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I realized I hadn't read a cozy mystery for awhile so I am now reading Calypso, Corpses, and Cooking by Raquel V. Reyes narrated by, Frankie Corzo

I have completed--Facing the Mountain: A True Story of Japanese American Heroes in World War II by Daniel James Brown. It is a very good narrative nonfiction and I do recommend it. I keep yawning and yawning, I am tired. I hope my review makes some sense. It is short.

My review: /review/show...

Today I have begun H.M.S. Saracen by Douglas Reeman, Yeah, I do like it....I think. It is another book about war. This one is set ont the sea. It starts with WW! and Gallipoli. So yeah, it is not exactly a light, cheerful read.

I'm listening to a series first: A Borrowing of Bones by Paula Munier. I will admit that I usually struggle with American women narrators, but I'm enjoying this and think Kathleen McInerney is doing a fine job. I can add her to my small list of those I can handle.

I listened to The Far Country by Nevil Shute and I understand now why some of you like his work so much!

I finished a Black Dagger brotherhood novella, Darius, by J. R. Ward. It's a prequel to the original series about a character who gets blown up early in the first book. I figured we'd just get the backstory, but the ending wasn't what I was expecting. It was nice to have the nostalgia of the early BDB series.

Jan wrote: "I listened to The Far Country by Nevil Shute and I understand now why some of you like his work so much!"

I liked it but not as much as most of the others, so I assume you'll like them also.

Jan wrote: "I listened to The Far Country by Nevil Shute and I understand now why some of you like his work so much!"

Like me for example! That one I gave four stars. What about you?

I finished I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy. 4 stars. Psychological abuse from her mother behind the glossy picture...

Jan wrote: "I'm listening to a book I loved as a young adult (I'm now in my 60's).

The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart

Sometimes older books that charmed you once don't work again l..."

That's good to hear - The Crystal Cave is one of my all time favorites, too!

The Wall by John Lanchester - 4* - My Review

Speculative fiction set in the near future, where Great Britain has been isolated from the rest of the world by the titular Wall that surrounds the entire country. It is an unusual mix of high- tech weaponry and throwbacks to the past. It does not overtly discuss politics, but whatever decisions have been made have resulted in an environmental catastrophe. It examines the effect of decisions made by an older generation on the younger. I found it extremely relevant to today’s world. I do not want to say too much, but I found the ending satisfying. Recommended to fans of dystopian or speculative fiction.

The audio is nicely narrated by Will Poulter.

Dropping in here to mention Think Fast, Mr. Moto, which qualifies for a challenge I'm doing. At 1.1x it's proving more interesting than I'd expected, better than a print copy.

Chrissie wrote: (About Nevil Shute) "Like me for example! That one I gave four stars. What about you?"

I gave it five stars, actually, based on the quality of the audio book and narrator and the amount I enjoyed the story. I will have to explore this author much more.

I finished the seventh book in The Witches of Keating Hollow series by Deanna Chase, Essence of the Witch and am continuing with the Eighth, Muse of the Witch. These are light paranormal romances and good when you just want some fun fluff.

Jan wrote: "Chrissie wrote: (About Nevil Shute) "Like me for example! That one I gave four stars. What about you?"

I gave it five stars, actually, based on the quality of the audio book and narrator and the a..."

Happy you have enjoyed hin too.
Here you see my ranking of them:

*A Town Like Alice 4 stars
*The Chequer Board 4 stars
*No Highway 4 stars
*The Far Country 4 stars
*Landfall 4 stars
*Most Secret 4 stars
*Beyond The Black Stump 4 stars
*Slide Rule: The Autobiography of an Engineer 3 stars
*Pied Piper 3 stars
*Ruined City 3 stars
*Trustee from the Toolroom 3 stars
*The Rainbow and the Rose 3 stars
*Requiem for a Wren 2 stars
*So Distained 2 stars
*Pastoral 1 star

Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson - 3* - My Review

Set in New York, this is a poetically written book about race, class, family, identity, teenage pregnancy, and parental responsibility. It is a story of three generations of a family. I think the author does a great job at the portrayal of family dynamics. A primary theme is intergenerational trauma.

The audiobook is nicely narrated by a cast.

4.5 stars to NK Jemisin's latest, The World We Make, the conclusion of the Great Cities duology. I'll be there if she revisits this alternate universe again, these books were excellent! And very well geared for audiobooks, I loved the inclusion of the various sound effects. Robin Miles reads beautifully, as she always does.

I was excited this morning because Madly, Deeply: The Diaries of Alan Rickman finally came available, but I quickly realized the audiobook format won't work for me on this one.

So I started Border and Rule: Global Migration, Capitalism, and the Rise of Racist Nationalism instead. Another tough nonfiction read, but Walia has well-thought-out arguments.

The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains by Nicholas Carr - 4* -My Review

The author expresses concern that the internet is reducing our ability to process and retain information. He cites many scientific studies to make his point that it is, in fact, rewiring our brains. He examines the many distractions offered by the internet, and how following hyperlinks can result in an unexpected adverse impact on memory. In addition to brain science, he relates a history of communications. It is quite informative It was published in 2010, so I imagine what has happened since then would reinforce his message. This is definitely a book that will prompt people to reevaluate their usage of the internet.

The audio book is nicely narrated by Richard Powers.

I finished off the available books in the Witches of Keating Hollow series by Deanna Chase: Muse/Vision/Waking/Honor of the Witch. These are fairly short and require little from the listener. They are like an addictive soap opera.

Dinosaurs by Lydia Millet - 5* - My Review

Character-driven narrative about a relatively naïve man in his forties and the friendship he forms with a local family. It is easy to root for the protagonist. He has had many difficulties and tries to “do good.� He can be somewhat easily manipulated by others due to his feelings of guilt and unworthiness. The prose is sparse but elegant. Themes include human interactions with nature, political strife, and the uses (and abuses) we experience at the hands of selfish individuals. I found it different and refreshing.

The audio book is beautifully narrated by Paul Heitsch. I would definitely listen to another of his narrations.

The Winners by Fredrik Backman - 4.5* - My Review

This conclusion to the Beartown Trilogy is an epic saga that paints a portrait of two entire communities and their relationships. It is filled with pithy sayings. There is a bit too much foreshadowing for me but overall, it is my favorite of the trilogy. It is a well-crafted story and one I expect will garner many 5-star reviews. For me it fell just a tiny bit short, but I still highly recommend it to anyone who has read the first two books.

The audio is beautifully narrated by Marin Ireland.

I finished the first book in the Tanyth Fairport Adventures trilogy by Nathan Lowell, Ravenwood. This is an unusual fantasy with a main character who is an older woman who has been traveling in order to gather wisdom about hervs and healing from scattered wise women. She happens into a hamlet that needs her and draws her in and unexpected minor magical powers begin to bloom. She appears to be at a point in her life where she is poised to become a real crone... all the more unexpected because the world doesn't have or actually believe in magic, even though there are tales. This one drew me in slowly and I'm thinking I will get the second one the next time there is a good percent off sale.

finished up Furies of Calderon - yet another book that has been lingering on my TBL for wayy to long...def. want to continue the story to see where Butcher takes me - because wow the lsat 3 hours was a continual rollercoaster

I finished H.M.S. Saracen by Douglas Reeman a couple of days ago. I was intrigued by this classical author of naval military books. He has a high rating. What had I been missing?

My review: /review/show...

I will be reading more of his books. Trying just one isn't my style.

I haven't been feeling topnotch so it took me awhile to get out a review.

Next up has been the biographical My Father's Fortune by Michael Frayn. Here we have a son writing about his father.

I finally finished Silver Dreams by Kate Moseman. I had paused this PWF book because it was becoming silly/wacky and I wasn't in the mood. I still wasn't. Unfortunately, this third in the Midlife Elementals series became sillier, wackier, and stupider as it went along. The book was only about six hours long so I could finish it, but I won't be looking for more books by this author. And I'm still trying to figure out why the author thought the story needed an involved yet irrelevant trip to a dentist by a hippocampo.

Kibogo by Scholastique Mukasonga - 3* - My Review

This is a story of Rwanda in the 1940s when it was a part of German East Africa under the control of Belgium. It explores colonial exploitation and the introduction of the Christian religion into Rwandan culture. It is based around the Rwandan myth of Kibogo, said to have sacrificed himself while summoning rain to save the people from famine and drought. It is told in four different perspectives of the same narrative. It is a critique of colonialism and the damage done through imposing external beliefs. I appreciated it but did not find it particularly engaging.

The audio book is competently narrated by Akrosia Samson Demetrios.

I finished today the nonfiction book My Father's Fortune by Michael Frayn.

My review: /review/show...

I have just begun Bend Sinister by Vladimir Nabokov. We are told in the introduction, also written by the author, that the phrase "bend sinister" indicates a wrong turn taken in life. This I wouldn't have known. It is Nabokov's first novel written in the U.S. It is chockfull of wordplays, as his books usually are. I am wondering how this one will go down for me.

The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by Jamie Ford - 4* - My Review

This story is based around the principle of epigenetics, exploring the idea that parents� experiences and lifestyle can affect the genes that are passed along to their children and grandchildren. It is fiction based on what little is known of Afong Moy, a real person believed to be the first female Chinese immigrant to the US in 1834. It is told in interwoven timelines over two hundred and fifty years and multiple perspectives. As in many multiple perspective stories, I enjoyed some more than others. On the whole, I found it a well-written complex story that kept my attention.

The audio book is nicely narrated by a cast of seven voices, one for each timeline.

I finished Knights of Ghost and Shadow, first in the Bedlam’s Bard series by Ellen Guon and Mercedes Lackey and narrated by Kevin T. Collins. While I've enjoyed the narrator's work in other books, his narration for this one didn't really work. It may simply have been that the narration caused the flaws in writing to be more evident, but a story with potential came off mostly as cheesy. I won't be continuing this series.

I have been listening to two recently, each by an author I greatly admire.

This one is a retelling of David Copperfield, set in Apalachia and featuring the opioid crisis:
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver - 4* - My Review
The audio book is nicely narrated by Charlie Thurston in a “downhome� southern accent.

and one for fans of surrealistic literature:
The Unconsoled by Kazuo Ishiguro - 3* - My Review
Simon Vance does a great job with the audio narration.

My review of And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle by Jon Meacham

/review/show...

All the Light We Cannot See was a good book. Would have been better if I had really paid attention (especially in the beginning) to dates. It flipped around a good bit and I didn't pick up on most of it until probably half way through. But I did love the stories that intertwined. And Clair de Lune is a very important piece of music for me so to hear it mentioned was nice - but to hear it played a the end was wonderful.

I started The Wish this weekend. Solid Nicholas Sparks - I know will be a sweet and slightly weepy one.

I liked the premise of this book and admire Keneally's writing style, but I do not think this is his best work.

The Book of Science and Antiquities by Thomas Keneally - 3* - My Review

Five stars to Harsha Walia's Border and Rule: Global Migration, Capitalism, and the Rise of Racist Nationalism, an intensely grim yet necessary piece of nonfiction.

Read nicely by Cindy Kay.

Ashley Marie wrote: "Five stars to Harsha Walia's Border and Rule: Global Migration, Capitalism, and the Rise of Racist Nationalism, an intensely grim yet necessary piece of nonfiction.

Read nicely by ..."

Sounds interesting. I will give it a look. I have not heard of it before. What brought it to your attention?

I have completed Bend Sinister by Vladimir Nabokov. He is a one-of -a kind author! His books are always imaginative and creative. This one he wrote at the conclusion of the Second World War.

My review: /review/show...

Having recently read a biographical piece by Michael Frayn, I wanted to test his humor tied to fiction. Now I have begun Headlong. So far it's good. It is not hard to relate to the characters, of which there are different types. Country folk, intellectuals.....

Bill (Just a) wrote: "Ashley Marie wrote: "Five stars to Harsha Walia's Border and Rule: Global Migration, Capitalism, and the Rise of Racist Nationalism, an intensely grim yet necessary piece of nonfict..."

One of my other GR groups read it a year ago, which put it on my radar, and then it filled the Border prompt in my Nonfiction November reading.

And 5 stars to Joy Harjo's An American Sunrise. A quick listen, less than 2 hours. I fell in love with Joy's voice and with her words.

Finished Calypso, Corpses, and Cooking by Raquel V. Reyes narrated by, Frankie Corzo Those missing the old Goldy Bear mysteries give this series a try! Cuban American lead who is also a podcaster so fun but with the same “feel� of the Goldy series. I will go back and read the 1st book and look forward to more from this series.

Now starting American Mother: The True Story of a TroubledFamily, Greed and the Cyanide Murders That Shook the World by Gregg Olsen narrated by, Karen Peakes

I actually ended up DNF'ing American Mother: The True Story of a Troubled Family, Motherhood, and the Cyanide Murders That Shook the World at 20% it was really slow and I also think I may have read this book before under the title Bitter Almonds.

Now starting Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six by Lisa Unger narrated by, Vivienne Leheny

The Thief Of Time Terry Pratchett

OMG - 4.5 Stars. - Terry Pratchett is just brilliant. In this book we meet "time" personified - and his offspring as well. And when time stops then that's it for everything else. A hero is on his way and also on her way. But... will there be enough time?

Death is also a personified character. This is the fifth and final in the DiscWorld books in the subset of the Death Books. It is number 26 in the DiscWorld series overall. Now on to the Witches subset of books.

Here is one suggested reading list for DiscWorld.

I finished The Book of Levi, book 0.5 of the Demon Accords series by John Conroe. This new prequel book is from the pov of a relatively minor secondary character who was a mentor to a major character--Deklin--introduced in the fifth and sixth books of the series. While it doesn't add anything truly new, it was interesting to see the training and development of this important character. The action of the book is about eighty or nighty percent prior to the 2 books that introduce Deklin, but does include spoiler material from those books. A reader new to the series might want to read this new one after the sixth book, Executable, rather than in the implied chronological order of its 0.5 designation.

I finished The Last Anniversary, which was an early book by Liane Moriarty. Like others of hers, it has multiple points of view, relationship/family issues, and at least one story twist. The narration by Heather Wilds was excellent and I felt it added a lot.

Set in 1926 Soho, if you like genre crime fiction you may enjoy this more than I did. The audio book is competently read by Jason Watkins.

Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson - 3* - My Review

I really had to think hard about how to rate Headlong by the contemporary author Michael Frayn.

My review: /review/show...

It would be a good book to discuss in a group.

Now I am reading the classic A Bird in the House by the acclaimed Canadian author Margaret Laurence. It is the first of the Manawaka Sequence. If one is superstitious, "a bird in the house" portends death. It reads as a novel, rather than a group of stories.

Finished up Gilded Mountain by Kate Manning. Set in the early 1900s at a marble mining town, Sylvie Pelletier comes of age. Her first two jobs help form her life, being a newspaper printer assistant, and being the social secretary for the mine owner’s wife.

Sylvie becomes conflicted when romantically attracted to not only a union leader, but also the mine owner’s son. This is far from a romance, as many social issues are addressed, but not overtly. I found it a fascinating and well told tale. The narration added to the enjoyment.


Now I'm a good way into The Magic Kingdom by Russell Banks.

Nominations for the Goodread Choice Awards are out. "The Maid" is nominated. That's the only one I read. It was pretty good. "The Bullet That Missed" is on my wish list and that is nominated. It's on my wish list because of someone's post here. I recognize a few of the biographies. But that is pretty much it.

I don't know enough to vote. Anyone got something they are going to vote for as the best?

Very much enjoyed this classic SciFi:
Foundation by Isaac Asimov - 4* - My Review

The audio is nicely narrated by William Hope.

Joy D wrote: "Very much enjoyed this classic SciFi:
Foundation by Isaac Asimov - 4* - My Review

The audio is nicely narrated by William Hope."

I've read that one but the narrator was Scott Brick. He's often not my cup of tea, but he did a good job on it. I've got the second in the trilogy in my Library and need to get around to it before I forget what happened in the first one! ;)

Jeanie wrote: "I've read that one but the narrator was Scott Brick. He's often not my cup of tea, but he did a good job on it. I've got the second in the trilogy in my Library and need to get around to it before I forget what happened in the first one! ;)..."

I am still trying to decide whether or not to read the second book. I am not big on reading series, so I may wait a while.

I just finished listening to Forbidden Mafia Prince by Brooke Blaine and Ella Frank, narrator the sexy Aiden Snow !
This book was amazing, sexy and dark! I love a good Mafia/gangster story add mm romance and it's off the charts !