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What are you reading this year?

The Lilies of the Field
William Edmund Barrett
4/5 stars
A sweet novel about a young African American, Homer Smith who on his travels ends up working for a convent of nuns and helps them build a church. This was made into a film with Sidney Poiter and I thought the film was very faithful to the book.

Outlander and 11/22/63! Both good so far!

News of the World Movie Tie-in : A Novel by Paulette Jiles
5 stars


I read this because the movie trailer looked really good and our theaters are closed now because of covid and I saw the library had the ebook. Couldnt put it down. The author did a wonderful job of showing how the little girl did not understand English ways after being kidnapped and living with Indians for 4 years. After she is rescued the Captain is paid to deliver her to her relatives. Her parents have been killed. Not a very complicated plot but I felt like I got to know the characters and didn't want the book to end.

Koren wrote: "News of the World Movie Tie-in : A Novel by Paulette Jiles
5 stars


I read this because the movie trailer looked really..."

I loved this book!! Glad you enjoyed it too. I bet the movie will be good :)

Terris wrote: "Koren wrote: "News of the World Movie Tie-in : A Novel by Paulette Jiles
5 stars


I read this because the movie trailer..."

I will let you know if I get to see it. Our theaters are opening at reduced capacity on Monday.

Koren wrote: "Terris wrote: "Koren wrote: "News of the World Movie Tie-in : A Novel by Paulette Jiles
5 stars


I read this because th..."

I loved this book too. Can't wait to see the movie!

Skin and Other Stories
Roald Dahl
4/5 stars
Dahl has a vivid imagination and does not disappoint in this collection of odd short stories. One of my favorites was Skin, a tale about a man whose back was tattooed by a famous artist and lengths people will go to have it. I enjoyed it.

Koren wrote: "Terris wrote: "Koren wrote: "News of the World Movie Tie-in : A Novel by Paulette Jiles
5 stars


I read this because th..."

Oh good! :)

Koren wrote: "News of the World Movie Tie-in : A Novel by Paulette Jiles
5 stars


I read this because the movie trailer looked really..."

I enjoyed this book and I want to see the movie too. Hope it's not changed too much.

I found the best book at the library. It's called Christmas at The Mysterious Bookshop It's about a real life bookshop in New York that's owned by Otto Penzler, who is an editor and publisher. Each year for 17 years he commissioned an author to write a short story revolving around his bookshop and the stories are great. Made me realize an author doesn't always need to fill up a bunch of pages to write a good story.

A Fine and Private Place
Peter S. Beagle
4/5 stars
This story revolves around Jonathon Rebeck, former druggist, who came to the cemetery 19 years ago and never left. Rebeck talks to the dead people who appear to him and tries to avoid the cemetery workers so he won’t get kicked out. All this changes when the spirits of two dead people appear to Rebeck. Laura and Michael both died separately but met and fell in love in the cemetery. When circumstances appear that cause Michael to have to be removed from the cemetery, Jonathon and his new friend, Mrs. Klapper conspire to find a way to keep the dead lovers together. I thought it was a most charming story.

Pistols For Two
Georgette Heyer
3/5 stars
Author Heyer is known for her historical romance novels and mysteries. This book contains several of her historical romance short stories and has a couple of excerpts from 2 of her novels. This is definitely for romance fans. I read some of her novels years ago and it was fun to re-visit her writings and to read her short stories.

I think I have read every Heyer historical romance she ever wrote. But that was to many years ago to remember them. Altho I do remember one that had sisters in it and they wore the same dresses to all those parties and balls. They were a fun read.

The Secrets of Lost Cats: One Woman, Twenty Posters, and a New Understanding of Love
Nancy Davidson
3.5/5 stars
Nancy Davidson explores the unusual topic of missing cats and the posters that people make when their cats go missing. Her exploration of this topic came up when her own orange tabby went missing. She made posters to help find him and discovered a myriad of other missing cat posters in her area. She has a degree in clinical psychology and wanted to know the stories of the people who lost their cats. So whenever she found a lost cat poster, she would try to contact the owners. Some were open to her and some were not. This was such an interesting and usual topic that I sped through this book!

Service With a Smile
P.G. Wodehouse
3/5 stars
This is the first Wodehouse novel I have read but it is the 5th in the series that concentrates on Uncle Fred, 5th Earl of Ickenham. He is visiting his friend Lord Emsworth who has to deal with his lost prize pig, a new secretary and a group of church lads camping on his property. This was quite a romp especially with several plot lines for a book that is only 190 pages long.

His Magical Pet: Benefit M/M Story Collection

Mostly romantic comedy meet cute stories with animals playing matchmaker.

My favorites:
4****
Chitter-Chatter by Riley Rivers. Delphy the squirrel acquires human speech when next door neighbors throw spells that accidentally hit her. She plays matchmaker to get them together.
Cat-astrophe by Liv Rider. Mathew, a mage, accidentally enables Josie the cat to teleport. She repeatedly goes to new neighbor lion shifter Ethan so Matthew has to come get her or Ethan has to bring her back.
Throw Me a Bone by Elva Birch. Lucas is suddenly able to turn into a wolf. He retains his human intelligence, loves going for runs with his dog Hally and has problems with HOA. New nearby neighbor Shaun helps him defeat HOA.

Most others 3*** or close to that.
I liked most of the others enough to read again though two seemed to be parts of series but even those I'd re-read if reading the series.

One story was just not my thing as what was keeping couple apart was drunken miscommunication.

I'd describe most sex-scenes in the anthology as romantic rather than how-to which is part of why I rated it as high as I did. To me sex scenes that read like step by step instructions from reference book are just page fillers to increase word count.

Daisy Jones And the Six �� Taylor Jenkins Reid �� 3***
A book within a book, that purportedly tells the story of a famous rock band of the 1970s, told as an “oral history.�� It’s a love story, a history of the 1970s rock scene, a coming of age story, and a story of how addiction steals the best parts of our lives. I didn’t like the main characters. And as for plot �� it just didn’t seem to be going anywhere, or at least not anywhere I wanted to go. And then I got to the ending and my breath was taken away. Those last twenty pages made me bump the rating up from 2 to 3 stars.
My full review HERE

Flash And Bones �� Kathy Reichs �� 3***
Book # 14 in the very popular Temperance Brennan mystery series, featuring the forensic anthropologist who splits her time between Quebec and North Carolina. Reichs is great at plotting intricate mysteries and this is no exception. There are plenty of twists and turns, old and new murders to consider, red herrings and suspects galore. My main problem with the series is that Tempe manages to get herself into serious trouble, but is always rescued by a conveniently handy big, strong man.
My full review HERE

Sheri wrote: "Koren wrote: "News of the World Movie Tie-in : A Novel by Paulette Jiles
5 stars


I read this because the movie trailer..."

Saw the movie. It was good and stayed pretty true to the book. The big difference I noticed was that the end wasn't quite as dramatic as it was in the book.

Koren wrote: "Sheri wrote: "Koren wrote: "News of the World Movie Tie-in : A Novel by Paulette Jiles
5 stars


I read this because the..."

I loved the book-can't wait to see the movie!

Infinite Tuesday: An Autobiographical Riff
Michael Nesmith
3.5/5 stars
Probably best known to older generations as one of The Monkees, Nesmith writes about his life which included his stint on The Monkees. After the show ended, he continued to work in the TV and movie industry but he also fought to find meaning in his life. There is also a CD that has some of Nesmith’s music on it called Infinite Tuesday: Autobiographical Riffs The Music but it doesn’t come with the book.

In the Name of the Children: An FBI Agent's Relentless Pursuit of the Nation's Worst Predators, Jeffrey Rinek
5 stars!

A great read, full of well-told stories of true crime cases. Most of these cases are not especially famous, but all of them are tragic and important to know about. The author is not your sterotypical tough-guy FBI agent. He struggles right on the page with the pain and sorrow and vulnerability stirred up by these atrocious crimes. Don't miss this memoir. I couldn't put it down.

Under the Mercy Trees �� Heather Newton �� 3.5***
Oh, what a tangled web we weave�� There are so many things going on, so many secrets, so many betrayals. We have people consumed by alcohol (and/or drugs), mean-spirited control freaks, unfaithful spouses, guilty consciences, mental (and physical) illness and abject loneliness that comes with keeping all that bottled up. I’m exhausted by the effort required by these characters to hide so much and still co-exist in such tight quarters. This is Newton’s only novel; I wish there were more for me to read.
My full review HERE

Elevation �� Stephen King �� 4****
This was a delightful novella with an unusual plot device, but that focuses on human kindness and respect. King gives us a lesson on what it means to be a good neighbor, and how to support one another despite our differences. I like the way that they slowly come to know one another and resolve their conflicts. My edition also included a bonus short story, ‹����ܰ�����,�� about a widower and his new puppy, which was a nice break from King’s well-known horror genre.
My full review HERE

Book Concierge wrote: "

Elevation
�� Stephen King �� 4****
This was a delightful novella with an unusual plot device, but that focuses on human kindness and respect. King gives us a lesso..."

I thought he only did horror!

Julie wrote: "Book Concierge wrote: "

Elevation
�� Stephen King �� 4****
This was a delightful novella with an unusual plot device, but that focuses on human kindness and respect...."

Check out this nonfiction Danse Macabre! He discusses horror in many forms -- books, movies, radio shows -- but most of the book is hysterical.

Into the Light
authors David Weber and Chris Kennedy
narrator Ralph Lister
25hours 38minutes
book 5
narration 2**

Narration wasn't bad but I preferred the narration of first one by Charles Keating. I want to listen to this again when I have a print copy available. It can be difficult to follow who is speaking in discussions and occasionally terms were not understandable.

This sequel to Out of the Dark has 3 parts and an epilogue. Reviews seem to indicate that reading the first book may not be necessary but it is very helpful. Like the first book there is foreshadowing of what's to come but from what some reviews say the foreshadowing is often missed.

Year 1 of the Terran Empire picks up where Out of the Dark left off. Post apocalyptic SF with tech and military. Picking up the pieces and working on not only surviving but progressing toward a unified civilization that has a chance against the Galactic Hegemony when next encountered.

Renaissance, Sol System, Year 15 of the Terran Empire. Techno and military Science Fiction. Lots of tech as Earthians work to further improve the alien devices and ships. I don't think it's specifically mentioned but they follow Arthur C. Clarke's 2nd Law "The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.�� or in the words of one character, I don't know whether their motto is "Hey y'all watch this!" or "Somebody hold my beer!"

Age of Exploration, Year 26 of the Terran Empire. Earth reaches out. First contact with nearest planet to Earth that the Hegemony has plans to attack. Foreshadowing (view spoiler)[With "Klaatu Barrada Nikto" and "we come in peace" in the first chapter the reader is warned this attempt at peaceful outreach is going to go to $#!+ before things are resolved. Loved seeing the fully functional Heinlein Armor Suits from Year 15 in action. (hide spoiler)]

Epilogue Year 41 of the Terran Empire. Hope this indicates there is going to be another book but it could be it is wrap up of story arc (view spoiler)[as allies from Out of the Dark are reunited. (hide spoiler)]

Update:
I finally did immersive read with print as well as audio. The narration was worse than I thought when just listening. I thought it was me having problems. It's not me. It's the narration.

Dance Hall Of the Dead �� Tony Hillerman �� 3***
Book two in Hillerman’s Joe Leaphorn series, set on the Navajo nation of southwest United States. I love Joe Leaphorn as a character, and the way he deliberates before taking action. I also appreciate learning a bit of Native-American culture with each mystery. Definitely a series I’ll continue reading.
My full review HERE

Julie wrote: "Book Concierge wrote: "
...

I thought he only did horror!...."

Nope .... though even THIS book is tagged "horror" because so many people think - as you did - that is all he writes and they assign that shelf/genre/tag when the book is announced before even reading it. He's a marvelous writer and a great storyteller.

And his nonfiction memoir On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft is wonderful ... reading it made me a better READER.

Julie wrote: "
The Lilies of the Field
William Edmund Barrett
4/5 stars
A sweet novel about a young African American, Homer Smith who on hi..."

Loved this book.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland -and- Through the Looking Glass �� Lewis Carroll �� 3***
Believe or not, I had never read this classic of children’s literature before. Oh, I knew the basics of the story. I certainly understand why this story is so beloved by so many legions of children. There is absurdity, fun word play, unusual situations, talking animals, and a slew of outlandish characters. Still, I think I just may be too old to really appreciate it. I just couldn’t let my imagination run wild and enjoy it
My full review HERE

War Paint: Madame Helena Rubinstein and Miss Elizabeth Arden: Their Lives, Their Times, Their Rivalry
Lindy Woodhead
4/5 stars
I have had this on my reading list for a long time and though it was a long book, it was filled with wonderful details about the lives of these two women rivals in the cosmetics/beauty industry. Author Lindy Woodhead meticulously researched Rubenstein and Arden’s histories which included the beginnings of the beauty industry and their effects on it, their friendships with the rich and the famous and their rivals including Charles Revson. But she also she discussed the 20th century history’s effect on their businesses during the two world wars, Prohibition and the new trends that redefined the industry in the 50’s. The book ends with what happened to the industry in the early 60’s after their deaths. I found it fascinating.

I'll Have What She's Having: How Nora Ephron's Three Iconic Films Saved the Romantic Comedy
Erin Carlson
3.5/5 stars
This is a very interesting look at Nora Ephron’s life and career, in particularly focusing on her three most famous film romances - When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail. I have always loved film and this book does a nice job in discussing Ephron’s films and has plenty of juicy facts about each of them and how they came about!

The Odds �� Stewart O’Nan �� 4****
Subtitle: A Love Story Art and Marian Fowler travel to Niagara Falls for a sort of second honeymoon. Their thirty-year marriage is in shambles, and they’re facing financial ruin, so, of course, they cash in their life’s savings and decide to bet it all at roulette. Oh, I love O’Nan’s writing! He gives two wonderful characters, warts and all. At the end I’m betting on THEM.
My full review HERE

Shifter Protection Agency: Complete Series Boxset
Brittany White
2**

There are 4 books in this set. Interesting concept and writing is decent but these were decidedly not my thing due to MCs unprofessional behavior and unprotected sex.

I kept reading because I hoped they'd get better but all four books landed on my too-stupid-to-live / so-stupid-it's-not-funny shelf and my too-stupid-to-live-sex shelf.

I think others may enjoy these but I was disappointed.

L J wrote: "
Shifter Protection Agency: Complete Series Boxset
Brittany White
2**

There are 4 books in th..."

I like the names of your shelf. I have run across some things similar and will have to remember this.

Charlene wrote: "L J wrote: "
Shifter Protection Agency: Complete Series Boxset...
...landed on my too-stupid-to-live / so-stupid-it's-not-funny shelf and my too-stupid-to-live-sex shelf..."
"I like the names of your shelf. I have run across some things similar and will have to remember this."

Thanks.
At least they avoided my stupid-inappropriate-bdsm-kink
shelf.

Joy in the Morning
Betty Smith
3.5/5 stars
Set in 1927 in the Depression era, Annie and her boyfriend Carl Brown marry. Their parents are not too happy but they take off to the University where Carl will try to earn his degree with little money and much hardship as they settle down building a life for themselves in difficult times. Written by the author of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, this is a semi-autobiographical novel of her life with her husband in their first few years of marriage. Enjoyable!

American OZ: An Astonishing Year Inside Traveling Carnivals at State Fairs & Festivals: Hitchhiking California to New York, Alaska to Mexico by Michael Sean Comerford
5 stars


This book caught my eye because I love fairs and carnivals. The author decided he was going to travel the US through carnivals, hitchhiking from the Eastern US to the Midwest, West, South and even Alaska and Mexico. Along the way he meets a lot of interesting people and finds the plus side and the down side of working carnivals. The only thing I wish is that he would have gone more in-depth into the past and present lives of the carnies but he did his research without the people knowing he was researching for a book so he couldn't really dig deep without telling them what he was doing. It was very eye-opening and at the end of the book the covid virus was just starting so it made me wonder what will happen with carnivals when they essentially didn't work last year.

Stories I Only Tell My Friends �� Rob Lowe �� 3.5***
In general, I’m not a great fan of celebrity memoirs, but I was pleasantly surprised by this one. From summer stock as a teen in Dayton, Ohio, to starring roles in the Brat-Pack films of the ��80s, and on to The West Wing, I found his story engaging and interesting.
My full review HERE

Salt: A World History
Mark Kurlansky
4/5 stars
Kurlansky has always been one of my favorite non-fiction writers who makes reading a pleasure with the interesting accounts of the subject he is delving into. This book is no different and is broken up into three parts, 1) A Discourse on Salt, Cadavers and Pungent Sauces, 2) The Glow of Herring and the Scent of Conquest and 3) Sodium’s Perfect Marriage. There is some repetition of material in the different sections but overall it wasn’t a bother. Some fun facts about salt included that salary actually came from the word salt because soldiers were paid in salt, salt was also needed to make gun powder, Tabasco sauce was invented in 1869 and the Morton Salt company patented the metal pouring spout. I definitely recommend this book.

Fortunately, the Milk �� Neil Gaiman �� 4****
This is a delightful fantastical romp of a story. There’s so much in this book it would almost be easier to list what is NOT in the book (no broccoli �� that I recall). We have pirates, spaceship abduction, a stegosaurus in a balloon, sharks, piranhas, a volcano, unpredictable time travel, vampires, and, fortunately, the milk.
My full review HERE

True Blue: Police Stories by Those Who Have Lived Them, Randy Sutton
3 stars

This was a good read, with each chapter written by a different police officer from a different city. At times I noticed how alike the writing of most of the stories were, as if the editor rewrote all the chapters in his own voice, but the content varies wildly. Right at the end, the last section was suddenly devoted entirely to tales of 9/11, and tells you parts of the story not normally told. Well worth your time.

Could be that police officers when writing a report need to do so in a very specific way. Doesn't change much from different cities. So that could be one of the reasons it seems so much the same.

Cherry Cheesecake Murder �� Joanne Fluke �� 1.5*
Book Number Eight in the Hannah Swenson cozy mystery series, featuring the Cookie Shop proprietor, her two sisters, and their mother, along with a regular cast of town residents. This is bad on so many levels. I am completely over Hannah’s dithering over her two suitors, her mother’s constant interference, her sister Andrea’s histrionics, and Hannah’s penchant for correcting everyone’s grammar. On the other hand, the cookie recipes are very good. Fluke should write a cookie cookbook and leave the tortured plots behind.
My full review HERE

Book Concierge wrote: "

Cherry Cheesecake Murder
�� Joanne Fluke �� 1.5*
Book Number Eight in the Hannah Swenson cozy mystery series, featuring the Cookie Shop proprietor, h..."

I gave up reading these. So tired of the two guys trying for Hannah and then she goes and marries some other person (didn't read that book and a few before that one). I'm done. After awhile you really need to move on to some other story. (And yes the recipes aren't bad.)

Small As an Elephant �� Jennifer Richard Jacobson �� 3.5***
This children’s book deals with mental illness. Jack Martel emerges from his pup tent to find that his mother is missing. Eleven-year-old Jack must find his mom before the authorities intervene and separate them forever. I loved Jack; he’s resilient, intelligent, resourceful and brave. He’s also scared. But he’s determined to find his Mom and hopes he can forgive her for leaving him alone.
My full review HERE

To Kill a Mockingbird �� Harper Lee �� 5
My all-time favorite novel, which I re-read every few years. This is a singularly powerful novel that had a great impact on me when I first read it at age 13, and has never failed to move and inspire me as I’ve re-read it over the years. It’s a well-paced novel, a fast read with elements of suspense, family drama, humor and moral lessons.
My full review HERE

The Dog Who Could Fly: The Incredible True Story of a WWII Airman and the Four-Legged Hero Who Flew At His Side
Damien Lewis
4/5 stars
This is a heartwarming story about Robert Bozdach, a WWII Czechoslovakian pilot who finds a German Shepard puppy on a mission after he was shot down. He refused to leave the dog to his own devices and he soon became a passenger aboard Bozdach’s plane when the airman went on missions and a friend to the other soldiers wherever Bozdach fought. I thought this was wonderfully written.