGJcI/w265-h400/Babel.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is my 50th read of the year</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am going to just p<span style="font-family: inherit;">lop th</span>e Amazon review here for this book to save time</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"<span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px;">8</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">28. Robin Swift, orphaned by cholera in Canton, is brought to London by the mysterious Professor Lovell. There, he trains for years in Latin, Ancient Greek, and Chinese, all in preparation for the day he’ll enroll in Oxford University’s prestigious Royal Institute of Translation—also known as Babel.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: inherit;">Babel is the world's center for translation and, more importantly, magic. Silver working—the art of manifesting the meaning lost in translation using enchanted silver bars—has made the British unparalleled in power, as its knowledge serves the Empire’s quest for colonization.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: inherit;">For Robin, Oxford is a utopia dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge. But knowledge obeys power, and as a Chinese boy raised in Britain, Robin realizes serving Babel means betraying his motherland. As his studies progress, Robin finds himself caught between Babel and the shadowy Hermes Society, an organization dedicated to stopping imperial expansion. When Britain pursues an unjust war with China over silver and opium, Robin must decide…</span></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Can powerful institutions be changed from within, or does revolution always require violence? "</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I could not get into this book. I tried - I REALLY tried. I had read Yellowface by this author and did not like it at all, so I probably went in thinking I wasn't going to like it. Which isn't fair. My problem with this book was it seemed to have way too many words to say very little. It started out pretty good, and I was hopeful, but then it just went downhill. I know what she was trying to do. But this has been trope in a lot of recent novels and honestly - soap box in a novel that isn't non-fiction isn't my thing. I just want to read a story. And when the story gets lost and the soapbox takes over, I become disinterested. This is a personal thing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stars: 3</div><br /><p><br /></p>PletcherFamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01045190951686129822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901921059235480205.post-78240347780692861912024-03-10T02:01:00.000+01:002024-03-10T02:01:11.010+01:00Book: Freaky Friday<p> Book: Freaky Friday</p><p>Author: Mary Rodgers</p><p>Pages: 144</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7bCKCmHihDNlviFhtkhTR_QfXMxDFSYN8eSxTrbZHxAAR9alwSlC4DdND7hVbxsJ-OK_1b6FMhj0H-CsYl-cA_ErJFqe1UloUHfLDa3Ps-2XVfxlP1EQlO3WW6Cvf-qTKhttuhUBWW-mLuX4MKkTmBCxu5Mue0KaOF6VoDHTgmgeNPNzExT57IThRUc/s445/51UUsU2cdQL._SY445_SX342_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="299" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7bCKCmHihDNlviFhtkhTR_QfXMxDFSYN8eSxTrbZHxAAR9alwSlC4DdND7hVbxsJ-OK_1b6FMhj0H-CsYl-cA_ErJFqe1UloUHfLDa3Ps-2XVfxlP1EQlO3WW6Cvf-qTKhttuhUBWW-mLuX4MKkTmBCxu5Mue0KaOF6VoDHTgmgeNPNzExT57IThRUc/w269-h400/51UUsU2cdQL._SY445_SX342_.jpg" width="269" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is my 49th read for the year</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is the story of Annabel. She is tired of her mother telling her what to do. She believes that when she is an adult she can do and think as she pleases. When she wakes up on a Friday morning in her mother's body and her mother in hers, she finds out what it is really like to be not only a mother, but a mother to a child like Annabel.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This book was quite bad. I borrowed it from the library for a reading challenge and read the original 1972 version. It is not well written, and the story was a bit odd. I KNOW this is a children's book. But it just wasn't good. There are a ton of Freaky Friday movies, but this was nothing like those. Not that those movies are terrific, but they were more entertaining than this strange book.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stars: 2</div><br /><p><br /></p>PletcherFamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01045190951686129822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901921059235480205.post-51678836410027863582024-03-10T01:52:00.000+01:002024-03-10T01:52:51.495+01:00Book: Starter Villain<p> Book: Starter Villain</p><p>Author: John Scalzi</p><p>Pages: 272</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgihilBmgtYCMMCDhDdt00USosf18RcfxLeInImWJvtGItEJthdBoCWTmbIduDLn4KOWKu663sJM9g6JppnyokYV_w5vwN05dcNTR3e9Se7doj62AFNy6OcEVT7mk1NmbY7AD28pVU9bV301wnP_1pXeTZF9-e8TSUL8a9geUe914OHR3eecRKq6vc7I/s445/41rshqE9rBL._SY445_SX342_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="288" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgihilBmgtYCMMCDhDdt00USosf18RcfxLeInImWJvtGItEJthdBoCWTmbIduDLn4KOWKu663sJM9g6JppnyokYV_w5vwN05dcNTR3e9Se7doj62AFNy6OcEVT7mk1NmbY7AD28pVU9bV301wnP_1pXeTZF9-e8TSUL8a9geUe914OHR3eecRKq6vc7I/w259-h400/41rshqE9rBL._SY445_SX342_.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is my 48th read for the year</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is the story of Charlie. He is a broke substitute school teacher who lives alone with his two cats His older siblings are pressuring him to sell his dad's house so that they can move on from his death. One day, Charlie gets a visit and told that his uncle Jake has died and left him his supervillain business. Charlie is then swept into a life he never imagined fending off enemies of his uncle. As Jake learns how his uncle Jake had started a war against the other supervillains and now it is Jake's turn to win it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was a pretty good book. I have read one other Scalzi book (Redshirts) and really liked it. This book is amusing and well written. Silly, fun and entertaining, I sped through this easy read enjoying each page. The ending was actually pretty good - even with some surprises I didn't see coming.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Overall a good book I am glad I read.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stars: 4.5</div><br /><p><br /></p>PletcherFamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01045190951686129822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901921059235480205.post-68244607717879269552024-03-08T19:00:00.000+01:002024-03-08T19:00:28.944+01:00Book: Mother Daughter Murder Night<p> Book: Mother Daughter Murder Night</p><p>Author: Nina Simon</p><p>Pages: 368</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNDHFjt4KuynZCz8mtF8KgNjmtvxyskOx9mWbG5uNQLCp71lR3hp657ps5VVwdpsM5PIBVh5eHaNbWq_SS-V5qGyxD042a47UrWkS2Qo4pMX1MUdmCaRksZhvZSGViAuP9FfCTk9ZKgpEjZgiHSvaCE2wN3JR-I8GK7v44IhHxedfGmteZZzYPuYgH2Zc/s445/51K9EgbiRyL._SY445_SX342_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="295" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNDHFjt4KuynZCz8mtF8KgNjmtvxyskOx9mWbG5uNQLCp71lR3hp657ps5VVwdpsM5PIBVh5eHaNbWq_SS-V5qGyxD042a47UrWkS2Qo4pMX1MUdmCaRksZhvZSGViAuP9FfCTk9ZKgpEjZgiHSvaCE2wN3JR-I8GK7v44IhHxedfGmteZZzYPuYgH2Zc/w265-h400/51K9EgbiRyL._SY445_SX342_.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the 47th read of the year</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is the story of Lana, Beth and Jack. Lana - Beth's mother - has recently found out that she has cancer. A high powered business woman who hasn't had a great relationship with her daughter, finds herself asking for help. Beth has Lana move in with she and her daughter, Jack, so she can help her manager her chemo. While Lana is staying wiht Beth and Jack, a man is found dead in the water. Jack is a suspect because this man was supposed to be on one of her kayak tours. As the investigation unravles, Lana finds herself deep into trying to solve what happened and to clear her granddaughter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is one of those books that I would say is not memorable. It wasn't incredibly entertaining, and it was just a bit dull. It wasn't a bad book, but it is going to be one of those books where I won't remember it far into the future beyond just having read it. You can figure out the murderer pretty quickly, and honestly I really did not feel anything for any of the characters in the end to care that much.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stars: 3</div><br /><p><br /></p>PletcherFamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01045190951686129822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901921059235480205.post-38511916156203466852024-03-08T18:49:00.000+01:002024-03-08T18:49:47.460+01:00Book: Leave The World Behind<p> Book: Leave The World Behind</p><p>Author: Rumaan Alam</p><p>Pages: 272</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnRXsLant6vKS5vemp2TNsmBctu16TiAxum5grAE_pOTd55VxdczWMVO7E6OeUEmFcLA8yeUOIWdga8fKJBTnvehRKJvp9I0HTK4s_pT7K42mma9U80_IN7w5l458ZOLOsErXQFiPJ1HPki8V6mxxrD35AEuR0oIyCCklOeMDRB8Z-8qQ4RtNMgN9odVA/s466/71QDde2IGkL._SY466_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="309" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnRXsLant6vKS5vemp2TNsmBctu16TiAxum5grAE_pOTd55VxdczWMVO7E6OeUEmFcLA8yeUOIWdga8fKJBTnvehRKJvp9I0HTK4s_pT7K42mma9U80_IN7w5l458ZOLOsErXQFiPJ1HPki8V6mxxrD35AEuR0oIyCCklOeMDRB8Z-8qQ4RtNMgN9odVA/w265-h400/71QDde2IGkL._SY466_.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is my 46th read for the year</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Amanda and Clay take their kids on a vacation into a remote part of Long Island. They are staying in a big, beautiful house with a pool and near the beach to relax and unwind. A few days into their stay, the owners of the house show up at their door saying something they don't understand is happening in New York City and want to wait it out in their home. Amanda is very suspicious of the couple, but comes to find that they are the genuine owners. They never lose power at the house, but they lose cell service and TV access. There was just a small blip on the phones before it went out that a catastrophic event has happened. The four try to figure out what is going on and shield the children from any information they receive and discuss if they should stay put or try and go back home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This book was okay. I did watch the movie on Netflix and also found that just so/so. The book was unforgettable, and a bit boring. It never really went anywhere except around and around. Nothing big ever really happens - the events that are happening in New York never escalate for our characters, so it really wasn't that interesting of a read. While I believe the dialogue is excactly what would happen to us if we were in this situation, it didn't make good reading.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stars: 3</div><br /><p><br /></p>PletcherFamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01045190951686129822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901921059235480205.post-38624645363907050932024-03-06T16:09:00.000+01:002024-03-06T16:09:17.635+01:00Book: Call Us What We Carry<p> Book: Call Us What We Carry</p><p>Author: Amanda Gorman</p><p>Pages: 240</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVt6nsKbiVJd6GuuF7dSBjzaCI9rt_RBHydXCqdFIpUJesiXX_AOPx3R-ai2tTWx9aK1xuZOSYeaNO8mmOThnd3fF01KdzRRNL7KEAX7ungIyAfjkxUbjmSZqCgkQseXvtjwLp7ccbUQILVByAHUbE_RnV3Dpmos7Wz9aPhMKPW48YrI90DBJ2iLDfZ8/s466/91je3ZrR0WL._SY466_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="311" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVt6nsKbiVJd6GuuF7dSBjzaCI9rt_RBHydXCqdFIpUJesiXX_AOPx3R-ai2tTWx9aK1xuZOSYeaNO8mmOThnd3fF01KdzRRNL7KEAX7ungIyAfjkxUbjmSZqCgkQseXvtjwLp7ccbUQILVByAHUbE_RnV3Dpmos7Wz9aPhMKPW48YrI90DBJ2iLDfZ8/w268-h400/91je3ZrR0WL._SY466_.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is my 45th read for the year</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is a collection of Poems by Amanda Gorman. This young lady was the youngest poet to speak at a presidential inagural event. Her poem at Biden's inaguration introduced her to the world and this collection appeared after she spoke. Poems that span history, identity, and a global pandemic with a closeout of the book with the poem she recited at the inaguration.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was a pretty good book. I am not a big poem person, but I read this for a reading challenge. My mom had gotten me this book when Biden became president and I have not opened it until now. I am glad I read it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stars: 4</div><br /><p><br /></p>PletcherFamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01045190951686129822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901921059235480205.post-48352743808723769792024-03-06T16:03:00.000+01:002024-03-06T16:03:36.959+01:00Book: Blockade Billy<p> Book: Blockade Billy</p><p>Author: Stephen King</p><p>Pages: 132</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8P0GoXKcFRqtfB5J3ARjn4qA7hTMbqY-zz9U7223tyUr5TB4UVLjMaPzrpsGUuM1Sa9zzU2R3BIRAw9FkrJhCrwK7TiVM-MeYdIhuPEXNUPQOzNDiubPQZDCjwQJidOnYU7mSbw8Fh_4R_R52TIEdF19UaDbPl0LZX3WMFsxOM0RiZEl1iMoyvU5PhOY/s445/516c8HRfPnL._SY445_SX342_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="301" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8P0GoXKcFRqtfB5J3ARjn4qA7hTMbqY-zz9U7223tyUr5TB4UVLjMaPzrpsGUuM1Sa9zzU2R3BIRAw9FkrJhCrwK7TiVM-MeYdIhuPEXNUPQOzNDiubPQZDCjwQJidOnYU7mSbw8Fh_4R_R52TIEdF19UaDbPl0LZX3WMFsxOM0RiZEl1iMoyvU5PhOY/w270-h400/516c8HRfPnL._SY445_SX342_.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is my 44th read for the year</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is the story of William Blakeley known as Blockade Billy. A young man who was discovered working a farm that turns out to be one of the best catchers ever to play the game of baseball. However - Billy has a secret. And this secret is what caused his name to be wiped from the history of baseball and for no one to remember who he was. His time in baseball was short - and for good reason.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I liked this book pretty well. It is quite short - even at its 132 pages - there is another story in the back - the story of Blockade Billy is about 70 plus pages. There wasn't much depth to the story - we didn't get much background into why Billy did what he did, but overall, it didn't make a difference. Some reviewers say the ending was a twist, but to this I say - come on. This is Stephen King. Of course people died.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stars: 4</div><br /><p><br /></p>PletcherFamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01045190951686129822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901921059235480205.post-65120941555438627162024-03-06T15:56:00.000+01:002024-03-06T15:56:05.105+01:00Book: The Talisman<p> Book: The Talisman</p><p>Author: Stephen King and Peter Straub</p><p>Pages: 784</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCsAmDinwL7sF5URaIK95X4KzoDMozMYSIl8r0wGw92v_XJ3dw_zY2oLfK2JcuvJLeHzfwqdgBfi2PPUB1nrK2ChLCZ9oMYKob1km_9xvk0iovnACdPO7BoW2FYwWSzSJ8KKpxAGM2m7bCI5SyjiVvF1IWuyjkCrgQVTWOy-k2Nsn7bu-hqL68JGCIoq0/s466/81zxmzi+rbL._SY466_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="300" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCsAmDinwL7sF5URaIK95X4KzoDMozMYSIl8r0wGw92v_XJ3dw_zY2oLfK2JcuvJLeHzfwqdgBfi2PPUB1nrK2ChLCZ9oMYKob1km_9xvk0iovnACdPO7BoW2FYwWSzSJ8KKpxAGM2m7bCI5SyjiVvF1IWuyjkCrgQVTWOy-k2Nsn7bu-hqL68JGCIoq0/w258-h400/81zxmzi+rbL._SY466_.jpg" width="258" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is my 43rd read for the year</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is the story of Jack Sawyer. He and his dying mother have just moved away from everything he knows so she can die in peace. However, Jack isn't ready to let her go. In order to save his mother, he must cross the United States between his world and a parallel world called the Territories.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the parallel world - there is a struggle of good and evil and "Twinners" - people who look like the people he knows on earth. This even includes his mother who, in the parallel world is known as Queen Laura. As he journeys, he is constantly put to the test and hopes that he can reach his goal before his mother on earth dies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was not a great book. I found it slow and dry. IT was actually boring and I really struggled to read it each day. This book is almost 40 years old, and it has not aged well. I never really got into the story of Jack's travels. This is a 12 year old boy that crosses the United States. His mom knows he is doing it and he just lets him go? What? It really goes off the rails about 3/4 of the way through the book to the point that I should have just stopped reading. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I don't know who to blame for this one - King or Straub. There is a sequel to this book, but I think I will skip it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stars: 2</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>PletcherFamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01045190951686129822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901921059235480205.post-17552815994674036152024-03-01T22:03:00.001+01:002024-03-01T22:03:04.159+01:00Book: The City of Mirrors<p> Book: The City of Mirrors</p><p>Author: Justin Cronin</p><p>Pages: 624</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgurOfm5hBjC6ZyUZGjMutRWRwWEwcIH2Uo1KWcKMF-lJfv6BWrSauNSm1Bykk4txwz159T8_nPUSzuXBwOgzCyYB3FkaQYz8Zlw_7ksq6pyxJeEuPQFxiiF43otsrBWLU-Y6RuDlHbHW6aUi9vAqz9Vfpe561CLiGHtX-Td_HxjPsutZHGYN9ao_0TFZc/s445/The%20City%20of%20Mirrors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="295" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgurOfm5hBjC6ZyUZGjMutRWRwWEwcIH2Uo1KWcKMF-lJfv6BWrSauNSm1Bykk4txwz159T8_nPUSzuXBwOgzCyYB3FkaQYz8Zlw_7ksq6pyxJeEuPQFxiiF43otsrBWLU-Y6RuDlHbHW6aUi9vAqz9Vfpe561CLiGHtX-Td_HxjPsutZHGYN9ao_0TFZc/w265-h400/The%20City%20of%20Mirrors.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is my 42nd read for the year</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the last book of the Passage trilogy, we open with The Twelve being destroyed. But The Zero still remains. Amy has left the walled city to hunt for him knowing that until he is destroyed, humans will never be at peace. Zero waits for Amy - knowing she will come and try to kill him. But while he waits, he starts to raise an army against her. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">However - 20 years pass and the humans have not seen virals for many years. They have opened the gates to the walled cities and started to branch out into the country. Just as they start to breathe, people and animals start to disappear. The folks who were there when The Twelve were at their peak know what is coming and they are woefully unprepared.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was a fantastic book. I have really enjoyed this trilogy. The writing was fantastic and the story just draws you in. This story was a back track to when The Zero was human and his life story and how he became who he was. It kept me page turning late into the night and it was probably my favorite part of this book. I did have to subtract a half a star because of two reasons. 1) there was a little too much "sweetness" in this book compared to the others. A few too many things working out and flowery language that didn't really fit. My assumption is how much Cronin loves these characters and if there was a death of a character he probably felt it personally. 2) The ending - not my favorite. I LOVED that it went far into the future and kind of wrapped up how the book starts (which is from reading notebooks from the past) but he introduced a few new characters that just through it off for me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Overall - excellent book and excellent series. Well worth the read.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stars: 4.5</div><p></p>PletcherFamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01045190951686129822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901921059235480205.post-67613391742421057122024-02-27T15:23:00.000+01:002024-02-27T15:23:16.916+01:00Book: The Scarlet Pimpernel<p> Book: The Scarlet Pimpernel</p><p>Author: Baroness Orczy</p><p>Pages: 330</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqOdJXKvyYsYt8rntYApLBzfAltlY3E7vByAQQzssGSUXiRlSxu2Q16ClLuu2xMC9YJoasYhzqDPgqKBFq4T7qdYkuucES4U6ss514En_0RyMuB08glLDrbSo7MAKPnBtcOzJyUXfNisWEHfujWhDU2pA3bcfz6OolKtWKJscXOsAEBsg1UZC3QgoHbI/s1000/71dzgxPcE+L._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="620" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqOdJXKvyYsYt8rntYApLBzfAltlY3E7vByAQQzssGSUXiRlSxu2Q16ClLuu2xMC9YJoasYhzqDPgqKBFq4T7qdYkuucES4U6ss514En_0RyMuB08glLDrbSo7MAKPnBtcOzJyUXfNisWEHfujWhDU2pA3bcfz6OolKtWKJscXOsAEBsg1UZC3QgoHbI/w248-h400/71dzgxPcE+L._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is my 41st read for the year</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">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.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">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. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stars: 3</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>PletcherFamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01045190951686129822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901921059235480205.post-86086788142601344762024-02-25T01:05:00.002+01:002024-02-27T15:39:23.993+01:00Book: The Twelve<p> Book: The Twelve</p><p>Author: Justin Cronin</p><p>Pages: 608</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfgAcY955SukDzjIabBDjGhhWaSZh5SmzKzyEdu03lWc7o8XmkioaDdLD8gams1WfJv38uMrxdJLcYbWXFlq4-E1QEY8uMY0uCDwNRyvN8Jd984Ix2FKpJouCjg2GMIafU11Kt9-khhM7-IEby-PRyR3I3MMD1VW6Rx7Ews__RzqpacRhPRgBOi-t7R0/s445/41m5f3PTvFL._SY445_SX342_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="295" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfgAcY955SukDzjIabBDjGhhWaSZh5SmzKzyEdu03lWc7o8XmkioaDdLD8gams1WfJv38uMrxdJLcYbWXFlq4-E1QEY8uMY0uCDwNRyvN8Jd984Ix2FKpJouCjg2GMIafU11Kt9-khhM7-IEby-PRyR3I3MMD1VW6Rx7Ews__RzqpacRhPRgBOi-t7R0/w265-h400/41m5f3PTvFL._SY445_SX342_.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is my 40th read for the year</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">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.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">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.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">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.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Great series. Cannot wait to read the third and see how he finishes the story.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stars: 5</div><br /><p><br /></p>PletcherFamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01045190951686129822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901921059235480205.post-35870007005969441622024-02-20T23:40:00.001+01:002024-02-26T01:26:46.406+01:00Book: Loki<p> Book: Loki</p><p>Author: Melvin Burgess</p><p>Pages: 272</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-1aUvs37Yi09F0z7FhLacuIP2KaYkayZI4x3uE6QqAdZaBhF_Np_-kewiENlGA_VbNmtdL1TNTKoshVwgUlTADhjLybkpZ5XkhZ8-FIBc4v9qdqhZhFm5QNyGLoXrpvxb2Vr4jFYZN3hATn91tSC_clGmOwnFDn2shutbMaUXx_LvX_7NHXm7TkK19w/s466/81Iukv5yceL._SY466_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="307" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-1aUvs37Yi09F0z7FhLacuIP2KaYkayZI4x3uE6QqAdZaBhF_Np_-kewiENlGA_VbNmtdL1TNTKoshVwgUlTADhjLybkpZ5XkhZ8-FIBc4v9qdqhZhFm5QNyGLoXrpvxb2Vr4jFYZN3hATn91tSC_clGmOwnFDn2shutbMaUXx_LvX_7NHXm7TkK19w/w264-h400/81Iukv5yceL._SY466_.jpg" width="264" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is my 39th read for the year</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am borrowing from Amazon for the synopsis (I am on vacation and don't want to paraphrase)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"<span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">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.</span></div><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">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.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">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.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">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"</span><div><span face="Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span face="Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">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.</span></span></div><div><span face="Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span face="Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Stars: 4<br /></span></span><p><br /></p></div>PletcherFamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01045190951686129822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901921059235480205.post-60111972440382605432024-02-20T23:32:00.000+01:002024-02-20T23:32:23.303+01:00Book: I Feel Bad About My Neck<p> Book: I Feel Bad About About My Neck</p><p>Author: Nora Ephron</p><p>Pages: 137</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhES1_VG9GkIKS3dqef0JlyFC4PgYplIXWKjogwQ73WmOYkQlWNf-l8Vmnc03OmSU_mMbmMHJb9U-acWu6y9k77I1Ixv2wxcsZXFQV8yLGmycC-fsB4PqG99r2MQZ8VEkYdsSefoP_MyBwHIwyDaOM1cC5bX4t9Y_KIP6ywZBdspNdBm4SN7MWZilj466Y/s466/71QnXxjwK7L._SY466_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="303" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhES1_VG9GkIKS3dqef0JlyFC4PgYplIXWKjogwQ73WmOYkQlWNf-l8Vmnc03OmSU_mMbmMHJb9U-acWu6y9k77I1Ixv2wxcsZXFQV8yLGmycC-fsB4PqG99r2MQZ8VEkYdsSefoP_MyBwHIwyDaOM1cC5bX4t9Y_KIP6ywZBdspNdBm4SN7MWZilj466Y/w260-h400/71QnXxjwK7L._SY466_.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is my 38th read for the year</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">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.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">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.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stars: 4</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>PletcherFamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01045190951686129822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901921059235480205.post-85538553030533246452024-02-18T20:27:00.000+01:002024-02-18T20:27:05.550+01:00Book: Swamp Story<p> Book: Swamp Story</p><p>Author: Dave Barry</p><p>Pages: 306</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNZ3NAU0WlL44miqGBYKNlGhfAbm9922JjRVWmPyIg-F3sWpS_xxiIW2zvjLZ1VvET0ASayuhqybPmqqThdXDCgZkNkSoS2vpSln_0OIlRmNGRgeBJWdnephHXXVwP02Ad4dTMYYhj1UaM84DpyVY01h289LNFQ8e2irNvlhicDPyfYp7tsZIVjL0LXU/s445/51MvDsrZHuL._SY445_SX342_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="297" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNZ3NAU0WlL44miqGBYKNlGhfAbm9922JjRVWmPyIg-F3sWpS_xxiIW2zvjLZ1VvET0ASayuhqybPmqqThdXDCgZkNkSoS2vpSln_0OIlRmNGRgeBJWdnephHXXVwP02Ad4dTMYYhj1UaM84DpyVY01h289LNFQ8e2irNvlhicDPyfYp7tsZIVjL0LXU/w268-h400/51MvDsrZHuL._SY445_SX342_.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is my 37th read for the year</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">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. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">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"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">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.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stars: 4</div><br /><p><br /></p>PletcherFamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01045190951686129822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901921059235480205.post-59882691933504543872024-02-18T20:15:00.000+01:002024-02-18T20:15:41.192+01:00Book: Ethan Frome<p> Book: Ethan Frome</p><p>Author: Edith Wharton</p><p>Pages: 77</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjANRJ_ZRjQdkcR8eCEnHNGHjS3X3Wq7WIS3yu8deOiyZBP-G0m3vLwKWuWNwIi9ZluCdqpIk0rZdokR730DS3TqEdW4Sh9hW4Vd8KmnrHrdhlq71k8DueBYQbk7NSEpdcih7mj2WBNWutLMS0CCgdPqRG0hluvupfm3iNQF65A_CLNin-QWaHAmBF0Y/s445/51V4JfwAvZL._SY445_SX342_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="279" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjANRJ_ZRjQdkcR8eCEnHNGHjS3X3Wq7WIS3yu8deOiyZBP-G0m3vLwKWuWNwIi9ZluCdqpIk0rZdokR730DS3TqEdW4Sh9hW4Vd8KmnrHrdhlq71k8DueBYQbk7NSEpdcih7mj2WBNWutLMS0CCgdPqRG0hluvupfm3iNQF65A_CLNin-QWaHAmBF0Y/w251-h400/51V4JfwAvZL._SY445_SX342_.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is my 36th read for the year</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">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.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">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.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stars: 4.5</div><br /><p><br /></p>PletcherFamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01045190951686129822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901921059235480205.post-46142866976759312562024-02-18T01:13:00.000+01:002024-02-18T01:13:01.797+01:00Book: The Only Good Indians<p> Book: The Only Good Indians</p><p>Author: Stephen Graham Jones</p><p>Pages: 336</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh39YDudiO8lQg9fQBe6QqiaLyo4_BckDOTmridxJzZMEYIhvk7YGtMR8Q8zIV9T4308ciU1GfD-QLnLBK3nYQlendCVZ9p9Ow4ohL08rzcTA8_uawfqWryHZcjwQGuX5yYlf5GmOtCuQhSDOl_JrinIk9rrHodIBpC6OZrT8kqqhs6c3uvplzQvO5jMpM/s466/716rRntzCyL._SY466_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="306" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh39YDudiO8lQg9fQBe6QqiaLyo4_BckDOTmridxJzZMEYIhvk7YGtMR8Q8zIV9T4308ciU1GfD-QLnLBK3nYQlendCVZ9p9Ow4ohL08rzcTA8_uawfqWryHZcjwQGuX5yYlf5GmOtCuQhSDOl_JrinIk9rrHodIBpC6OZrT8kqqhs6c3uvplzQvO5jMpM/w263-h400/716rRntzCyL._SY466_.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is my 35th read for the year</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">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.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">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.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stars: 2.5</div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>PletcherFamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01045190951686129822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901921059235480205.post-70481976241418968052024-02-15T19:15:00.000+01:002024-02-15T19:15:35.905+01:00Book: Cyrano de Bergerac<p> Book: Cyrano de Bergerac</p><p>Author: Edmond Rostand</p><p>Pages: 256</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc_dkiEiO7iZih5SBbbLmnbX0Sb52stdHjY2qPQWJZEiaQNmFGTXSDeSpYTS78bt4nSf5NSsZcaPd5YQQ4yemKXd44e0TdONyVTDooP9ve0SGkRIe3IFl9GvYLgbTAaPyXSrr1NwJNrY7llL-PJf5k0b4hWmfXxGTME6dk1p1AOHthfRKTXutU4kYVEAk/s445/412S94gAg7L._SY445_SX342_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="276" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc_dkiEiO7iZih5SBbbLmnbX0Sb52stdHjY2qPQWJZEiaQNmFGTXSDeSpYTS78bt4nSf5NSsZcaPd5YQQ4yemKXd44e0TdONyVTDooP9ve0SGkRIe3IFl9GvYLgbTAaPyXSrr1NwJNrY7llL-PJf5k0b4hWmfXxGTME6dk1p1AOHthfRKTXutU4kYVEAk/w248-h400/412S94gAg7L._SY445_SX342_.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is my 34th read for the year</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">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.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">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.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stars: 4.5</div><br /><p><br /></p>PletcherFamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01045190951686129822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901921059235480205.post-83527019010948318792024-02-15T19:03:00.000+01:002024-02-15T19:03:27.406+01:00Book: Atonement<p> Book: Atonement</p><p>Author: Ian McEwan</p><p>Pages: 351</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVAXjRb-1_N5Ags-pOSpbDdSexhL3X504FVCw8-I1-W99l-54B9m_O3ja9WJar4DNKezrNcelSnWbGaqFaNiYX_hDx6ZfAy32IAI5zRIjSnLIehn9Q_UZiYpiiNkWu0BZ4GdpYYbYTu0-pvScBuRklOVQDR9H6uHCqXY9q7_PwBI-mr2Ypde-3SHIObYo/s445/41tbdIujMwL._SY445_SX342_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="287" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVAXjRb-1_N5Ags-pOSpbDdSexhL3X504FVCw8-I1-W99l-54B9m_O3ja9WJar4DNKezrNcelSnWbGaqFaNiYX_hDx6ZfAy32IAI5zRIjSnLIehn9Q_UZiYpiiNkWu0BZ4GdpYYbYTu0-pvScBuRklOVQDR9H6uHCqXY9q7_PwBI-mr2Ypde-3SHIObYo/w258-h400/41tbdIujMwL._SY445_SX342_.jpg" width="258" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is my 33rd read for the year</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">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.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">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.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stars: 3</div><br /><p><br /></p>PletcherFamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01045190951686129822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901921059235480205.post-56246575943775784752024-02-15T01:52:00.000+01:002024-02-15T01:52:38.519+01:00Book: Contact<p> Book: Contact</p><p>Author: Carl Sagan</p><p>Pages: 432</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirP_qd_lXIlpkOdK1Szpma-JFamgSLmdlAE0NUTJJAMQCrBwGTMxdfArV_7qHQwQZ6VUpRCp30g4NyKbOujrv_UJ88x0tgnwsPQFx9MArhJlp3M1cIchUAPF4aEroG4BBLeLuzg8jydGJutI2p8GCwJGsozJETM6Aun9lgABbwOCMNPpkNSwSPZjJM82Y/s500/51ZJMpOIUTL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirP_qd_lXIlpkOdK1Szpma-JFamgSLmdlAE0NUTJJAMQCrBwGTMxdfArV_7qHQwQZ6VUpRCp30g4NyKbOujrv_UJ88x0tgnwsPQFx9MArhJlp3M1cIchUAPF4aEroG4BBLeLuzg8jydGJutI2p8GCwJGsozJETM6Aun9lgABbwOCMNPpkNSwSPZjJM82Y/w400-h400/51ZJMpOIUTL.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is my 32nd read for the year</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">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.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">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.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stars: 3</div><br /><p><br /></p>PletcherFamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01045190951686129822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901921059235480205.post-35324109839315957742024-02-13T16:13:00.000+01:002024-02-13T16:13:48.002+01:00Book: The Ferryman<p> Book: The Ferryman</p><p>Author: Justin Cronin</p><p>Pages: 538</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZ77rBa7TBGNyC6oWv42Wf8w1KeWiZhKyEQeu2GsEF-uy8LcdzPlSyaKhqD4iJxa_zt11vMLFGbiJa86m_EtXutwTp5d2U0x4R14O6T8Oqych4bY4S2EBeJz38tkkWnH6cv4oMVQYygec-JIEaFFMn-Pz-Oym733UVRr7GpBsz0fY1JyrfSg4PP9rgFg/s466/71yW9s8oocL._SY466_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="307" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZ77rBa7TBGNyC6oWv42Wf8w1KeWiZhKyEQeu2GsEF-uy8LcdzPlSyaKhqD4iJxa_zt11vMLFGbiJa86m_EtXutwTp5d2U0x4R14O6T8Oqych4bY4S2EBeJz38tkkWnH6cv4oMVQYygec-JIEaFFMn-Pz-Oym733UVRr7GpBsz0fY1JyrfSg4PP9rgFg/w264-h400/71yW9s8oocL._SY466_.jpg" width="264" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is my 31st read for the year</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">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.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">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.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">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.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This author is talented. No doubt. And I am glad I read it. I just wanted a bit more.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stars: 4</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>PletcherFamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01045190951686129822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901921059235480205.post-10885313051233149822024-02-10T22:10:00.000+01:002024-02-10T22:10:30.192+01:00Book: How To Breathe Underwater<p> Book: How To Breathe Underwater</p><p>Author: Julie Orringer</p><p>Pages: 226</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7QQJ0rfliWGt2780AUX0HdR1M_FnH2GMqNDGHBWLnJmXo88uYARM1mnZHUYeL8bXf-YgxEOpBfMx4MnlOcZWW6jxmuqUGd3vyHTn75w3ybvuYKyvXrOE0HdbOkb99EZ0a2TOmRz1y7Efoqo6Ji8SkAiUBv9mSJ7E3rDtjCjEqUdZhcen6WuxjlF5T1aU/s445/51a1hOS5U6L._SY445_SX342_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="291" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7QQJ0rfliWGt2780AUX0HdR1M_FnH2GMqNDGHBWLnJmXo88uYARM1mnZHUYeL8bXf-YgxEOpBfMx4MnlOcZWW6jxmuqUGd3vyHTn75w3ybvuYKyvXrOE0HdbOkb99EZ0a2TOmRz1y7Efoqo6Ji8SkAiUBv9mSJ7E3rDtjCjEqUdZhcen6WuxjlF5T1aU/w261-h400/51a1hOS5U6L._SY445_SX342_.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is my 30th read for the year</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">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.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">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. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stars: 3.5</div><br /><p><br /></p>PletcherFamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01045190951686129822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901921059235480205.post-712469339053796812024-02-09T02:19:00.000+01:002024-02-09T02:19:45.437+01:00Book: Cilka's Journey<p> Book: Cilka's Journey</p><p>Author: Heather Morris</p><p>Pages: 384</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTpR2dChkv9NJwEunrU-ywdDXc-w01Isjaao-vPan7Iw5_acLTdnl9d7wZsahwuF910fGRvhKbq1gFCkbcAnzzkYnAFVb37g3T86X270e9WcdiNgyZ6vHJc5bUTjO3_5rcY_CizmcRvUOtifp0oc4KBO_zDcUxIV83ZCsPBWklXwRgjW9Pr5vdAOxkJhE/s466/81-ylmAz8CL._SY466_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="304" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTpR2dChkv9NJwEunrU-ywdDXc-w01Isjaao-vPan7Iw5_acLTdnl9d7wZsahwuF910fGRvhKbq1gFCkbcAnzzkYnAFVb37g3T86X270e9WcdiNgyZ6vHJc5bUTjO3_5rcY_CizmcRvUOtifp0oc4KBO_zDcUxIV83ZCsPBWklXwRgjW9Pr5vdAOxkJhE/w261-h400/81-ylmAz8CL._SY466_.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is my 29th read for the year</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">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.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">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.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">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.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stars. 4</div><br /><p><br /></p>PletcherFamilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01045190951686129822noreply@blogger.com0