Thursday, May 31, 2018

Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Review: Spellbook of the Lost and Found

Spellbook of the Lost and Found Spellbook of the Lost and Found by Moïra Fowley-Doyle
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I love magical realism and Ireland so this book was a great combination for me. However, I had a difficult time keeping the characters straight--they seemed to run together, even with the chapters being labeled with their names. And I just didn't see the need for some of the things that happened in the book, especially toward the end. It's like there were too many twists and turns. I loved the spellbook, and the lost and found items disappearing and appearing. But I think it could have been told better with minus one or two teen characters to tighten the storytelling.

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Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Review: The Lady Travelers Guide to Larceny with a Dashing Stranger

The Lady Travelers Guide to Larceny with a Dashing Stranger The Lady Travelers Guide to Larceny with a Dashing Stranger by Victoria Alexander
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wonderful narration and production of a good romance novel. I didn't read book 1 of the series, but I didn't need to. Lady Bascombe is set to be the "host" of a group of women to the continent, even though she has never been out of England herself. But, thanks to guidebooks and her own smarts, she does just fine. Money is short since her husband died, and Lady Bascombe uses the Travelers Society for a free trip to Venice to retrieve a painting that her husband used for a loan collateral years ago. It seems like a simple trip, but, of course, Dante Montague joins the trip because he wants the painting, too, and the typical romance novel misunderstandings and overwrought problems happen.

Outstanding narration and production. Although the "bonus story" included in the audiobook CD is actually a darn long novel. I feel like I listed to Marian Hussey for weeks. She's good, but that's a lot of snooty British accents!

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Sunday, May 27, 2018

Review: Here We Lie

Here We Lie Here We Lie by Paula Treick DeBoard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Megan, a small-town girl from Kansas, decides to take her father's insurance money and run as faraway as she can, and ends up at a private all-girl college in Connecticut. Eventually she is paired to room with Lauren, a rich senator's rebellious daughter, and the two hit it off and become college friends. But something happens one night that tears their friendship apart, and they are still dealing with it years later.

I don't like to use the phrase "women's fiction" because, really, this is just a book that happens to be written by a woman about women. It's readable fiction that made me do nothing else for 3 hours while I finished it today. It's darn good and heartbreaking. I connected with the characters, and it hits home with what's in the news--#metoo and crooked politicians. It's an easy read with a reader's guide included at the end, as well as an interview with the author. Perfect summer read.

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Sunday, May 20, 2018

Review: Dodging and Burning

Dodging and Burning Dodging and Burning by John Copenhaver
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A bit too much going on in this historical mystery. I'm not a huge fan of pulp stuff, although I loved the chapters of the one included in this novel.

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Thursday, May 17, 2018

Review: The Female Persuasion

The Female Persuasion The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I wanted to like this more than I did.

Greer Kadetsky is moved by a feminist speaker at her college, and the one speech turns into a career for her. She struggles with working for a foundation and "trying to make a difference" in a capitalistic world. Other POVs include the speaker, Faith Frank, and Corey, Greer's high school boyfriend.

The narrator does a fantastic job, but I struggled with the re-playing of scenes from another character's point-of-view. I didn't really CARE about any of the characters other than Greer, and I hated that she disappeared in the middle of the book. I just didn't like the POV of the old school feminist Faith Frank. This novel would provide a lot of discussion fodder for feminist classes though--mainly to argue about, since it's full of white privilege.

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Monday, May 14, 2018

Review: Weave a Circle Round

Weave a Circle Round Weave a Circle Round by Kari Maaren
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

I gave up halfway through. I appreciate a good "my neighbors are crazy/aliens/time-travelers" tale, but it feel flat for me when the characters just instantly moved around without much plot. It grew tedious for me.

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Monday, May 7, 2018

Review: Exhibit Alexandra

Exhibit Alexandra Exhibit Alexandra by Natasha Bell
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

Another "I'm a dead wife who knows all" book.

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Review: Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics: A 10% Happier How-to Book

Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics: A 10% Happier How-to Book Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics: A 10% Happier How-to Book by Dan Harris
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

The narration is horrible--I didn't make it past Disk 1. There are pauses in odd places, which shouldn't happen since the writer is the narrator. Some breaths were audible and others weren't, but the pacing is what stopped me from listening to more.

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Review: Tradition

Tradition Tradition by Brendan Kiely
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm always a sucker for boarding school books, since I always dreamed that one day my folks would send me to one where I could re-invent myself and befriend millionaires. That never happened.

This is a #metoo book that isn't too graphic, and I bet it's popular in schools. My thirteen-year-old self would have loved it, since it's all about breaking the system and tearing down toxic traditions. Okay, not really. My 13-year-old self would have loved the drinking parts and kissing, while the 42-year-old self liked the tearing down toxicity portions.

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Review: Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo"

Barracoon: The Story of the Last Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" by Zora Neale Hurston
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I highly recommend the audiobook of this important work. The accent work is so good, and, as a listener, you will become easily engrossed in the tale of Cudjo. It's so amazing that Hurston traveled south to interview the 95-year-old man, and her patience in the interview process made me smile.

This little book won't take up much of your time, and I wonder if it will make it into college and high school classrooms. Cudjo is quite the storyteller and Hurston's role as a folklorist is in fine form here--so glad she interviewed him to capture his history and tales from home.

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Friday, May 4, 2018

Review: Sweet Black Waves

Sweet Black Waves Sweet Black Waves by Kristina Pérez
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is old school historical fiction with a touch of fantasy and I grew up on books like this. YA retelling of Tristan and Iseult, but you don't have to know that tale to enjoy this romp through ancient Britain. Sure, some of it's over the top, but the cover gives you fair warning so you know what you're getting into. Can't wait to read Book #2!

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Review: The Last Black Unicorn

The Last Black Unicorn The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Brilliant. She is hilarious, even when talking about her heartbreaking past. It's nice to hear a celebrity memoir that isn't sugarcoated. Haddish thanks her ghostwriter at the end of the book (even though he isn't listed as an author) and he is able to thank people, too. She seems to have a skeptic heart of gold and I like her for that. She reads her own book, does great impressions, and handles the character switches with ease in these essays. Great listen! I had the windows down and sunroof open while listening, and had some people staring at me from the sidewalk, trying to figure out why cuss words with an L.A. accent were coming from a Midwest lady's car! That was entertaining, too!

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